Is there anyone who can advise poor little me please?

Majority of radiators have standard type of valve (which I can do) but the newer radiators have a square shaped one. ❓

It almost looks as though a flat head screwdriver is needed.

Any ideas please?

As always, thank you so much. 🙂

pic would help as I don’t really get your description

I have the square type(which I think is pretty universal) and there is a standard key available.
like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-RADIATOR-AIR-BLEED-BLEEDING-KEY-ALLOY-Fits-all-standard-style-radiators-/170707887710?pt=UK_DIY_Materials_Plumbing_MJ&hash=item27befba65e

That type?

Thanks for the replies. 🙂

gusamac – yes I can do those!

paulosoxo – that’s the one! What do I need for it please?

Just a flat-bladed screwdriver I fink CG 🙂

Paul’s the plumbing expert though so I’d hang fire for his answer.

this may or may not fit …. as I’ve not seen that new type

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plumbers-Radiator-Valve-Utility-Key-Plumbing-Tools-/280631661347?pt=UK_DIY_Materials_Plumbing_MJ&hash=item4156f35323

but ?? is it the top one ????????

a flat head screw driver or a radiator key, make sure boiler is off and rads are cold,start downstairs and work your way through house finishing in bathroom. if a combi re pressurise if not thats it

My house has been extended and have two radiators with odd shaped valves.

All other radiators are standard and I’ve had plenty of practice doing those!

Well, I thought you were supposed to bleed them with the heating on. You learn something new on here all the time!

Well, when I Googled, one site said that both valves at base should be opened. I’ve never done that but always made sure heating was off.

How can you bleed radiators without the pump running ?

Well, it’s worked for me before. Air escapes then tighten valve. Radiator warm all the way.

scaredypants – Member

How can you bleed radiators without the pump running ?

Because there’s pressure in the system, either from a sealed system that is pressurised, or from a head of water stored in a tank

The pump just circulates the water

eeeeeeeh, well I never !

paulosoxo – could you confirm please that I just need to use a flat head screwdriver? Thanks. 🙂

Yeah, but watch the water, it comes out of a nozzle, not the bleed screw itself, you should be able to rotate the plastic bit round

And thanks for spelling my name right!

yes, or a standard radiator bleed key will work.

Try various tools, then get a big pair of molegrips and chew the thing right up, then smack it with a big hammer.

You will never get it to close again. 🙁

Bear – Member

yes, or a standard radiator bleed key will work.

In my assuming that you’ve tried a key, I probably should have mentioned this too

Thanks paulosoxo. 🙂

Elf – in my last house on one occasion when I bled the bathroom radiator, the actual valve flew out. Cue flooded bathroom and didn’t have any grips either. 😯

I try to stay away from hammers after losing my temper recently. 😳

Er no, I haven’t tried the standard key cos it didn’t look as though it would fit.

Yup will fit, c’mon poxo you’ve been to those call outs with no heating and just turned the stat up. Remember they are all customers!!!

Sorry CG but we do come across some beauties in our line of work!

had a turn the stat up last week and a put credit in the meter.. have a customer who ‘bleeds’ a pint of water from each rad each week to keep em fresh.. had my first house last week with a meter with no ecv.. and on sat had a combi with no flue..

TS – thank god I don’t have to do much of that sort of work. Am self employed and with a decent customer base. Although I do have to work for NHBC on faults and find some horrors!
Worst was a big block of flats that were very dangerous. 95 very unhappy residents

Elf, you’ve spent too much time with WCA! Hammers are not normal plumbing tools 😉

Yes they are! 😀

I went a bit loopy once on a radiator, and twatted the living hell out of it so much I damaged a drop-forged hammer. 😮

Wasn’t my finest moment, but it weren’t half satisfying.

Just a little update from C_G Towers:

One of the extension radiators proved to be a struggle – ended up using pliers to hold the nut in position whilst I undone the valve. All have now been done and the proof of the pudding will be when I next put the heating on. 🙂

Thanks again for all the replies and you may be interested to know I have bought a new book entitled the Ultimate Encyclopedia of DIY. 8)

Little update … heating went on last night, all OK apart from one radiator same as paul’s pic above. Barely any heat from it.

Heating has been making a loud clunking noise, wasn’t sure if it was fireworks, so suspect it needs some magic potion pumped into the system.