Turning off radiators that dont have thermostats?

Question

I am in rented accomodation and have an old central heating system and old radiators, none of which have thermostats. I would like to know if it is possible to turn a radiator off at one of the valves, as the hottest radiator is by the fridge freezer and the bin - dont really want that warming up! Also the ones on the 3rd floor dont really heat up, is that because the boiler is on the ground floor?

Thank you for any help

Answer 1

Yes
You can turn any radiator off without affecting the others, using either valve
But
If the system is old, it may be a single pipe system

This means that the water travels round the system and back to the boiler in one pipe only, passing through the radiators on its way, rather than a twin pipe system which has a flow(from the boiler) and a return (back to the boiler) one valve on the radiator being the flow and the other the return.

If you turn the radiator off and they all go cold, then it's a single pipe system - if the others are OK then it's a double pipe system.

If the boiler is on the ground floor, I wouldn't be surprised if it's not quite making the grade - I'd suggest that you balance your rads as much as possible, turning down (as you say) those you don't need so much, and turning up those that you do

Hope this was of help

Answer 2

Yes, you can,but suggest you get a Gas Fitter or Plumber to do it for you and as you are in Rented accommodation check with your Landlord that it's OK to do it,He/She may have a Yearly Contract with a Gas Provider who does a Yearly Check, and could arrange a call out for you.


Can never understand WHY a Radiator is installed in a Kitchen unless it's big enough to have a Dining area then I suppose it is useful.
If yours doe's maybe you could Move the Fridge and Bin to another suitable area of the Kitchen.
If you can't then defiantly get either the L/L or someone to Turn Rads off in the Room you don't want it and also get L/L to get the ones working in Rooms the Rad's are not heating up.

Could mean that the Boiler and Rad's haven't been Serviced for a long time or even you have got an Old System.
Have a word with your L/L after all,you probably are paying Good Rent and possibly paying for your Gas from a L/L Meter which is a lot higher than it would be if you were paying for your Gas by D/D and in your Name.

Answer 3

Hi as you are in rented accomodation your Landlord should hold a Gas Safety Certificate for all gas appliances in the property. This is something that should be done every year by Law by your Landlord and you should also be given a copy of this Certificate.

If the system is old you should ask your Landlord to have Thermostatic Valves fitted to each radiator so that you can control the heat. Obvioulsy you can fully turn off the radiator in the kitchen, but it may be a little too cold in the winter.

As for the radiators on the 3rd floor they may need bleeding.

Contact your Landlord who will probably have a contract with a Corgi Registered Gas Engineer who carries out Service and Repairs to your gas appliances. Remember it is illegal for your Landlord not to have your gas appliances checked on a yearly basis.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

A lot of good answers for you so I will add to them rather than repeat.
After bleeding the air out of the highest radiator, if the top ones are still colder than the rest, it could be that the pump , if there is one, is not man enough for the job and cannot push the hot water round far enough to any effect. If it is an old system the pump may have failed and the only water circulation is by thermosyphon. This means that as the water is heated in the boiler it naturally rises through the system. As it cools off then there is insufficient heat energy to take it to the top.
If you haven't got a pump then this old system needs balancing. The top radiator valves to be wide open and the lower ones to be turned down. This forces the water to circulate.
Hope I have been able to help and good luck.

Answer 5

At one or other end at the bottom of the radiator there should be a valve. If you turn it fully clockwise then that will cut off the hot water supply and the radiator will go cold.

You can also back it off very slightly and that will restrict the water flow to give you a warm radiator.

If the upper radiators feel warm at the bottom and colder at the top then they will have air trapped in them. You will be able to use a special key at the top of the radiator to bleed off the air. Turn it slowly counterclockwise until you hear the air rush out and be ready to close it again once it has all escaped.

Cool !

Answer 6

You should be able to turn off both ends of the rad by
1)pulling off the plastic end-cap and using a spanner. Don't be too vigerous with the effort though as the valve shaft will be brass and could snap.
2) At the larger of the valve ends, just screw the valve down clockwise as you would normally

As for the rad on the 3rd floor, try bleeding it of air, as it's at the top, it may well have collected the air for the system

Answer 7

you should be able to turn off your unwanted radiators. and the ones one the third floor may just need bleeding. i', not sure how you turn them off, but bleeding them is quite easy.You need a radiator key and a cloth or something in your hand for when the radiator lets a little water out.with the key you open the screw at the top of your radiator, you dont need to take it out just loosen it the air should be expelled and a little water should rise to the top and then you need your clothe at the same time tighten the screw back up. do that with all your radiators in the house if you need to , you should soon notice if that fixed it.

Answer 8

ukcliffhanger is right - there are lockshield valves on both ends of the radiator and at least one needs to be shut off to stop the flow of hot water - and there is probably air in the system at the top of each radiator but mostly in the highest one, this needs bleeding off with a radiator key - open the bleed nipple until water starts coming out.

Answer 9

on an old one pipe heating system , turning one rad off will not turn all the others off. Its a loop out of the boiler and back ,with tees ( Ideally of the swept variety )cut into the loop and feeding each side of the rad. So you can have any rads on or off.

Answer 10

Yep, you can turn them off at one end, that'll do it

You need to leave one turned on so it can dispurse the heat from the boiler. Normally people leave the bathroom or hallway one on.