Novice and attempting new valve packing

[Dave West]

There is a room with a central heating radiator in it, that only gets used once or twice for a couple of hours or so during the week. To conserve gas boiler expense, we have been turning off the radiator in this room when its not in use for the rest of the time.

After a few months of turning the radiator valve on and off (its not a thermostatic valve, but the old simple on/off type) it has started leaking.

I have screwed down on the 'packing'm but it looks like I cannot screw it down any further and still not have a slow leak of water when i open the valve on the radiator.

Somebody has mentioned there is a method to work on a radiator without draining the system. But i've seen in a forum some people think its not a good idea.

Is there anyway for a complete 'novice' to renew the packing or fit a thermostat valve with draining everything off? Thanks for advice.

[Huge]

Undo the packing washer & poke some waxed string into the space underneath, then do it up again. Make the waxed string yourself with melted candles and ... string.

[Mr Pounder]

Will you be my hero?

[John Rumm]

With the valve turned "off", you should be able to remove the gland packing nut, add more packing, and refit the nut all without any leakage.

[GB]

In the past, I have made it with Vaseline and, yes, string. Some heavy grease of practically any sort plus string would do nicely.

[Dave West]

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Many thanks to all. I have some grease and have both cotton string and nylon string. Would either type of string be preferable, or does this not matter?

If I make a very careful job of it, is there any reason not to be turning 'on and off' this simple kind of valve on a regular basis ? Or should I be thinking about having a better kind of valve fitted like a thermostat valve ?

[GB]

Cotton string.

I wouldn't worry too much. Just use it.

[harry]

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The ideal would be to remove the old packing which has gone hard. However you can put a bit more in as a temporary measure. At some point however the valve will have to be dismantled and the packing renewed. This will be when yo ucan't get any new packing on top of the old. The cotton would be best.

Modern thermostatic valves have no packing (usually an Oring). When they leak, they usually have to be replaced. However thy do save energy. But you would still have to turn it off/on as required.