Old style radiator with no temp controls

confused_landlord

It is not possible to adjust the temp of the individual radiators as they do not have temp controls. Apparantly they are old style radiators coming off microbore pipes, so it’s not a question of just replacing the rads, the complete pipework running through the floor of the 3 story townhouse will have to be changed. Also, the tiny radiator in the bathroom does not come on at all. Other than that, they heat up fine etc.

The tenants are insisting that I upgrade the system so that the radiators can be individually controlled. However, I feel that as long as they heat up, they should suffice since I presume the majority of houses built in this period (1982) must have microbore pipes and the same issues.

Anyway, any advice on the situation would be helped. Also, would you be able to advise on why the bathroom radiator does not heat up? I was once informed (by a novice) that it could be a ‘dummy radiator’?

MX5huggy

Who is feeding you this duff information?

Microbore is still used today and you can have Thermostaic Rad Valves if you want with microbore.

As a LL you don't have to provide TRV's just adequate heating.

The bathroom rad has probably silted up (a consequence of using microbore) or it is full of air (bleed it). Get a heating engineer to fix this. Presuming its a Gas boiler you are providing gas safety inspections?

confused_landlord

MX5huggy wrote: »

Who is feeding you this duff information?

Microbore is still used today and you can have Thermostaic Rad Valves if you want with microbore.

As a LL you don't have to provide TRV's just adequate heating.

The bathroom rad has probably silted up (a consequence of using microbore) or it is full of air (bleed it). Get a heating engineer to fix this. Presuming its a Gas boiler you are providing gas safety inspections?

Yep. I get the Gas boiler serviced annually like clockwork.

Quite a few plumbers told me that TRV's cannot be installed with microbore pipes, but based on what you just wrote I did a search and it appears that there are TRV's which can be used with microbore pipes. This is why I love this website! Thanks!!

southcoastrgi

you are speaking to the wrong "plumbers" & i use that term very very lightly, of course you can put trv's on microbore

flashg67

I'm sure mine are microbore - (10mm pipes?) in a modern house. I had to replace a duff TRV and the one I bought came with a reducer already in the box.

ariba10

Put them on the Daugters micro bore system some years ago.

No problem so far.

Canucklehead

Hi.

If you have a twin entry microbore valve (ie; both pipes at the same end) then no you can't, unless you repipe to get a pipe at each end.

If you have a pipe at each end now then yes.


GSR.

confused_landlord

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi.

If you have a twin entry microbore valve (ie; both pipes at the same end) then no you can't, unless you repipe to get a pipe at each end.

If you have a pipe at each end now then yes.


GSR.

Ahhh....and herein lies the problem. I believe I have twin entry ....which probably explains why I have been advised to get rid of the whole system. So is it possible to repipe and to put a pipe on each end? Still seems like a biggish job...
Any other recs on how I can resolve the issue?

MX5huggy

A section 21 notice to quit should fix it.

AFK_Matrix

Probably a good idea to ask this on the house buying and renting section at the top of these forums. They have some knowledgeable people in there that can help. I would say as long as the heating is working then they can't demand the TRV's but I am no expert.

Also if you want to bleed the bathroom rad then it is very easy. You just have to get a bleed valve tool and then put some rags down as there could be some nice sludge coming out and then undo the bleed valve untill you hear no air coming out and then close it again.