CH draincock and why do they put them in such damn stupid places!

Francis · 2009-07-23T23:01:48+00:00

As per my previous post I am having some problems with a failed circulating pump (fully pumped system).Problem now diagnosed as a failed pump.So drain system.Shut supply to expansion tank. Stopcock seized (will replace with 1/4 turn lever arm ball valve). Drop of oil round shaft and gently back & forth, done.3 drain points. All very inaccessible but working. Ok & done.4th drain cock on a ground floor rad, the hose outlet is touching the wall and the valve is touching a very nice parquet floor.Gentle prying has let me fit a hose and unscrew the valve.Valve does not release water although the rad is full as are 3 storeys above, valve mechanism appears to be seized solid.Have tried mole grips on the valve stem and gentle tap. Result, weep from feed to rad.I think tomorrow I will clear the immediate area, put down plenty of polythene sheet, find suitable containers to gather and release the pipe fitting to the rad valve.When empty I will remake the fitting to the rad valve with a ballofix type fitting tee'd off.Any suggestions please, particularly to avoid the water spillage expected.Many thanks,Francis.

Jul 23, 2009 23 Replies

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Roger Mills 16 years ago

I prefer a suitably re-styled aluminium foil Chinese food container.

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js.b1 16 years ago

Pipe Freezer Spray.

-- Jason.

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Geo 16 years ago

I had to drain two separate loops (CH and DHW) so have a couple of valves under a trap door in the ground floor:-

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Roger Mills 16 years ago

solid floors.

I've got solid floors, with the CH being distributed between the floors, and pipes dropping down to each rad. There's no way that I can drain the whole system from a single point. I've got drain-off lockshields fitted to each rad, so it's easy enough to drain each leg - but not practical to take permanently installed drain pipes to the outside world.

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