Plumbing problems

Many internal floods are caused by decorators or DIY enthusiasts who fail to realise how a thermostatic valve operates.

Figures 1–3 show you how a thermostatic radiator valve can be reliably capped or shut off when the radiator is taken off for decorating.

Figure 1: A modern TRV with its radiator coupling

Figure 2: The same valve, with the control head removed. Now screw down the plastic shut-off cap, which will depress home the valve plunger

Figure 3: Or you could fit an end blank to the radiator connection coupling thread, as shown here, to a standard radiator valve