Mend > Plumbing

Has my heated towel rail been installed correctly?

I had a general builder install my towel rail and I think it has been installed upside down but wanted confirmation.

The bleed valve is at the bottom and the valves are at the top, which seems very strange to me and the radiator does not work. It will get warm if I bleed it but no air escapes; only water.

The builder claims the radiators need balancing but the rest work and I tried isolating this one but no joy.

Thanks

Alex
May 2008

D.I.Y, Plumbing Heated Towel Rail

hi alex your towel rail is incorrectly installed your bleed valve should be at the top as you say to vent the air ive been plumbing and heating for fifteen years and did chuckle when looked at your message you can have a top and bottom entry in a rad but bleed valve still at top it needs changing

mr wheeler
May 2008

Thanks for the replies.

I have turned them all off and it doesn't get hot. Every other radiator works perfectly.

I don't fully understand radiators but to my mind you cannot release the airlock if the bleed valve is at the bottom and therefore balancing would be a wasted exercise. Is this right?

Alex
May 2008

its still upside down though balanced or not. the bleed valve goes to the top to allow you to bleed air out.

zzzzzzzzzzzz
May 2008

Turn all the radiators off except the towel rail and see if it gets hot, if it does then go to each rad and open all the valves 1/4 turn until there is a balance the one nearest the pump is opened less than the one the furtherest away which will need to be opened more etc. If the towel rail does not get hot then there is a airlock. The builder should balance it for you

Roger
May 2008