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  1. #1
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    Help Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Hi All,

    Right I have 2 issues for any expert plumbers out there please? firstly I fitted a new towel radiator a week or so ago and there is a hairline crack where the bottom rail meets the main frame of the radiator, it seeps out about a teaspoon full of water overnight? Also another problem I have is the bleed valve on my system has ceased?

    So the first question is the radiator fixable? if not how do I drain the system without a bleed valve? there are no isolation valves on the radiator as the pipes come straight up through the fixed floor into the radiator...help? If the radiator has to go back it's a 2 hour round trip but i guess the main problem is I cannot drain the system down....I really hope someone can help on this!

    Thanks in advance.

    Chesser.

  2. #2
    DF MaSter hungabunga's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Hi Pal

    I am not a plumber but you can get freeze spray to freeze the pipe and then you can remove the radaiator and put a cap on until you get a replacement. I have used the freeze spray when changing a valve and it worked great. The cans are around £10 from memory.

    Sully

  3. #3
    DF VIP Member theodotcom's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve


  4. #4
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Why wasnt the rad fitted with isolation valves? If it was me, like as above I would freeze he pipes remove the rad and fit isolation valves, u can get inline valves. If the rad has a hairline crack, the uve used too much ptfe ( if that was used ) and its opened the thread up. Which isnt really repairable, so it will need changing.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    there has to be valves fitted to the bottom of the rad (feed and return) the rad is stuffed needs returned. the reason there is a crack is that my money is on whoever fitted the valves tightened them to much. there is no way to fit the 15mm pipe to a rad.
    there should be a plastic cap(lock shield) maybe on both side remove and isolate.
    take a pic me and show.
    who fitted it?
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  6. #6
    DF VIP Member tigger3's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    I'm sure I've heard about breaking a raw egg in to the radiator works?

    Tig3

  7. #7
    DF VIP Member Doctor Who's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    i think the egg trick only works in cars lol

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    it was my stepdad, bet he used too much PTFE I'll get it replaced and put isolation valves inline, i can't take a piccie as it's right at the bottom and is very hard to see a very small hairline crack, basically it was 15mm pipe up through the floor into male to male straight through connector both sides, problem I have is I can't lift it any higher due to height of the mirror, it's a really small bathroom tight for wall space, I also didn;t want to take the floor up as it's hardboarded for the lino, maybe I should rip it up and put elbows in to take the pipes out to the sides so I can fit isolation valves?

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    if its a chrome towel rail then u need these. this will work as an isolator.

    http://www.screwfix.com/prods/87742/...alve-Pair-15mm


    is ur system running on oil or gas?
    pressurized or expansion ( a wee black storage tank in the roof space?)
    u can do it "live" if its expansion. cut the pipe and put on the valve.
    please take a pic for me and give me a laugh of how it was done! not the leak but the piping
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  10. #10
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Bet he used 1/2" male iron to 15 mm ffs lol

  11. #11
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Quote Originally Posted by TAR View Post
    Bet he used 1/2" male iron to 15 mm ffs lol
    i wanna see! i wanna see!
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  12. #12
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    I would drain it down rather than freeze the pipes. If you have a pressurised system (combi) then you just have to find a draincock downstairs (should be near a radiator, or where the rad pipes drop from upstairs), connect a hose to it and drain it down,bleed the upstairs rads to push the water out, change your rad and re-fill it via the filling loop.
    If it's un-pressurised, you will have a little tank in the loft with a float valve, it should have an isolation valve on the supply pipework to it. Turn it off and drain the system, just open the isolation valve and bleed the rads when your done.


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    DF VIP Member t00lbox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    if you dont want to drain down, then try this stuff http://www.screwfix.com/prods/99730/...ak-Sealer-1Ltr
    Never used it my self, but wtf you got to lose?
    I know you...Small fish, Even smaller pond....and you know me....xxx...

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    thanks for all your advice guys but I think ultimately I'll have to swap it out, especially as it's new, I can cap off the pipes until I'm ready to replace.

    So the big question is how do I drain down the system if the bleed valve has ceased? Is it a case of buckets , lots of towels in case and break into a pipe and connect both ends of the break into 2 hosepipes?

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Yep buckets mate.. I have had to do this many times.. fitting new radiators etc pain in the bum

  16. #16
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Really need to know what kind of heating system you got.
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  17. #17
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    old fashioned type mate, hot water and cold water tanks in the loft, old baxi boiler

  18. #18
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    Drain down from a downstairs rad. Turn off both rad valves and undo one if the valves ( not the pipe side ) then get a piece of 15 mm pipe and connect it to the valve, using another nut and olive. Then connect a hose to the other end of the pipe and open the rad valve.

  19. #19
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    It's a drain down job then tbh. And when u fit the new one put on rad valves
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  20. #20
    DF VIP Member Roty's Avatar
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    Default Re: Two plumbing issues leaky radiator and bleed valve

    You shoud have a drain valve somewhere. If you have concrete floors downstairs it should be on the pipework to a downstairs rad, if you have a floor boards and a void downstairs, have a look outside there should be one sticking out of an airbrick below your internal floor level. Attach a hose, shut off the supply to the little tank in the loft and drain it down, bleed the rads upstairs to push the water out, change the rad, open the supply to the little tank in the loft, bleed all rads until water comes out, job done.

    Where do you live, i'm a plumber, might be able to help.


    TIM-MAY!!!

    SouthPark

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