Emergency - Leaking Radiator

sho_me_da_money

Guys,

My brother accidentally knocked my bedroom radiator quite hard. All of a sudden a slow dripping leak is turning into a a messy puddle.

I have just turned off the central heating system - will this stop the leak? I have no idea if the leak is dependant on whether the heating is on or off.

The drip is occuring from the big nut. Sorry for the vague description.

At the moment I have a towel wrapped around it, waiting for it to soak, and then straining it and placing it back in place hoping that it will automatically stop leaking now that the CH is off?

Please help. The workers can come out tomorrow to repair.

Thanks.

keystone

If its coming from the Big Nut then its the radiator side of the valve. Turn BOTH valves off then you can turn your CH back on again. We still have to deal with the water in the rad though.

You shouldn't need to get someone out to this if you have a large enough adjustable spanner - perhaps a neighbour can help you? Crack it open slightly whilst pushing the valve against the rad - that will stop much water coming out. Now make sure the valve is aligned correctly (ie in a straight line) and tighten the "big nut" back up again.

If that doesn't work then you will have to get someone in and should now drain the rad.

Get a container small enough to fit under the leak and drain the water from the rad into that (transferring to a bucket) by letting air in at the bleed valve. Once it is empty then you have no more leaks because the rad is empty and you've isolated it from the rest of the CH system.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

sho_me_da_money

Hi mate,

One side of the radiator has those turning thingys and ive set it to zero.

The other side is missing one but does have like a plastic knob at the top. This is tiny and tight as hell - old skool radiator. This is the leaking side.

There are 2 nuts on the leaking side, one that is horizontal and one that is on a vertical pipe that then goes under the floor. It the vertical one that is dripping. Alot of ewater has drained and ive soaked up shed loads of it. If i continue doing this, will the drip eventually die out?

Thanks again!

ormus

normally the plastic cover just pulls off and you need a spanner/key to turn off the valve.

keith969

sho_me_da_money wrote: »

There are 2 nuts on the leaking side, one that is horizontal and one that is on a vertical pipe that then goes under the floor. It the vertical one that is dripping.

If its leaking from the nut on the vertical pipe coming from the floor then turning off the valves won't help you. You can try getting a large spanner or mole wrench and tightening the nut, it may stop it if the pipe has not been bent too much.

If not, suggest you get a plumber in...

keystone

sho_me_da_money wrote: »

Hi mate,

One side of the radiator has those turning thingys and ive set it to zero.

The other side is missing one but does have like a plastic knob at the top. This is tiny and tight as hell - old skool radiator. This is the leaking side.

There are 2 nuts on the leaking side, one that is horizontal and one that is on a vertical pipe that then goes under the floor. It the vertical one that is dripping. Alot of ewater has drained and ive soaked up shed loads of it. If i continue doing this, will the drip eventually die out?

Thanks again!

Sorry bit late now but if the leak is on the smaller nut that goes on the pipe that drops below the floor closing the valve won't help. Get an adjustable on it, you'll need another one (mole grips if you've got one) to hold the valve body firmly. Slacken, yes slacken, the nut slightly. Position the valve so that its centrally over the pipe and then tighten it but don't overtighten it. You'll have to work fast otherwise you'll spill lots of water. If you can't remake the joint then its definately call out a plumber time.

Cheers

keystone

How are you getting on?

Cheers

retireby50

Not sure how he's getting on, but your last bit of advice has just sorted the problem nice and quickly for me - cheers Keystone!