Just wonderring if anyone has any suggestions for ?stuck individual thermostats on home radiators. They worked last year and on turning on the CH some of the radiators are cold. Boiler serviced. Tried removing the thermostat part , turn on/off blown on it. Not sure how they open the valve and the best way to get them running again. Any suggestions prior to the heating engineer?
Thanks

When you take off the thermostat head, is there a steel"pin" sticking up out of the valve head?

If so, try wiggling it gently while pulling, with a pair of long-nosed or other, pliers.

If you have no luck, or can see no pin, surround base of pipe under valve with old cloths, and undo the nut RIGHT AT THE TOP of the valve, NOT the pipe connection nuts. Don't worry, you WON'T get a flood, just dribbles. while this is off, again wiggle, pull, etc the pin that will be exposed, I use a small screwdriver.

Alcazar

alternatively, do what some alleged central heating engineers did here at work. Get the hammer and "gently" tap away at the valve. Their tech explanation was that there is "crap" in the system and hammering will release it. Needless to say, said radiator still doesnt work so it is calling for a full bleedown of the rads so they can replace the valve (probably wont flush the system though!)

Can see pin, will try later, was unsure of mechanism of thermostat. Then will get out FU hammer to tap......
Then will bang head.
Actually waiting for system to be drained to install towel heater and other minor jobs. unfortunately there was a bereavement with the plumbers family so it is all being delayed.
Much appreciate your suggestions, will feed back......

Just a note for future...

TRV's getting stuck is one of our biggest "waste of time" call-outs we get!!! This is easily prevented!!! :norty:

When summer comes and you turn the ch system off, most people make the mistake of also closing the TRV's down to zero. This is the worst thing you can do!!! :Whatever_

My advice for summer is to open all the TRV's full!!! This will ensure the small pin valve does not get stuck down and when you come to winter just re-adjust the TRV to the required setting... :thumb:

Job done...

Alcazar, and Richy B, you were dead right, radiators all working, even the ones that haven't worked since we moved in! Daughter has warm bedroom now. :) What is the best way to get rid of the coppery scum that cakes the pin?

Summer advice will be taken!

Job done!

Alcazar, and Richy B, you were dead right, radiators all working, even the ones that haven't worked since we moved in! Daughter has warm bedroom now. :) What is the best way to get rid of the coppery scum that cakes the pin?

Summer advice will be taken!

Job done!


you need to drain down, and keep flushing the systen, there are a few addatives on the market taht you can add to clean your system, ( check boiler compatability 1st tho ).. then flush the system, and add some fernox or similar product, try looking on screwfix web site, other make is sentinal system flush

hope this helps..