How to unstick a thermostatic radiator valve

[@ChrisHazle-tn1hn]

OK, this video is old - but still valid! Our CH was installed in 2003 and has Siemens Trade TRV's on every radiator, of course it had to be the rad in her ladyship's dressing room which stuck. Thanks to this video I had confidence to remove the TRV head then play with the shown shaft. Tapped the shaft back down with a rubber mallet then pulled it up a couple of times, turned the CH on, could feel the hot water coming through straight away. Should get me many brownie points when herself gets home from work. Many thanks Sebastian, you rescued me from the expense of a call-out!

[@barryliu8]

Thank you. You are a life saver. I'm in a hotel apartment in Iceland and 3 out of 4 radiators don't work. I tried it your way and they all work perfectly now. Your video deserves an award.

[@ashleighfletcher1839]

Fantastic tips! We were just about to drain our system to replace the valve but saw your video first - you saved us hours of work and hassle.

[@aym280]

Thank you, Sebastian! It saves me a packet! A nice soothing voice is a bonus on top of the useful advice!

[@ukrangers4194]

Your first suggestion worked like a dream on my rad that had never worked, perfect advice!

[@greenc5544]

You have credibility, my man! Many thanks, Sebastian. I have one particular valve that always sticks, and in the past I have solved it by gently pulling the needle upwards and agitating it to release the inner valve mechanism. 2 days ago the needle actually separated from the top of the valve seat( but stayed attached to the valve assembly top). I was in despair, but thanks to your guidance ( a quick tap on the side of the valve followed by a gentle tap on top the pushed down needle itself and yes! .. its working again ( and without any leaks too). really didn't think that would work , so... brilliant! Well done as you've saved me the nightmare of changing it after 30 years of reliable service.

[@guitarcat5]

A beautifully clearly explained video..(I just hope I can sort the problem now!) The most important tip I've picked up here is 'Leave the valves OPEN when heating is turned off'...I wish I'd known that before, but better late than never! Thanks,Anni :O)

[@Chaa006]

Amazing -- I now have a hot radiator in my upstairs office for the first time in eight years ! Thank you, Sebastian.

[@lucvandemoortele6291]

dear Sebastian, thank you very much! I repaired my van in 3 minutes and saved money thanks to your video! Kind regards, Luc

[@mwiltshire99]

Thanks for the clear explanation. Just got my radiator working again on a cold day.

[@flyingmedic]

You just saved me a plumber call out. Three radiators are now working which previously were not:-) thank you. Paul

[@noelthomasuk]

Legend, fixed it, been freezing in my study for months, now toasty again, thanks, great vid

[@suetv7084]

Thanks, all explained clearly! I am so glad I watched the video before trying to pull on the pin. :) Radiator is nice and warm now.

[@richardkelly8340]

Brilliant and very clear explanation. Have been trying to get the plumber to come for ages - now fixed it myself. Thank yoi

[@andreysamykin1143]

thanks for the hint to knock the pin! it helped me to get both of my batteries working again! Pins were stuck; first one came out quickly, second one took a minute of knocking.

[@samehfarag]

That is really useful. You just saved me a lot of money. I fixed the radiator in no time. Keep up the good work

[@LydiatjeS]

Hi Sebastian, thanks for the great video! Fixing a radiator was really very easy, thanks to your instructions. Our house is nice and warm again, without having to hire help fixing it. Saved a lot of time and money :-)

[@dougturner7576]

Great advice - thanks. Gentle wiggle with pliers, and whoosh! hot room again. Saved a drain down and much grief!

[@emmacrooks8495]

The sticking thermostat pin vid really helped me I knew it was something going on with my thermostat. So I followed your instruction and released the pin and I now have a hot radiator 👏 saved me £40 and another tool to my belt thanks so much, Emma 😁

[@JohnAnderson-kd6yl]

Top tip. Mine are the thin pins that are not attached to the washer. A few taps as you suggested had them working perfectly. Thanks.

[@Wesdag]

Thanks a lot. The tapping directly on the pin worked a treat.

