Woke to a wet patch under a TRV - potential cause and possible fix?

BooJewels

I am indebted once again @Bendy_House - thank you! 

I shall try a rad key - if not, I shall dig through tool boxes to find something  I have assorted molegrips and adjustable spanners, so I'm sure that I can give it a go.  I'll put a piece of cardboard or something underneath overnight, see if it drips anew.    I'd stopped watching the pressure from the earlier leak, as it had settled down.  I shall make a mental note to check it at least once a week from now on.

Sorry, I must look so pathetic - I'm on a very steep learning curve with these things - I've lost both my father and husband in the last 18 months, so don't have my usual sources of assistance and am suddenly responsible for things I've never given much thought before.  My husband probably would have seen the drip, grabbed a tool and tightened it without ever mentioning it, so I have no idea if it has ever happened before.

FreeBear

BooJewels said:  - I'm on a very steep learning curve with these things

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/03/10/youtube-channel-dad-how-to-videos-dad-rob-kenney/6923242002/

https://www.youtube.com/c/DadhowdoI - Videos are from an American, so some things are a little different over here, but he covers a lot of basic tasks. You might not need to know how to tie a tie or shave... What he doesn't cover, we can help - Even with the most basic of stuff.

Eldi_Dos

Had one of those drains leak many years ago and the plumber that came to fix it did not have washer to fit but had a tool and material for to cut washers to suit,never seen it before or since. Think he had inherited it from a relative that had retired.

BooJewels

It's funny @Eldi_Dos - how many tradespeople still use tools from the past - because they worked.  My father had some dense fibrous sheet that he used to cut for custom washers - don't think he had a specific tool for it though.  I've kept some of his stuff, but just don't have room for everything.  Plus they made things to last.  If we want to save the planet, we could do with doing more of this - doing things in a more sustainable manner.  But that doesn't suit the people who make consumables.

@FreeBear - thank you for that - I had a look and will bookmark it for future - I have found myself looking at a few of these sort of vids to find out how to do things.  I also have a big Reader's Digest ring binder DIY manual and that's actually really good.  I have helped my husband change washers and the like many many times over the years, but should have paid more attention to exactly which nut he undid etc.

My son keeps pointing out how much worse the situation might be if the tables were turned and I'd been the one to die - he'd be buying new pants every week as he never once put the washing machine on and would end up in a financal pickle as he never once logged into a bank account or submitted energy meter readings, never shopped on line or paid a bill.  That's the problem - we were a team and worked well, as such.

@Bendy_House - I've tried tightening the square nut/tap (it is too large for a rad key) but it's not for shifting - it feels stuck solid.  I'll try again later, but I'm waiting for a returned phone call and have no signal down there, so I'll give it another go when I've had my call.  As predicted, the wet spot is pretty much dry now, so it clearly leaks overnight when cold - same as the TRV did.

As such, if that's where I'm losing a little of the fluid from the heating, I'm not that worried, as the leak is modest and contained (and I hope it stays that way) and now I know about it, I can keep my eye on the boiler pressure and leak level. That's better than losing pressure - potentially through a leak - without knowing where and how.  Although clearly better if it didn't do it.  My son visits every few weekends, so I'll get him to give it a go next time he visits.  Poor love lands and gets presented with a 'to do' list.

BooJewels

I've now managed to tighten it about 3 minutes worth.  I remembered a little vintage adjustable spanner in my toolbox that was my Grandad's - it was just the right shape and size to get into the limited space above - small, but hefty and just the right size for the palm of my hand - which is why I kept it - I've used it a few times.  I'll try and remember to go and look at it first thing, to see if it has leaked more overnight.  I've put a plastic box lid underneath to show any new leak.

Bendy_House

BooJewels said:

I've now managed to tighten it about 3 minutes worth.  I remembered a little vintage adjustable spanner in my toolbox that was my Grandad's - it was just the right shape and size to get into the limited space above - small, but hefty and just the right size for the palm of my hand - which is why I kept it - I've used it a few times.  I'll try and remember to go and look at it first thing, to see if it has leaked more overnight.  I've put a plastic box lid underneath to show any new leak.

Ha-ha! You're not the only one on a learning curve - I did a double-take at 'minute', thinking it a typo. Then it dawned on me... Nice! :-)

Sorry to hear of your losses - that must be really tough. 

