Help with radiator!!

cocobubbles

Guys i'm really showing my stupidity here - what are the knobs on either side of the radiator, which controls the heat? and what way do i turn it? (first time living in a house without storage heaters lol)

Needles73

cocobubbles wrote: »

Guys i'm really showing my stupidity here - what are the knobs on either side of the radiator, which controls the heat? and what way do i turn it? (first time living in a house without storage heaters lol)

Well one of them is effectively for turning rad on and off - it should really have had small handle type cover but I see they are missing - anyways anti-clockwise to open and clockwise to close. Other side of rad is a similar valve but just used to balance heating system and normally has a cover to stop anyone adjusting - again anti-clockwise to allow more water through. In addition rad will have a small bleed point somewhere on top......did you remove plastic bits ? What's happening - no heat anywhere ? Are other rads working ? A small pliers or adjustable wrench will allow u to adjust valves

cocobubbles

Needles73 wrote: »

Well one of them is effectively for turning rad on and off - it should really have had small handle type cover but I see they are missing - anyways anti-clockwise to open and clockwise to close. Other side of rad is a similar valve but just used to balance heating system and normally has a cover to stop anyone adjusting - again anti-clockwise to allow more water through. In addition rad will have a small bleed point somewhere on top......did you remove plastic bits ? What's happening - no heat anywhere ? Are other rads working ?

What side is generally to control the amount of water? the knobs were already removed from this radiator but all the other rads have knobs and are working!

Needles73

cocobubbles wrote: »

What side is generally to control the amount of water? the knobs were already removed from this radiator but all the other rads have knobs and are working!

Well I cannot tell from pics but you should open both slightly and see what happens. In a normal situation only the water "in" valve should have been closed so check to see if only one is fully closed and if so open that one. If both closed crack them both open a little. Be careful though as there may be a reason someone had it switched off with plastic bits removed .....in my house all water inlet valves are on the left looking at rad but I'm not sure is that convention. You should hear water flowing in, but heat needs to be on and circulation pump running. Watch out for leaks. You might need to bleed air out if only bottom of rad only heats. That's done by bleeding air at top of rad- gently open screw valve slightly till air starts to vent and then close when water starts to drop....be careful not to open screw too much and flood place.....screw valve will be at top of rad probably on side, alternatively at back and will need rad "key"

Wearb

With the heating turned on, turn off both for half an hour. Then turn both on and feel to see which side warms up first. Open that one up fully and use that one to turn off rad in future.
Open slower heating side about quarter/half turn. If rad is heating ok then leave it at that. Otherwise continue opening another quarter turn at intervals until it heats properly. That will be that side sorted and shouldn't need to be touched again.

allthedoyles

First advice from me is to know how to turn off water in the event of accident .
Some years ago I was bleeding rad and the small screw fell down below floor boards.
Didn't have a replacement , the water was boiling and a nice mess was created .