Dearne Valley invention on sale in stores throughout country

A DEARNE Valley inventor’s new product, designed to make light work of removing radiators, has gone on sale in hundreds of B&Q stores.

Former Goldthorpe colliery fitter and entrepreneur Tony Cardno has created a radical new design for the humble radiator valve which means there is no need to drain a radiator before taking it off the wall to decorate.

His radiator isolation valve impressed buyers at the DIY giant so much that they have ordered 7,000 units, meanning the 'Never Drain' valve will be on sale in 250 stores from this month.

The B&Q order represents Tony’s first big deal following seven years hard work and investment to design, develop, patent and manufacture his innovation.

The inventor, who founded TLC Developments with his nephew and business partner Shaun Perry to promote the new valve, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see our product on the shelves at B&Q.

“It’s been a long journey to get to this point and we hope this significant order with such high-profile retailer will be the first of many.”

TCI Developments Ltd has been supported to bring their product to market by Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC) through the Enterprising Barnsley programme, which is funded by Barnsley Council.

Tony had the idea for his radiator isolation valve, which can seal off radiators from heating systems, while he was changing a radiator at Shaun’s chalet in Cleethorpes in 2008.

“It was such a messy and cumbersome job having to drain the thing before I could take it off the wall and I thought, there’s got to be a better way to do this,” he said.

“My valve simply seals the radiator on the one hand and then closes the pipe to the heating system on the other so that it just lifts off the wall intact with its chemical-based inhibitor fluid still inside.

“It removes the need for towels on the floor to soak up spillages and also means you don’t have to pour the anti-corrosive fluid taken from a radiator down the drain, which ultimately pollutes our water courses.

“It makes it a much easier, quicker, greener DIY job.”

The company has registered the patent for Tony’s design and gained the BS 2767 standard, following rigorous testing at Sheffield Testing Laboratories. The product is now being manufactured in China.

The pair’s long-term ambition is to encourage all new-build homes and social housing developments to be fitted with the radiator isolation valve as standard.

Tony Cardno (left) and Shaun Perry with isolation radiator valve