Hi,
i need to replace the valves and lockshields on my old radiators. At the mo i have TRV's on there and i just want to replace them with standard NON thermo valves.....would the pro's on here be kind enough to reccomend some valves that would do the business for me...not the cheap & cheerful type and nothing too pricey either please..middle of the range will do.
The pipe is 15 mm but im not sure about the nut on the rad, someone said they are a standard size , is this true?
Thank you

Abby, May 2007

"speed fit" are one big company and although some plumbers do not like plastic fittings they do have their place. They don't leak ,full stop--
I would suggest Belmont valves as a good make - but any pair of 1/2" radiator valves should do the trick- most are supplied as 15mm connections with 10mm inserts.
I don't think you can get plastic radiator valves.

dave broadbent, June 2007

speed fit...ummmmm ok for a diy bodge as hi spec said,as for the spec they r good,i pressure test candidates work with sppedfit attatched to a hand pressure pump for their 6129 technical certificate in plumbing reaching 30bar which is very high as domestic water supplies are only at around 1-4bar on the mains but they need extra care when fitting if u use out of round pipe or painted this can damaged the seals inside the only plus to speedfit is they can be reused,removed easily via a small tool to push down a release collar better than hep20 counterpart,as a rule of thumb its best to leave most plumbing aspects to the professionals who have,like my self,studied in the massive knowlegde base there is in the plumbing world,tricks of the trade etc,as it will,i know cost money but in the long run save u money

dazzlin, May 2007

speedfit are a diy bodge. if your going to do it, do it so you can have peice of mind when you go out its not going to leak or blow off.

with speedfit your pipe has to be perfectly round, no paint on pipe etc.

you can get standard rad valves starting from £4 each.

hi-spec plumbing, May 2007

Also, how good, reliable, & 'worth it' are these speedfit, pushfit types of fittings that seem to be cropping up ? i have never used them but would like to know how they perform...i.e. do they leak?

Abby, May 2007