Is it possible to safely turn off hot water radiators? There are two radiators in small unused bedrooms...?

Question

I would like to turn off one of the radiators in each of the unused rooms. It gets very warm in those rooms and I think one will suffice. Is it possible to safely turn one off? The thermostat is in the living/dining room area that is much larger and cooler, so that will control the temperature of the more frequently used rooms. Do the radiators have to be bled before you turn them off? Will turning them off save fuel (oil) costs? I think there is a shut off valve at the bottom of each radiator. Will shutting any of these off cut of the flow to the other radiators in the house? Any advice will be appreciated...

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

If you only have one thermostat, then all your radiators are in a common loop or zone. If you shut off any radiators in that loop, you shut off water flow to all radiators. Go to the boiler and see how many zone valves are coming off of the manifold or common header. If you live in an apartment or condo complex, check with the building engineer or superintendent.

Answer 2

Yes, you should be able to turn off & isolate any radiator in any
room in the system...

Answer 3

Sure, just close the feeder valve at the base of the radiators. Hot water heating systems use a recirculating water system. Closing the feeder to the radiators is like throwing a switch that makes the hot water bypass those particular radiators. The hot water just goes by until it finds the next open valve, where it enters that radiator instead.

You don't bleed the radiators unless you have air in the system ... the bleeder valves release the air that may be trapped in a particular radiator ... that's all.

Answer 4

That's a "No" and "No" and a "No"