Moving loft room radiator

[Stringman_uk]

Hi all
I need to move the location of my loft room radiator ( we are changing it and the valves at the same time)
we have a combi boiler system
The rad it the top of the CH system, at the moment it if fed via speedfit pipes.
these are going to be re routed in the loft storage area and will be extended to a different part of the roof and then connected to the rad via copper pipe from under the floor.

I have read about removing a a rad for decorating and it says to shut the valves off to stop the flow, then remove the valve to drain the rad.
So in theory i could do that and put speedfit end stops to stop the flow and then do all the pipe work and at the very end remove the endstop and join the two pipes together (if that makes sense) but that seems a recipe for disaster and a wet loft.

so then I thought could i just partially drain the system? take enoughwater from the drain point in the basement ( 4 storey house) so that the 1 rad in the loft (and the pipes) have no water in them.
could i then do the end stops on the pipes, move the pipes and fit the new rad with no spurting water?

Finally if i did this and it took more than a day would i still be able to use the boiler for hot water if it took longer than expected?

Many thanks in advance

 

[sircerebus666]

Combis are sealed systems so once you have released the pressure from the heating circuit no more water can come out

So drain the rad , remove it , then release the pressure out of the heating circuit by opening one of the rad valves until there's no more pressure , then you can move the pipework easily remembering to put towels underneath any pipes as you cut them to catch any drips

You can also quite happily use the hot water whilst you're moving the rad

Also don't forget to use inserts in the ends of the speedfit pipe

 

[Stringman_uk]

sircerebus
Thanks so much that makes life a lot easier than draining the whole system down.
thanks for your help

 

[Stringman_uk]

That worked fine
But..... I realized i have made a schoolboy error !
I dont know (100%) what is the flow and return pipe.
The valves both look like stop valves but one does have a drain off pipe. Is this more than likely to be the flow or the return?

I know as its speedfit (and the joins are easily accessible) its not a huge trauma t swap them over but i would prefer to get it right first time!

many thanks in advance

 

[polesapart]

If the drainoff is part of the valve this is likely to be return.

 

[Stringman_uk]

polesapart, yes its an all in one like
https://www.screwfix.com/p/chrome-angled-radiator-valve-with-drain-off-15mm-x/70408

I am replacing the valves with valves similar to these
https://www.screwfix.com/p/bologna-white-chrome-angled-radiator-valve-15mm-x-2-pack/91217

so i presume it doesnt really matter which way it goes around?
I guess ( once i find which pipe is which ) i have the return fully open and adjust the temp my opening and closing the flow?

many thanks in advance

 

[denso13]

its not a huge trauma t swap them over but i would prefer to get it right first time!

In doesn't matter which way the the flow and return are connected, the valves are bi-directional.

 

[Stringman_uk]

In doesn't matter which way the the flow and return are connected, the valves are bi-directional.

I thought as much but does that mean that it doesnt matter which valve controls the temp? as one will be easier to access than the other

 

[denso13]

I thought as much but does that mean that it doesnt matter which valve controls the temp?

Normal lockshield/wheelhead valves don't really control the temperature anyway, they are used to balance the heating system. If you want to turn it off you could use either valve but even a radiator which is almost turned off will still heat up like the others although possible a bit slower.