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Subject Author Date
Valves on old radiators Heathcliff 09-30-2006
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Posted by Heathcliff on September 30, 2006, 7:08 pm
I have hot-water heat with an old (probably 80 year old) system. The
radiators are the big old fashioned kind. I am trying to restore the
valves on the radiators so that they operate and individual radiators
can be turned on and off. I removed the handle (round, kind of
donut-shaped thing) on one, loosened the packing the nut, if that's the
right term, and applied some penetrating oil. I was able to get the
stem to turn and I think it's operating now, but it only turns about
180 degrees. There seems to be a hard stop that prevents it turning
more than that. Is that all it's supposed to turn? Is it a ball
valve? I haven't yet turned on the heat to test whether it actually
turns the radiator on and off. Just curious if someone with experience
on this type of system can verify that is how the valves are supposed
to work. Thanks, -- H


Posted by Speedy Jim on September 30, 2006, 7:18 pm
Heathcliff wrote:

> I have hot-water heat with an old (probably 80 year old) system. The
> radiators are the big old fashioned kind. I am trying to restore the
> valves on the radiators so that they operate and individual radiators
> can be turned on and off. I removed the handle (round, kind of
> donut-shaped thing) on one, loosened the packing the nut, if that's the
> right term, and applied some penetrating oil. I was able to get the
> stem to turn and I think it's operating now, but it only turns about
> 180 degrees. There seems to be a hard stop that prevents it turning
> more than that. Is that all it's supposed to turn? Is it a ball
> valve? I haven't yet turned on the heat to test whether it actually
> turns the radiator on and off. Just curious if someone with experience
> on this type of system can verify that is how the valves are supposed
> to work. Thanks, -- H
>

That may be all it should turn.
Probably not a true ball valve as we know them;
my guess would be a sleeve valve with a cutout opening
on one side.

These valves may not provide full shutoff (deliberate)
in order to keep a very small flow thru all the radiators.

Jim

Posted by marson on September 30, 2006, 7:49 pm

Speedy Jim wrote:
> Heathcliff wrote:
>
> > I have hot-water heat with an old (probably 80 year old) system. The
> > radiators are the big old fashioned kind. I am trying to restore the
> > valves on the radiators so that they operate and individual radiators
> > can be turned on and off. I removed the handle (round, kind of
> > donut-shaped thing) on one, loosened the packing the nut, if that's the
> > right term, and applied some penetrating oil. I was able to get the
> > stem to turn and I think it's operating now, but it only turns about
> > 180 degrees. There seems to be a hard stop that prevents it turning
> > more than that. Is that all it's supposed to turn? Is it a ball
> > valve? I haven't yet turned on the heat to test whether it actually
> > turns the radiator on and off. Just curious if someone with experience
> > on this type of system can verify that is how the valves are supposed
> > to work. Thanks, -- H
> >
>
I replaced mine with new valves. cost about 15 bucks a radiator.


Posted by hallerb@aol.com on September 30, 2006, 8:54 pm
replace with the thermostat type, so little used rooms can be left
cooler to save bucks.


Posted by HeatMan on October 1, 2006, 6:36 pm

> replace with the thermostat type, so little used rooms can be left
> cooler to save bucks.
>

They are called Thermostatic Radiator Valves, TRV's for short.



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