Leaking Radiator

hopperdennis

I have a radiator that has developed a fine pin hole in the middle of it (I wonder how that has happened?). I’ve turned off the valve however when the boiler is on it still seems to be squirting out water. I suspect the valve is broken too and this is an older radiator, it seems I can’t lock it off. Currently in the middle of refurbishing the property, I have plans to replace the radiators in the near future however in the meantime I’m looking for something cheap and easy to cover that hole, as actually I would still like to use the radiator if possible for the next few weeks/months. Tried some gum and poly filler however that didn't keep the leak at bay unsurprisingly. Any cheap and easy recommendations welcome 

ariba10

There are two valves on the radiator.
Did you turn them both off?

rob7475

you could try some LSX, not sure if it would work or not though

TELLIT01

Various waterproof tapes are available, but I don't know if they would work simply as a patch over the hole. Gaffer / Duck tape may work as long as the surface is dry to start with.

Alter_ego

Pin holes are caused by corrosion/poor quality steel/ lack of inhibitor.  I would consider epoxy resin for a temporary repair, or perhaps opening the hole to accommodate a pop rivet coated with silicone etc. Whatever you use it must be 100% dry before, so probably drained down is best.

hopperdennis

ariba10 said:

There are two valves on the radiator.
Did you turn them both off?

What’s the other valve? The heat control is off as is the opposite valve (clockwise) however when the heating is on water pours out until I switch the heating off and it only drains out! 

hopperdennis

rob7475 said:

you could try some LSX, not sure if it would work or not though

What’s this?

TELLIT01 said:

Various waterproof tapes are available, but I don't know if they would work simply as a patch over the hole. Gaffer / Duck tape may work as long as the surface is dry to start with.

Will try get some waterproof tape! It only needs to be a temporary fix for a few weeks/months before being replaced 

sk2402005

I had that exact problem a few years ago, i used plumbers mait, its been holding fine.

https://www.univarsc.com/products/evo-stik-plumbers-mait-quick-leak-repair-putty?variant=16304669753418&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&utm_term=&utm_campaign=DG+GSC+-+Brands&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_tgt=pla-678378628441&hsa_cam=948572083&hsa_acc=1959299330&hsa_ad=341340611735&hsa_ver=3&hsa_mt=&hsa_grp=70141311073&hsa_kw=&hsa_src=g&gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MTjUW8J1eMnKZp0pf0F2KkLuGA11xjJWG8ZzoZ4FO-64RXy0qqeqhKRoCz30QAvD_BwE

hopperdennis

sk2402005 said:

I had that exact problem a few years ago, i used plumbers mait, its been holding fine.i

https://www.univarsc.com/products/evo-stik-plumbers-mait-quick-leak-repair-putty?variant=16304669753418&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&utm_term=&utm_campaign=DG+GSC+-+Brands&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_tgt=pla-678378628441&hsa_cam=948572083&hsa_acc=1959299330&hsa_ad=341340611735&hsa_ver=3&hsa_mt=&hsa_grp=70141311073&hsa_kw=&hsa_src=g&gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MTjUW8J1eMnKZp0pf0F2KkLuGA11xjJWG8ZzoZ4FO-64RXy0qqeqhKRoCz30QAvD_BwE

Ordered. So just a case of sticking the putty flush against the hole, letting it dry and then I’m good to switch it back on?

Jeepers_Creepers

There is a valve at each end of the rad? Cool. They both need to be shut fully off. 

If one's a TRV, there's a fair chance (as I found to my cost...) that it won't shut off 100%, so don't be surprised if the pinhole still leaks.

Not wishing to scare you, but that pinhole on the outside is almost certainly the tip of a very rusty iceberg on the inside; that's the first place where it broke through. The surrounding area to that pinhole is likely to be very thin and weak - treat with caution.  

hopperdennis

Hmmm, is the other valve simply the heat dial? I can only see one at the opposite end, which has been shut down, and the heat dial of ‘off’, and yes it still leaks as soon as the boiler is on until it drains away. It would be good to use it to be fair, until being replaced. Hopefully the putty I’ve ordered does the job but yes now I’m very worried re. this hole being the tip of the iceberg.