This article is about fitting Thermostatic Radiator Valves to microbore pipe used in Central Heating systems. It is equally applicable to fitting manual valves e.g. a lockshield valve when reworking or extending an existing microbore system.
Insert a fitting reducer into the valve so that the olive sits in the middle of the reducer and tighten so that the olive grips the reducer.
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Line the TRV body up with the existing valve body and mark the microbore for cutting to fit into the reducer.
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Cut the microbore where marked: in this instance a junior hacksaw is used as there isn't space to use a wheel-type cutter
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Unscrew the old valve body and tail from the radiator (this saves undoing the valve and then having to use an L-shaped hex key to unscrew the tail).
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Clean out the tapping in the radiator. A wet & dry vac can be used to suck out debris or the radiator can be taken off and flushed out.
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Prepare the microbore pipe tail for soldering checking that it is clean all the way round.
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Solder to the fitting reducer (making sure the valve nut is over the pipe first!). DON'T solder the joint with the valve attached as this is likely to damage rubber and plastic parts inside the valve.
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Check that solder can be seen all around the joint.
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Use preferred thread-sealing method and fit valve tail to radiator.
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Tighten valve nuts (supporting valve against twisting).
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Fit thermostatic head.
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