New radiators leaking...

*Trouble*

My Dad replaced two of my radiators, but couldn't get them to stop leaking (both sides of each radiator).

I called out a plumber and he tightened both sides up and said to leave it a week and see if they still leaked... they did (he talked about my Dad over tightening the bit that goes into the radiator, you should see thread left outside the radiator?). He came back today and took the ends off, put more tape on and tightened them back up. When he left, they were still leaking, but nowhere near as badly, just wet rather than dripping. Now he's talking about putting something in the system to stop the leaks. Looking online most say that this is the 'cowboy way' of stopping leaks.

Anyone have any idea why the radiators could still be leaking and if the leak stop stuff is the best way to stop it..?



Leaking from radiator connection and pipe connection.



Leaking from pipe connection.

Next pipe is currently not leaking. This is also the only pipe that gets hot at the moment, due to sludge problem... the reason the radiators were replaced in the first place.



Leaking from radiator connection and pipe connection.

Grenage

It sounds like the pipe or connection might have been distorted by over-tightening, and they keep adding more PTFE tape to try and stop the problem. The leak stop stuff is a bad idea.

Just to be crystal, can you upload a picture and highlight the section that's leaking?

andyhop

You don't PTFE the valve threads. Its the face that creates the seal.

Use LSX to seal the face

*Trouble*

Grenage wrote: »

Just to be crystal, can you upload a picture and highlight the section that's leaking?

Done.

For clarity, the original radiators stopped heating up (radiators were more than 25 years old). Had to have 2 small rads as the wall is actually a bow window, which makes fitting them a pig. Black sludge came out of the old rads on emptying. New rad size was slightly smaller that the originals and very tight against the wall, old ones at least a few mm of clearance to the wall, these don't. One new rad is trying to heat up, but not reaching all the way to the next pipe, hence the next rad has no heat at all.

Zola.

Is that a Kudox radiator? I got one of those, and I think I regret it. Its not working and its only a week old !

*Trouble*

Zola. wrote: »

Is that a Kudox radiator? I got one of those, and I think I regret it. Its not working and its only a week old !

No idea what the make is I'm afraid.... it came from Selco.

Chanes

It sounds like your system needs cleaning out and it may be a good idea to get someone to fit a radiator who has that as a job, I think it has been mentioned but it sounds like the pipework and connection have become distorted? I know Dad's do things to help but sometimes...maybe not. Good luck! And I haven't seen a poster that has used the sealant put into the system successfully, it seems like a sticking plaster solution. Maybe that stuff works on pinholing?

*Trouble*

Chanes wrote: »

It sounds like your system needs cleaning out and it may be a good idea to get someone to fit a radiator who has that as a job, I think it has been mentioned but it sounds like the pipework and connection have become distorted? I know Dad's do things to help but sometimes...maybe not. Good luck! And I haven't seen a poster that has used the sealant put into the system successfully, it seems like a sticking plaster solution. Maybe that stuff works on pinholing?

This is why I've posted for advice. I had a plumber out this morning and it seems he can't fix the leak either.... plus he's the one that's now suggesting we try a 'leak stopper'. It's already cost me £60 for his visit today (where he undid the pipes and put more tape on the thread, before putting the pipes back on), he didn't fix the leaks... they were still oozing water when he checked.

Chanes

I would find another plumber it's crazy that a plumber cannot fix a leak! For the future is may be worth signing up for a contract with Homeserve os similar?

*Trouble*

Chanes wrote: »

I would find another plumber it's crazy that a plumber cannot fix a leak! For the future is may be worth signing up for a contract with Homeserve os similar?

A contract would be useless right now. The reason the rads were replaced was due to sludge build up, which is not covered by contracts.

As for another plumber, that's what I'm starting to think too. Unfortunately I emailed 6 local plumbers and only this one came back to me. :eek:

TheCyclingProgrammer

Try ringing them instead of emailing.