North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

This DIY job won’t need expert building skills, but most economically-minded architects would approve of it. Thermostatic radiator valves save money, conserve fuel and reduce carbon emissions. If you’re not keen on tasks like painting, decorating and plastering but you’re handy with a spanner, this job is for you. The valve ensures that rooms only reach temperatures which you set; empty rooms can be set to minimum, so no energy is wasted in warming them.

Begin by draining down the central heating system. Whilst this job will take about an hour per radiator, try and fit valves on all your radiators in one go (no one wants to drain the system several times).

Place a spanner firmly on the body of the old valve and loosen the nut connecting it to the pipe with a second spanner. Then loosen the adaptor connecting the valve to the radiator, and unscrew it completely. Wrap PTFE tape clockwise around the threads of the adaptor on the new valve (about five or six times) and tighten it to the radiator. The new valve will have a cap nut and olive to fit on the copper pipe, so remove the old ones and replace with the new. Make an incision in the old olive with a junior hacksaw and prize it away from the pipe with a screwdriver if it’s really jammed on. Tighten the cap nut to the new valve, refill the central heating system and look out for any leaks.

Living rooms are normally set to maximum, bedrooms a few degrees lower.