Leaking radiator

worried_jim

I noticed my hallway radiator leaking water this morning. It is not coming from a pipe connection but from the bottom of the radiator itself. Before I get a plumber out is it a job I can do myself?

The radiator is not a huge one so do I just need to get a replacement of the same size?
Is it the sort of thing I can get a B&Q or should I go to a plumbers merchant (I have both nearby)
The pipes are grey plastic as opposed to metal, do I just unscrew the fittings and lift of the wall and then fit the new one?
I have never bled a radiator but I know how to top the water up in the boiler system for optimum pressure.

If this is not a job I can do myself how much should I budget for, I do know a good plumber who has serviced my boiler in the past but if I can do the job myself , learn a few new skills and save some money then brilliant

edit- it is a steel panel radiator.

keystone

Sounds like it has rusted through and your only real choice is to replace it. The problem you will have is that its almost inevitable that the physical size of the new rad (wherever you source it from) will be different requiring pipework adjustments. The brackets will be in the wrong place too! This will usually mean a drain down and certainly will if you are doing it yourself.

If its a case of full drain down, fit new, refill, test, balance and new inhibitor you'll be looking at iro £200 probably excluding the rad. As the system will be drained its perhaps sensible to carry out a chemical clean of the whole system first. Your plumber will advise.

Cheers

Barneysmom

Here, have a look, it's relatively easy to change one....

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/removing_a_radiator.htm

diable

I would make sure you know exactly where the water is leaking from before going any further.

keystone

diable wrote: »

I would make sure you know exactly where the water is leaking from before going any further.

Good point but I though the OP was fairly clear where it was coming from:

It is not coming from a pipe connection but from the bottom of the radiator itself.

Cheers

amcluesent

You could try a temporary fix by introducing leak sealer in the C/H water - https://www.screwfix.com/prods/88705/Plumbing/Central-Heating-Treatment/No-Nonsense-Central-Heating-Leak-Sealer-500ml

diable

Water has funny ways of travelling, how old is the rad, could it be leaking from the valve joint or the pipe attacher to the rad or even from the nipple at the top.

Wipe away what you can then have a feel around as sometimes it only takes a midges wing tip turn of a spanner to sort the leak out or to flood the house if the person holding the spanner is more of a spanner then the spanner ;o))))))))

diable

amcluesent wrote: »

You could try a temporary fix by introducing leak sealer in the C/H water - https://www.screwfix.com/prods/88705/Plumbing/Central-Heating-Treatment/No-Nonsense-Central-Heating-Leak-Sealer-500ml

I just can't imagine what that would do to your boiler.

worried_jim

diable wrote: »

Water has funny ways of travelling, how old is the rad, could it be leaking from the valve joint or the pipe attacher to the rad or even from the nipple at the top.

Wipe away what you can then have a feel around as sometimes it only takes a midges wing tip turn of a spanner to sort the leak out or to flood the house if the person holding the spanner is more of a spanner then the spanner ;o))))))))

Will do. I think its on the bottom where the pipe come in.I have a friend who will help me fit a new one if necessary on the 18th, its not ideal but I an managed until then and it shouldn't cost more than £50.

keystone

worried_jim wrote: »

I think its on the bottom where the pipe comes in.

Ahh - thats different then. Where is it on this pic?



or more specifically which part of the assembly in relation to this one:



Cheers

A.Penny.Saved

diable wrote: »

I would make sure you know exactly where the water is leaking from before going any further.

My thoughts exactly.

diable wrote: »

Water has funny ways of travelling, how old is the rad, could it be leaking from the valve joint or the pipe attacher to the rad or even from the nipple at the top.

Wipe away what you can then have a feel around as sometimes it only takes a midges wing tip turn of a spanner to sort the leak out or to flood the house if the person holding the spanner is more of a spanner then the spanner ;o))))))))

Old radiator valves do frequently leak water. When I moved into my home, many of the valves were leaking, most of which were solved by a slight tightening but two were not. I had to replace the valves to stop it.

So be certain that the leak is coming from the Radiator or the valves/pipework before doing anything. Replacing a radiator will be a lot more difficult than solving a leaking valve or joint. A CH inhibitor should help prevent radiators from rusting from the inside.