Amtech C3155 Radiator hex Key

Product Information

Radiator keys for modern radiators will generally be a standardised size, so you needn’t worry about buying a radiator key that won’t fit. Square section means the plug has a square recess that the key will fit into for undoing and tightening.

Before looking at the different types of radiator keys and how they are used, it’s useful to know the different radiator fittings that they can operate. There are different radiator keys and spanners to install, remove or adjust all the radiator parts covered here. A rectangular central heating radiator has four tappings, one at each corner. Tappings are holes with internal (female) threads. They may look like short, open-ended pipes prior to fittings being screwed into them.If any of the nuts are leaking you can usually just tighten them up a little bit more with an adjustable spanner. How to Replace a Radiator Valve Tail Although using water pump pliers to open radiator drain valves is fine, the best radiator drain valve key for me is a small square headed ratchet. These can be used for opening drain valves, removing radiator valves, and many other things in your home including bleeding modern radiators. If you're a plumber or just a keen DIYer who wants the best tools, then ratchet tools are the best and make jobs so much easier. Sometimes when having problems with thermostatic radiator valves you can leave the actual valve and just replace the thermostat (or head). Radiator thermostat removed

You should also avoid using a cross head screwdriver. These will likely scratch and damage the valve, so these shouldn’t be used either. One of the two top tappings is fitted with an air vent plug, which has a bleed valve, sometimes known as an air release valve, for releasing any unwanted air, or ‘bleeding’ the radiator. To replace radiator valves without draining the system you need to be careful not to flood the place. This is not recommended for inexperienced people. Pressurised System You don’t need to replace the old nuts but if you want to you’ll need some olive cutters to remove the one on the pipe and you’ll probably have to replace the tail for the one on the radiator. Undoing radiator valve nut Fit the New Radiator ValveIt’s definitely not an easy job for someone who hasn’t done it before so if you get frustrated easily you should probably call someone in to do it. The valve tail should be really stiff to turn with a tool. If it’s not then it will probably leak, so you should: A universal radiator key can be a handy little tool. I always have one clipped to my work pants which is mainly used for the triangular gas meter cupboard key. A larger tail with a 3/4″ nut on that needs a step ratchet or large hex key inserted in to screw in and screw out of the radiator Below, you can find some radiator bleeding key substitutes that should do the task at hand just as well. However, before we reveal what these are, there are some tools that shouldn’t be used for this job.

They can also be used as a radiator drain valve key but there are many different sized heads so finding one key that fits all drain valve sizes is very unlikely. Summary There are also multi-way keys with several profiles for different functions but because of all the variables at play with different shapes, sizes and types, there's not yet any one tool to cover every eventuality; presumably, because there would have to be so many parts to the key! The most common plumbing tool that gets called a radiator spanner is a large hex or Allen key type for fitting and removing radiator valve tails.

So, are radiator keys universal, or are they manufacturer or model specific? Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all. Some appliances have different sizes and types of keys and valves, and some have fittings for universal keys, so what you require depends on exactly what radiators you have installed. The valve tail screws into the tapping, then the valve is connected to the tail with what’s known as a union connection. This is a nut with an olive – a brass ring that gets compressed, forming a seal, as the nut is tightened. If the air vent plug has an external (male) hexagon nut fitting, it can be fitted or removed with an open-ended or adjustable spanner. They vary in appearance but most have a similar square-headed bleed screw, sometimes called the bleed pin, at their centre. The bleed screw head is usually 5mm square. Radiator drain valves have a square head and are needed to drain radiators and central heating systems. My ratchet radiator drain valve key