[@carlodonne2]

fixed a sticking valve in 20 secs thank you so much

[@platypusdagger]

Many thanks, radiator been cold all winter...finally decided to trying and figure out why and this was perfect ... A little wiggle and a tap! Many thanks, vicky

[@edwilko8819]

Great vid thanks a million my bathroom rad was stone cold and was a stuck valve taken thermostatic Honeywell part off as every tine screw it back down in the open 5 position it closes the valve again. No more cold bathroom on a cold dark sunday night. Your a star 👍🏼

[@iaingeddes3319]

Brilliant - job done, hot radiator. Little tap with the pliers and the stuck pin popped out. Thank you!!!

[@Jaynieprincess]

Ah this is great :) followed the instructions and sorted both of my radiators that had stopped working. Saved me calling out a plumber! Thank you!

[@justinwiggy]

Great tip. Two were not working after summer. Both now fixed!

[@markmurphy7022]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! My radiator is piping hot again!!!!! Cheers from Ireland

[@oscarviegas5839]

Just fixed the Control valve which had accidentally come off. Thanks for the video.

[@spartacus09ful]

Perfect worked a treat :) The radiator hadn't been on for a year and with the valve down must of stuck that pin, slight twist with pliers it popped right up. Thanks again :)

[@mohammedjelloo8023]

Solved the problem by pulling the stuck thin pin a bit. The whole pin came out in my hand, and fluid started leaking, but all leak stopped as soon as I replaced the pin. Thank you.

[@oglaz]

Excellent video! Can you tell from your experience what will cause the valve to stuck fully open? No matter how I adjust/ twist to any number the thermostat you show on the video my bedroom radiator is always same temperature. Which part do I have to exchange you think 🤔?

[@Fauxleroid]

I have the same thing. Did you find out what it was?

[@paulking9880]

Thanks Sebastian, I thought it was a bleed problem but when I looked at the pin it was only protruding a few millimeters. A gentle pull upwards with a slight twist seems to have released the hot water Thanks again.

[@8ailey947]

Fantastic, just fixed the raditor in my kids room. Just needed a little wiggle. Thanks!

[@petertr2000]

Thanks - Nice and clear and now I understand how they work and don't need to worry about messing with them. Just fixed my problem

[@DavidHorstman888]

Thanks! The movie helped a lot to fix a valve in one of my radiators which got stuck after keeping it closed during summer. The pin was out, but after pushing it a few times in and bang a bit at the side in the right direction, the water started to run.

[@simonlonergan9737]

Thank you, a slight twist of the pin with a pair of pliers and immediately the radiator heated up!! Nice an toasty now

[@dirtyharry7728]

Just what I needed to see and hear! I’ll try it in the morning when the shops are open in case in goes wrong 😁

[@Martin-ow2dt]

Really useful. This has enabled me to free up my radiator. Many thanks

[@martinhardy8724]

Great video, now have a working hot radiator, saved me a plummer's call out and a new valve fee

[@woodbine66]

Great to see you've made some more plumbing vids. Always great quality and informative. Especially the 3 port valve one. Many thanks!

[@Bazzerboy1959]

Came across your tip today, a huge thanks for taking the time to put this clip out there, worked just as you described. 👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁

[@lloydgudgeon363]

Thank you - fixed it in about 30 seconds! Excellent advice.

[@dhiruparmar8908]

Excellent Brilliant explanation. Simple direct information. Thank you so much !

[@paulralph2022]

I found this helpful - thank you kindly Sebastian.

[@alexpaterson5074]

great - I've just fixed my radiator valve with your help - thank you

[@tonywalton1464]

Lovely! Thanks for that - you've just saved me an expensive call to a plumber. One hot radiator. Just out of interest, though, my TRV heads aren't held on with nuts. They're held on with catches which you release by turning a ribbed sleeve anticlockwise by hand until it clicks. Good because you don't need any tools, not good because it implies the designers at Danfoss thought you might need to do this fairly frequently! Also bad because it means nobody else's head will fit. Again though, thanks.

[@paulrusselldockerty114]

Thank you very much,l got my bedroom radiator hot again after it stopped working for a few days just by a few short taps as advised, Cheers

[@michaelgraham7301]

great vid. took less than one minute and it was fixed. thanks

[@mikhailolferiev7906]

Thank you. So simple and it works again.

