Sealed System - Removing Radiator

[keenbutconfused]

I know there has been a lot of talk about removing radiators on sealed systems before but I wanted to check one point that has confused me.

I want to remove a radiator that has come loose from the wall so that I can reattach it firmly and also sort out the plaster work behind.

Having read through the posts it seems that because I am only intending to remove the rad and not alter the pipework I do not need to drain the system. I can instead just close the valves at either end of the radiator and then remove the radiator.

What I am confused on is surely even though I will have closed the valves surely the water in the radiator will still be at 1 bar. When I remove the radiator from the pipes what stops the water in the radiator spurting out under pressure.

 

[Gasguru]

Close the valves and open the bleed screw. If the rad is full of water the pressure will be virtually zero (you can't really compress liquids). Any air present will be under pressure but this will be expelled and the pressure will reduce to zero.

Be aware that cheap radiator valves (without an extra seal around the spindle) may leak as you disturb them. Also count the number of turns the lockshield valve is open. See faq's.