How can I turn the towel rail off

charleneann09

my towel rail is the closest radiator to my boiler so is having an impact on how the hot the rest of my radiators get. I want to turn it off or turn it down but it doesn't appear to have any valves like the rest of my radiators. Is there anyway I can turn it off or even turn the temperature on it down? If not is it possible to add thermostatic valves to it? I don't want to call a plumber as they are expensive. I've included pictures 

Billxx

There are experts out there who I am sure will contribute.  But to my eyes it is very odd to plumb in a radiator using the hot feed only, there does not seem to be any return.  If this is correct and it is the first radiator on the circuit, if you did turn it off it would deny all your radiators hot water.

charleneann09

Billxx said:

There are experts out there who I am sure will contribute.  But to my eyes it is very odd to plumb in a radiator using the hot feed only, there does not seem to be any return.  If this is correct and it is the first radiator on the circuit, if you did turn it off it would deny all your radiators hot water.

Urghh really. Is there any way to turn it down? It's the first one unfortunately. We bought it from a landlord so seems like they did lots of jobs themselves 

molerat

It may be that it is the bypass circuit for the system, needed to prevent damage to the system if the pump is running and none of the other radiators are on, which means you cannot turn it off unless you fit a bypass valve.  You need to understand your heating circuit before you do anything.  My bathroom rad is the bypass but is at the far end of the system.

ThisIsWeird

We need more info.
Make and model of boiler would be a good start.
Also, the type of system you have - is there a hot tank? 
And, does this towel rad come on with the CH, or DHW?

In short, tho', yes, it should be turndownable, but will need some plumbing skills. Not much, but some

FreeBear

I suspect there may be some lockshields (or even just inline valves) behind the boxing in - Lift the collar around the rigid pipe, shine a torch down, and see if there is anything visible. Failing that, you may need to remove some of the boxing-in to see what horrors lurk in there.

Very odd using flexible hoses like that to plumb in a radiator - One would normally use rigid pipe and have straight lockshields/valves at the base of the radiator.

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

I suspect there may be some lockshields (or even just inline valves) behind the boxing in - Lift the collar around the rigid pipe, shine a torch down, and see if there is anything visible.

Ooh, good point. That would be useful.

Yes, the job is very MickeyMouse, so good chance DIY/bodged by LL.

charleneann09

ThisIsWeird said:

We need more info.
Make and model of boiler would be a good start.
Also, the type of system you have - is there a hot tank? 
And, does this towel rad come on with the CH, or DHW?

In short, tho', yes, it should be turndownable, but will need some plumbing skills. Not much, but some

Glow worn combi I don't have a tank. It only comes on with the CH

charleneann09

FreeBear said:

I suspect there may be some lockshields (or even just inline valves) behind the boxing in - Lift the collar around the rigid pipe, shine a torch down, and see if there is anything visible. Failing that, you may need to remove some of the boxing-in to see what horrors lurk in there.

Very odd using flexible hoses like that to plumb in a radiator - One would normally use rigid pipe and have straight lockshields/valves at the base of the radiator.

I've tried I can't see anything. My husbandwont allowme to take the boxing off unless i get it all retiled. It's so annoying 

FFHillbilly

changing one of those flexis for one with a quarter turn isolator is an easy job and will allow you to control the towel rail. but you need to check that its not the heat loss option for the system before you do that. get some quotes, plumbers will at least be able to advise what you can or can't do

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said:

FreeBear said:

I suspect there may be some lockshields (or even just inline valves) behind the boxing in - Lift the collar around the rigid pipe, shine a torch down, and see if there is anything visible.

Ooh, good point. That would be useful.

Yes, the job is very MickeyMouse, so good chance DIY/bodged by LL.

Yup, Anyone that does plumbing wouldn't use PTFE tape on a compression fitting....

If the husband wants dinner cooked tomorrow, perhaps he would like to remove some of the boxing. The grout line at the back of the "shelf" is cracked, and I wouldn't be surprised if the corner trim at the front is held on with a dab or tow of mastic - Should be fairly easy to lift the left hand tile just to have a look.