Leaking radiator

jasdev

Tried to find an option to upload photos from my phone here but not found one so far...

I came home after half a day out to find a pool of brownish fluid on my bathroom tiles, tracing the source up one side of my radiator. The leak appears to be coming from a slim hexagonal nut on the top.

I didn't have the heating on at all today, but it has been on during the week and I've not noticed any previous leak (unless my bath mat has been soaking it all up without taking on a brownish colour).

I think my landlord isn't able to do anything before Monday so I figured I would try to tighten it in order to stem the flow before I can get them out to look at it.

I haven't got a wrench so I'm off to see what Sainsbury's or Wilko have in stock, but I thought I would find out what the wise men and women of MSE Forums can advise while I wait til Monday!


Actually, this guy might have pointed me in the correct direction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e0HzJhxZtc
If it is the packing gland, I guess I also need to buy some PTFE just in case and try that, if I can buy it.

Browntoa

It's the bleed valve , may just need tightening .

But may be rusted solid in place

EssexExile

Personally I wouldn't touch it. You may make it better, you may make it a lot worse.

C_Mababejive

Leave well alone. if you mess it up you and the property will get very wet. Your landlord will not be happy and neither will you.

Mr.Generous

Rad bleed valve and stop end set …

https://www.screwfix.com/p/radiator-vent-blanking-plug-chrome-2-pack/40972

£3.19 pair, however you need to drain down a bit and possibly top up a bit of inhibitor so in a renter I'd be passing this to the land lord.

jasdev

Thank you all for responding!

As it's late and I'm not fully alert, I think I will sleep and contact my landlord in the morning to see what they say again.

I hope my bath towel is sufficient to soak up the leak overnight; at the moment a slow drip so crossing my fingers it does not get any worse!

Alex1983

Turn off both radiator valves and the leak will stop. Let landlord get someone in Monday to fix.

jasdev

Now that a temporary fix has been applied, I've tried to wash the two bath towels that picked up radiator fluid stains, but both a 60 degree and a 90 degree wash (both with normal amounts of laundry detergent for the size of the load) failed to shift the stains.


Any ideas?

worried_jim

jasdev wrote: »

Now that a temporary fix has been applied, I've tried to wash the two bath towels that picked up radiator fluid stains, but both a 60 degree and a 90 degree wash (both with normal amounts of laundry detergent for the size of the load) failed to shift the stains.


Any ideas?

Buy new towels.

southcoastrgi

worried_jim wrote: »

Buy new towels.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

jasdev

That.s plan B...