seized up drain tail

[chucka]

Hi everyone

came to drain my CH today to replace three way MID valve. thought I'd use one of the drain tails.. fitted to every RAD! (No low point drain access on my system) The tail is the vertical type between the valve and the Rad.. chromed tube with a rad key type release square head.

Only things is I could not budge it and was frightened of doing something that made it leak.. so in desperation i used the brass drain tap above the boiler to lower the heating water level. (Mid valve in airing cupboard upstairs.)
OK.. the job is done but I want to replace a radiator later in the month (got one ready) but I want to use that drain tail on the old rad too.. make it a lot easier.. Anyone had success with loosening these drain heads. they look soft like the vent plugs

many thanks for your advice..

 

[New Gas Engineer]

My rads have these awful drain valves too. Last time I drained my system I ended up rounding off the brass drain off head.

Terrible design.

 

[chucka]

That's what I was afraid of.. I suppose rounded off is better than leaked afterwards..

They are tantalisingly appealing but.....

 

[Stu-B]

Think you just take your chances with them, maybe you’ll get lucky

 

[chucka]

Think you just take your chances with them, maybe you’ll get lucky

Thanks.. I'd like to try something easier than a bleed key.. Apart from awkward.. Not easy to put much purchase on them. Square socket? Freeing spray possible?
Clutching here
.. Ps. What a wide variety in pricing (for literally the same item) on plumbing stuff!

 

[Burger]

Tried spraying with wd-40? I usually find tapping the key with a hammer loosens them sometimes. However why not renew it if your renewing the rad?
You could try draining through the rad valve.

 

[chucka]

Tried spraying with wd-40? I usually find tapping the key with a hammer loosens them sometimes. However why not renew it if your renewing the rad?
You could try draining through the rad valve.

thanks for the tip.. forgot about easing fluids.

Yes i could do that... been looking at some of the ideas/kits.

I would like to flush the whole system (the rad i have as a replacement is upstairs and so draining even with the valves open wont drain most of the system water out) the only other drain tap is the one over the boiler on the ground floor right high up by the ceiling in kitchen.. all of the rads on the ground have these tails and was hoping that at least one of them would free up.

I'm definitely going to try your suggestion.. thanks.

 

[Burger]

all of the rads on the ground have these tails and was hoping that at least one of them would free up.

If your going to flush the system then you will need a reliable drain valve, so you could try draining through the rad valve on the ground floor and then change for a new drain off?

 

[chucka]

I feel stupid now

That's why there are Pros here. Teach us newbies something

 

[Burger]

We do try