[@iainrussell8847]

excellent video, saved me calling the heating eng., back....thank u

[@nicholaspratt7934]

Drayton TRV 4 heads break where the plastic joins the captive nut ring that holds them on after about 15 years. I have replaced a few in the past and 2 this week (from Screwfix), expensive valves but they are available as just the head.

[@lsimat1]

Just done our cold rad thanks great vid good old KZbin thanks again

[@nicnak4475]

Hi Sebastian excellent video as always and nice and simply explained , I have a broken TRV head and I matched to another and screwed it on but it does not do a lot so maybe the pin has to be the same on both heads ? so going to have to change the whole TRV I reckon .

[@ianthompson9201]

Very helpful and clearly explained. Thanks!

[@Michael-bd8ov]

Great thanks, didn't think that simply tapping it would loosen the washer!

[@johnpeace6701]

Smashing advice, worked a treat. Thanks.

[@rogda123]

thank you so much for this video. very well explained and resolved my problem.

[@annmckechnie8290]

Thanks for that iv now got my radiator working

[@rad1k]

Thank you sir! a light tap fixed it for me!

[@Ash-up9gl]

THANK YOU I CAN FEEL WARMTH AGAIN

[@philcatterall5589]

Brilliant! Worked perfectly also for me. Many thanks.

[@PamelaGreen354]

Can you advise bulldog thermostat only my radiator is stuck with pin up I have broken one thermostat trying to close the radiator/ alter the temperature flow. 🌼

[@rogersmith9984]

Thank you watched the video clip of the thermostat and the pin and washer was stuck good wallop on the pipe and all working now thank you

[@4511toby]

Roger Smith b

[@emmajaneuieiligh4893]

Brilliant. Thanks so much. Saved me calling someone out. Wiggled the pin and up it went.

[@rodderby]

Thanks for the tips Seb,worked for me.

[@DavidGarcia-mm6sh]

Good stuff - rad valve now working again, thanks

[@Paul-hy6rp]

very informative, fixed my cold rad...thanks............

[@shaun9407]

It worked for me. Thank you 👍

[@janicejones8374]

Thank you! saved me a lot of money calling out a plumber!

[@jlh8697]

My small pin popped out and water went everywhere I fitted the valve back on. Water won’t come back out again will it even if the valve is back on.

[@chylogurti]

Hi there Sebastian you make it look so easy. The pin is stuck. Would spraying with wd40 help before tapping? Thanks great vid

[@plumbteam]

Not often... be careful- if you pull the pin right out it will leak. Tapping is better

[@chylogurti]

Thank you@@plumbteam

[@chylogurti]

I bought a used valve top from an auction site British Gas 1208. But....the plastic thing (wax capsule/little white bit!) that moves up and down in the actual top is stuck. When I turn the open close it doesn't move. Any suggestions? Are they all the same screw size to fir the rad?Thanks

[@Barney29508]

I have Bulldog valves. I have one that is seized solid on fully open. The pin is chamfered such that you cannot grab it with pliers as you are doing. I have sprayed Plusgas on it and left it. After a while I've tried depressing the pin but it won't budge. Is there anything else I can do?

[@GK-qc5ry]

Should you be able to press on it down with your fingers? I tried to press it down and it wouldn't budge from an up position?

[@mariyag9358]

So informative, thanks for a great video

Exactly what I needed. Thanks!

[@turboslag]

What about the opposite problem? That is, the rad is at full temp continuously and the thermo valve has no effect? I have tried a new head, and wiggling the pin.

[@Henry_Crun]

Brilliant! Really well explained!

[@simonpett2809]

Hi Sebastian Wonder if you could help me. I have wiggled the pin and now have heat but as soon as I put white cover back. The heat suddenly goes off. What do I do

[@5tanw0rr311]

It looks like the pin is stuck so I’ve used pliers to wiggle, water is seeping out now! Looks like I’ll be replacing 😕

[@sop1710]

What do you do when the valve goes up and down as normal but the rotating part refuses to turn? I couldn't turn the radiator on as it was stuck on zero. I must have opened the valve somehow with the tweezers and now it's stuck on though because I've reattached the dial, it still says zero with it on what feels like 6.

