Is this my "drain cock"?

[djp_phillips]

Is this where I can drain the system in my home? I can't find anything else...

 

[Masood]

No. The brass canister circled red is the magnetic filter for your heating system. The braided hose in blue is the filing loop for your heating system. The drain offs are at the bottom of the second blue line from the left, and another one on the pipe next to it.

 

[djp_phillips]

These? Do I need to drain both or just any one of them?

 

[Masood]

View attachment 27847

These? Do I need to drain both or just any one of them?

Yes those. One will be on the flow, one on return. To fully drain the system, open both.

 

[djp_phillips]

How long would it take a professional to come in, drain the system and replace the valve with another one (my value is damaged so cannot turn radiator on)?

The plumbers I've spoken to in my area only tell me their hourly - but don't tell me how long this usually takes, happy to pay £50/£60 for this but not much more...

 

[Stoney Ground]

So if you're plumber/heating engineer charges £50 per hour would you still pay him if he only had time to drain system and remove valve.

Those DOCs are in a poor position will possibly have crap in them, may need new washers after. What if your system has air locks and takes an age to drain refill.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

as above it "could" take half an hour or considerably longer depending on various different circumstances

 

[Dotty]

If you're dictating the price you probably won't get much response.

Say, for an example, a lad has a £35.00 hourly rate. He won't actually be pocketing much more than £12.00 of that. The rest goes on insurances, tools, training, fleet, affiliations with bodies such as Gas Safe and so on.

 

[djp_phillips]

So I'm definitely coming across as an arse here but let me clarify what I meant - professionals will know how much time it takes to do a certain type of job, barring any nasty surprises, therefore I just think it's better for the customer to just be told it's a £200 job or a £250 job. Not "I'm £60/hour" I have no idea with that what kind of cost we're looking at.

Or at least I should be told an hour rate and an estimate number or hours it will take (emphasis on estimate here). Point being I shouldn't be thinking it's a £60 job if it is going to take several hours...

 

[Masood]

The plumbers I've spoken to in my area only tell me their hourly - but don't tell me how long this usually takes, happy to pay £50/£60 for this but not much more...

It's possible to swap a radiator valve in under 20 minutes, without draining the system. However, it takes years of training and experience to get the nerve to do it, and expensive insurance just to cover one's back in case it does go wrong. It's a shame that your perception of what the job is worth only seems to take into account the time required to do the job if all goes smoothly, and none of a tradesman's running costs, nor the value in having his/her wealth of knowledge and experience to deal with the unexpected.

 

[Masood]

Or at least I should be told an hour rate and an estimate number or hours it will take (emphasis on estimate here). Point being I shouldn't be thinking it's a £60 job if it is going to take several hours...

That's not unreasonable, but I would emphasise the possibility that if the system airlocks, then it could take a lot longer than estimated. I did this last week - told the customer my day rate plus materials as a worst case scenario. Finished in two hours, and charged accordingly as I was then able to move on to other jobs and still earn a full day's money.

 

[Best]

I have just yesterday replaced 3 rad valves to new trv valves. Nuts and olives and new tails changed, 2 of which had to be longer type.
It would have been a nightmare job for a non plumber, but I saved the customer money by being able to do it. So my experience and my van full of parts and various tools are worth a good hourly rate.
People that work for companies often have no clue to the real running costs of a business

 

[djp_phillips]

I'm sorry but I'm still feeling misunderstood - I want to get a professsional in

I value your knowledge and time very much, I just want to be clear on what it all means I guess, and also I'm interested in knowing what's what anyway to feel more capable myself.

Sorry if I've offended anyone.

 

[Masood]

I'm sorry but I'm still feeling misunderstood - I want to get a professsional in

I value your knowledge and time very much, I just want to be clear on what it all means I guess, and also I'm interested in knowing what's what anyway to feel more capable myself.

Sorry if I've offended anyone.

No offence taken (at least by me!). I think it's just a matter of opening peoples' eyes to how much it costs to run a business, and that probably less than 1/2 of the hourly rate goes to the tradesman.

Your best bet, seriously, is to post your location here:

[DLMURL="http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/im-looking-plumber-gas-engineer/"]I'm looking for a Plumber or Gas Engineer[/DLMURL]

You're guaranteed to not be ripped off - the job you're describing is hard to quote for as it can be a doddle or a nightmare, and hard to know which until after you start, but if you call in someone from the forum at least you can be certain of their honesty and skill.

 

[mfgs]

It could take 1 hour, it could take 3 hours. Depends on the type of system and how the set up is. Its hard to be any clearer than that without seeing it.

 

[djp_phillips]

Thank you all for the tips, one last question for here, what's this pipe going outside? Is that a one pipe draining solution? or is that the emergency/pressure too high escape pipe in case it's about to blow?

 

[mfgs]

Pressure relief, in case the system pressure goes above 3 bar. Then that valve will open to allow water out, I don't advise draining the system from there.

 

[Masood]

I don't advise draining the system from there.

Seconded! That would be asking for trouble!

 

[Dotty]

Thirded. If you, or anyone, tries to drain down from there you run the risk of it not seating again. And then it would have to be replaced at even more expense!