Shutting down thermostatic radiator valve completely

A bleed screw is usually part of a larger plug that just screws into the radiator. Easily available. Just close your lockshield valve and your TRV fully and it?ll only take seconds to replace the whole bleed valve (and plug). You?ll waste a lost less time (and system water) doing that than messing about replacing a TRV.

If it?s a sealed system depressurising it?s will mean that very little water will leak out. If it?s an open vented system a couple of bungs in the feed and expansion pipes will temporarily turn it into a sealed system for the duration of any repairs.

Tim

It's a fairly old rad - 25-30 years probably and has no plug. I will big up this guy who is shipping me an assortment of screws as they are hard to get for older rads and he narrowed down the rad to one of three possible screws. But I have to wait for the post for that.

Indeed they are... however:

Unscrew valve. Inset 5p coin in recess at the bottom of the valve, screw back onto radiator. Instant "decorators cap" - cost 5p :-)

As a temporary bodge take off the TRV head and add a bit of solid packing ( only needs to be 2mm or so thick) so that it will lie between the valve pin on the actal valve and the head (after you have reassembled it. That will then shift the head temperature range downwards below zero and totally turn it off.