[@johndrover]

Hi - on my rad its on full all the time so is maybe the pin stuck up not down? Can i take off th ethermostatic control and try and loosen the wax plug?? or is it broken???

[@MrDaiseymay]

MY DUFF 'HONEYWELL' HAS A VERY SLIM PIN, WHICH IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THE HEAT COME THROUGH ONE MINUTE, THEN SHUTS OFF THE NEXT. IT LOOKS TO BE A LIME SCALE PROBLEM

[@craigsmart1710]

How do u fix if the little cream thing inside th try head doesn’t move.

[@petegibney7924]

Is it possible to buy a new head and change that so as not to have to drain down and replace the whole valve?

[@wendywhittingham2658]

My rad is only getting hot half way up, I've tried bleeding it but neither water or air is vowing out??

[@lengmuzik6333]

My valves are on all the time how do I fix it

[@drizzydre8894]

My valve is an older model because it’s an old house.. is it same fix?

[@DanY-gx2dv]

What about if the radiator won't turn ON? I think I messed my valve up turning it too quickly and now it won't turn off. I've tried unsticking the pin incase that was the problem but it didn't seem to have any effect.

[@ianwilson784]

Hi, great video. I've got a couple of Danfoss TRV's that are stuck open. I've taken the tops off and the pins are solid. There is an adjustable collar on top of the valves which I have turned clockwise to reduce the flow as much as I can but they're still refusing to shut down. Any ideas anyone?

[@lofturhjalmarsson295]

l tæhink collars adjust not clockwise but find highest number and let it face to rad, maybe, not sure. to get flow more, oh you want less. low nr then

[@TheFeathersHotel]

Excellent information

[@axyridis9436]

what if the pin keeps getting stuck? on mine i have to take the thermostat off and pull the pin up every day because any time i turn the thermostat down it stays there.. tried wd40... guessing i need a new one :(

[@oliverclarke5093]

My valve won’t turn the temperature down, my radiator is way too hot. Got any advice ?

[@stephanieknowles7643]

Unscrew the valve head and use pliers to pull the pin outwards. Slide it back a forth a few times to get it loosened.

[@rayc1503]

Perished international rubber seal letting the water constantly bypass through the radiator. As a temp solution you could adjust the lockshield valve on the opposite side down. The complete Trv body and head will need to be changed or rebuilt using a kit if available.

[@toddclayton]

I had the opposite problem. A valve stuck open. The knob wasn't pushing down on the pin to close the valve. Found this video to see how the valves work, and wedged the pin down.

[@leannerobson3998]

My radiator is on 0 but is still providing heat? X

[@twiztwiz9717]

It would have been nice to see how you take off and put on the radiator thermostat itself but otherwise a good video thanks

[@richardhumphrey3354]

Pin was free but washer was stuck no end of tapping would free it up so I turned off all but one of the other Rads and it did the trick extra flow unseated the washer

[@BenjiBartlett]

Well done mate. Great vid. Worked a treat. Toasty now! ;o)

[@lanky386]

Any idea why my radiator makes a banging noise?

[@Mortimer50145]

I think my thermostatic valve has stuck the *opposite way*: the radiator is permanently on rather than permanently off. If I turn the thermostatic unit down to frost, and then unscrew it if from the valve, it pops off with great force as if the temperature sensitive unit is pressing hard on the pin which isn't going down. I've tried tapping the shaft sideways, applying teflon bike oil, hammering down, trying to rotate the shaft in mole grips. Nothing makes the shaft move up or down or to rotate. Any suggestions?

[@ANACRU5IS]

Hi there, did you get resolved. I'm having same issue, where rad no on all the time even when thermostat set to 0

[@rayc1503]

@@ANACRU5IS The rubber inside has more then likely perished. It's allowing water to constantly pass through the radiator. The whole point of it is to restrict the flow. If it's a Honeywell, legler or bulldog valve rebuild kits are available. I guess if you're going to the effort of rebuilding it. You may as well change the complete Trv. I have a pipe freezing machine after I plug it I change it.