Bleed valves on electric towel rails

[Ampo]

Hi all could someone just clarify with me that there is no need for bleed valves on electric only element towel rads?
Cheers

 

[Taylortwocities]

When you fill the radiator - you put water in and the air has to escape to make room for the water!

 

[buzzlightyear]

When you fill the radiator - you put water in and the air has to escape to make room for the water!

try putting it in upside down .

 

[Ampo]

I thought you left some water out as a cusion?

 

[davesparks]

No there is no need for air bleeds, yes you do normally leave some air space and they normally have some sort of corrosion inhibitor added to the water.

 

[Ampo]

Meant to say these are prefilled full of water/inhibitor so turned upside down to fit element. They come with 4 x blanks installed but do have a bleed valve in the pack which I'm guessing is for CH systems

 

[Ampo]

No there is no need for air bleeds, yes you do normally leave some air space and they normally have some sort of corrosion inhibitor added to the water.

Thanks Dave was writing at the same time. Customer is questioning me and I have said that it's a closed system so no point in bleeding as no way to top back up

 

[Ampo]

Think he thinks they will explode

 

[Taylortwocities]

Meant to say these are prefilled full of water/inhibitor so turned upside down to fit element. They come with 4 x blanks installed but do have a bleed valve in the pack which I'm guessing is for CH systems

Yes, but in 5 years time, when the element fails, someone will need to drain down the rad and replace the element. Then refill the radiator from the top. It's somewhat inconvenient to have to take the whole enchilada off the wall to do this.

 

[davesparks]

Think he thinks they will explode

It might explode if it is completely full with no air cushion. Or implode if all the air is bled out when it's hot.

Yes, but in 5 years time, when the element fails, someone will need to drain down the rad and replace the element. Then refill the radiator from the top. It's somewhat inconvenient to have to take the whole enchilada off the wall to do this.

Assuming the element is short enough to do this without taking it off the wall then a bleed valve will be of no use, you can't refill it through a bleed valve.

When replacing these elements I've always taken the towel rail off the wall and turned it upside down to avoid having to drain and refill it.

 

[Ampo]

Yes, but in 5 years time, when the element fails, someone will need to drain down the rad and replace the element. Then refill the radiator from the top. It's somewhat inconvenient to have to take the whole enchilada off the wall to do this.

I'm talking purely from a safety point of view, to do what your suggesting would require a bleed valve on the bottom of the towel rad as a drainage point which imho isn't really what they are designed for. I can see leeks in the future but stand corrected if this isn't what you mean

 

[Taylortwocities]

The usual (not already filled) radiators come with blanking plugs for three corners and a bleed valve for the forth (top corner).

If you need to refill/top up later on, then you can do this through the blanking plug at the top of the rad. To drain, remove the blank plug on one of the bottom corners.

Of course, if it's a dual fuel rad (CH + electric) then you'll have the usual lockshields, etc on the bottom corners.

 

[Ampo]

Ok so no safety issue then, thanks for the advice guys

 

[Midwest]

Wots it say on the packet?

With electric towel rads, I normally follow manufacturers instructions, which normally say don't mess with whats already there.

 

[GBDamo]

Think he thinks they will explode

Stick an 18L expansion vessel on the wall and flexi to the bleed valve port.

You really cannot be too careful with unvented systems......