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View Full Version : Permanently removing a radiator; can I cap off flow and return feeds to radiator?


joblot
Sep 11, 2013, 11:42 PM
I am permanently removing a radiator and want to know if I can just cap off the flow and return feeds to the radiator or do I need to connect the two together to continue the flow of the system. I believe it's the last radiator in the system to warm up. There is just one 10mm microbore pipe attached to each end, one with a TRV. Is there also a preferred point at which to cap them off, ( I only ask as I have better access at one end than the other so wish to cap them off at the same point and remove the remaining pipework that goes to the other end of the rad.)

smoothy
Sep 12, 2013, 04:53 AM
On any system I have seen... you will need to connect them together or flow to every other radiator on the string will be stopped as well. Visialize that old trainset you had as a kid... take a piece of track out and what happened? Everythig stops. Because the loop is broken.

But you need to see how yours is plumbed... I'm going to assume that radiator was not in a loop by itself.

massplumber2008
Sep 12, 2013, 05:19 AM
If your heat system piping is a monoflo piped system (one direction loop with monoflo tee branches to each radiator) then you can simply cap the lines.

If your heat system piping is a continuous loop as suggested by Smoothy then yeah, you need to attach the two pipes to let the loop continue.

Mark

joblot
Sep 12, 2013, 11:59 PM
Thanks for the info guys. I also collared a plumbing engineer in his shop and he said I can just cap them off. It occurred to me that if I can turn off the radiator using the valves either end and the system still functions then that's a little bit like capping the pipes off,(albeit a temporary way!). Massplumber, with a continuous loop system would you be able to isolate individual radiators with valves or would that stop the flow also? Just triple checking before I slice and dice!

massplumber2008
Sep 13, 2013, 06:50 AM
It depends on how the continuous loop system was piped, so hard to say exactly here.

Some continuous loop systems would definitely be interrupted if you capped off a line, and other loop systems could have monoflo tee fittings installed and then capping angle valves would be fine.

I think you either need to chase the pipes out or just cap the lines and test the system.

Good luck!