Bendy_House

If you have a wee plastic bag and a rubber band, you can wrap it over that draincock, and that will soon tell you if it's still leaking.

BooJewels

Bendy_House said:

BooJewels said:

I've now managed to tighten it about 3 minutes worth.  I remembered a little vintage adjustable spanner in my toolbox that was my Grandad's - it was just the right shape and size to get into the limited space above - small, but hefty and just the right size for the palm of my hand - which is why I kept it - I've used it a few times.  I'll try and remember to go and look at it first thing, to see if it has leaked more overnight.  I've put a plastic box lid underneath to show any new leak.

Ha-ha! You're not the only one on a learning curve - I did a double-take at 'minute', thinking it a typo. Then it dawned on me... Nice! :-)

Sorry to hear of your losses - that must be really tough. 

Well, you said about a thirtieth of a turn, so that struck me as 2 minutes worth of rotation and I figured I did a bit more than that - hence 3 minutes.  As a minute is 6 degrees, I just find it an easy way to visualise these things.

Thank you for your kinds words - it's been a tough couple of years - first Mum passed, then Dad, then my husband who had been having chemo and treatment for about 4 years, overlapping everything else.  My sister and I have been emptying our parents' large and over-stuffed house and finally just sold it - so I'm now trying to catch up on all of the things I should have done - doing overdue maintenance etc.  Luckily the lovely weather last week allowed me to make real progress outside, so that was good for the soul.

The plastic bag is a very much better idea thanks - it should save me getting up early and also give a better idea of what volume is leaking.

Eldi_Dos

Yeah agree @ BooJewels about the sustainability side of things and making good use of what we have.You can get a good feeling using tools that have been passed on to you and can be so handy as you proved today.
One of my most treasured is my father in laws small wooden and brass spirit level made by Rabone and Sons of Birmingham,everytime I use it brings back good memories. Although I am always in two minds whether I should remove and polish up the brass and sand and oil the wood or leave it as it is showing signs of use over the years.
Glad you got that valve sorted and I am sure it will be ok in the morning even if you have to give it a few more minutes.

BooJewels

Morning, just reporting back on this.  I had to get up a bit earlier this morning, so used the opportunity to stop the heating coming on, so that I could tighten the 'tap' a bit more whilst the pipe was cold.  After 6 nights of cold pipes, this is how much has now leaked - it measured 18ml.  I've tightened the square bit a bit more today and put a new bag on it - I hope the extra tighten might now stop the drip - I'll keep my eye on it, as I have reason to go into the cellar most days.

Eldi_Dos said:

One of my most treasured is my father in laws small wooden and brass spirit level made by Rabone and Sons of Birmingham,everytime I use it brings back good memories. Although I am always in two minds whether I should remove and polish up the brass and sand and oil the wood or leave it as it is showing signs of use over the years.

Apologies, I'd meant to reply to this earlier.  That's a perpetual dilemma isn't it.  I've been repairing and cleaning a few things from my parents' house and am never sure how far to take it.  I've got everything from furniture to lamps and ornaments, tools and watches.  I have to decide on a piece by piece basis.  I've just repaired a missing chunk from the edge of a long shallow waxed bookcase.  This bit was missing all my life - but it's new location in my lounge made the damage catch the light and your eye was drawn to it.  As I can't remember where the bookcase even came from and how it was damaged, it seemed fair game to sort it out - the damage itself had no sentimental meaning.  I could have built a new bookcase in the time that modest repair took - matching the colour and finish etc.  But I'm delighted with the result. 

Another small late 50s early G-Plan triangular table has a very visible repair on one corner - but I did that as a toddler when I face-planted the table - and I have a matching scar on my forehead.  That won't be messed with, despite re-working the surface to improve it visibly.  It also bears a lot of rings from drinks glasses and whilst I've bleached some of these back a little, they too will remain.  I knew that was the right decision when I found a black and white photo of my uncle asleep in an armchair on Christmas Day at some time in the early 60s, next to this table with his glass on it.   Sometimes it's the patina that makes the piece.  I smiled when I used that little old adjustable wrench this morning - it's a lovely thing in the hand, like it was made just for me.