Do I need replacement radiator valves?

[SCGH]

Hi

I am very new to all this, so please excuse what is likely a very simplistic newbie question!

Our radiators seem to either run very hot or stone cold. It is sometimes possible to achieve a warm radiator (around setting number 2 on the valve), but only if the adjustment is a tiny fraction turn of the valve, and is extremely difficult to achieve. I don't want the radiators too hot for my kids rooms, as they are very young. But they often bump the valve, which means the radiator either stays cold or gets too hot and this is becoming very frustrating.

All radiator valves in this house seem to work in this way, whereas in our previous homes #6 was hot, off always cold, and the numbers in between were different degrees of warm as you would expect.

Our house has a water tank in the loft and a Potterton boiler downstairs. Our previous houses had combi boilers, so I am not sure if this makes a difference.

When hot, all parts of the radiator are hot, so no air seems to be in them.

So my questions are:

1. Should my central heating system work like this?
2. If not, what could the problem be?
3. If the valves need replacing, can I do this myself?

Thanks!

 

[Mike Jackson]

Thermostatic radiator valves don't vary the temperature of the water in the radiator. They shut off the flow of water into the radiator when the set room temperature is reached. The radiators will only be warm when the room temperature has been reached and the radiator is starting to cool down.

 

[SCGH]

Hmmm. I don't think they are thermostatic vavles as the valves just have 1 to 6 on them, and the main thermostat is in our hallway (Hive system).

As I mentioned, in our prior homes, we would have the radiators set to bet warm (usually setting 3 or 4). But in this house, anything above 2 is hot (too hot to keep your hand on the radiator) or below 2 is stone cold. Occasionally I can fluke it and somewhere around 2 it will be warm (when the radiators in other rooms are burning hot), but it is is hard to find this exact spot on the valve and any tiny adjustment and it will be lost.

Surely this can't be normal? Surely I should be able to set to 6 for hot , 'snowflake' symbol for cold and 3 or 4 for warm?

The question is, what could the problem be and can I do anything to fix it myself?

Thanks

 

[Best]

Sounds like thermostatic rad valves. There is no reason why a valve has numbers on it, unless for heat settings. Ordinary valves do not adjust heat, only for manually reducing flow or turning to off. The rad with a TRV will sometimes be very hot, sometimes warm or luke warm or ice cold. It depends on the room temperature. For example, - if you turn your rad TRV to a mid setting, say number 3, - if the room is not up to that temperature then the TRV will remain open inside letting the hot heating water flow through it & the rad will feel hot. Once the room heat comes near the TRV setting, the TRV will close gradually off & finally totally off - rad will feel only warm shortly & perhaps cold after half an hour. Then when the room falls slightly below the TRV setting the TRV will open & suddenly rad will be hot to touch again .... & so the cycle continues.
If your rads don't vary in heat automatically, then you might be better replacing the entire TRVs (thermostatic rad valves).

 

[Black]

i have seen folks trying to diy but ended up causing more harm than good. you can diy if you know what you r doing, if not, call a plumber.

 

[Reg Man]

Definitely TRV's. You don't have to worry if the rads are cold at times, they are doing their job. Can finely adjust them by using a remote thermometer in central position in each room and adjust the valves so that you achieve 19-21 degrees or what's comfortable for you.