7daysinaweek Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 Hi all. Looking for some possible advice from any friendly plumbers on the site. I have attempted to change a bathroom radiator which I thought would be straightforward. I closed off the bottom valves and undone the lugs, drained out the radiator and removed it from the wall. All well and good I thought, until I attached the new one, now leaking from the bottom valves and is a very slight different style wall fittings etc to our old one and appears to require more wall mounting and valve fettling than I envisaged. Anyhow after turning the air blue I have rang a few local plumbers. The response was two who said they do not touch radiators at this time of year and only do boiler fitting and servicing at the present time. One chap who says he should be able to sort it along with having the boiler serviced. Unfortunately he cannot fit it in for a few weeks so I have shut the valves off at present until which time he can fit us in. The question is Mrs sevendays is asking can the boiler still be fired up for the radiators should a cold spell arise before it is sorted? It is a Worcester Bosch combi boiler. Hopefully won't need to at present, however we are unsure if firing the radiators up would be safe or result in damage to the boiler, just not sure? Many thanks for any advice which would be really appreciated. atb 7diaw P.S I should have asked him when he rang me back but I was driving at the time so it was a short conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 Did you put any plumbers tape on the threads connecting radiator to the pipes?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 I can't work out where you mean it's leaking from as you're description isn't clear a picture would help. It will be fine to run the heating with the radiator turned off just make sure the system pressure is around 1 bar when cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 4 minutes ago, B725 said: I can't work out where you mean it's leaking from as you're description isn't clear a picture would help. It will be fine to run the heating with the radiator turned off just make sure the system pressure is around 1 bar when cold. Beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 37 minutes ago, B725 said: I can't work out where you mean it's leaking from as you're description isn't clear a picture would help. It will be fine to run the heating with the radiator turned off just make sure the system pressure is around 1 bar when cold. If its not dripping when the valve is turned off, it must be where the old valve fits to the new rad, I think? what do I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 It could be the rad tail not made in correct, depending on the type of valve it may be the rad tail where it joins the valve,the spindle or more likely thevalvehas not been held when tightening the union ,or over tightened who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted September 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 1 hour ago, scobydog said: Did you put any plumbers tape on the threads connecting radiator to the pipes?. Yes 1 hour ago, B725 said: I can't work out where you mean it's leaking from as you're description isn't clear a picture would help. It will be fine to run the heating with the radiator turned off just make sure the system pressure is around 1 bar when cold. It is leaking from the upper lug adjustable wider nuts in the picture, not the lower nut, nor the thread inserts part into the rad. It not spurting out but enough to produce a constant small weeping. I don't want to overtighten them so have left the valves turned off for now which has stopped the weeping. Many thanks B725 for the info re running the rads if needed. I will make sure it is around 1 bar. And thank you all for you input. No more plumbing for me. 💧 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 Hello, if it is just a weep it might stop when rad is hot or if still persists you could try some sealer, I use flowmaster 8487J in Screwfix, I stopped using PTFE tape and plumbers mait years ago, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 It may just be a bit of dit on the union face, when you tighten the union hold the valve with some grips to hold it as you tighten it but hold the valve the opposite way to the way it tightens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted September 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 Thank you gents. Will give it a go. Many thanks for all the replies. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 (edited) If its leaking from a threaded join I'd wrap it with ptfe tape, if it's an olive (a copper ring that tightens onto the pipe) smear the internal joint faces with plumbers puty and all should be good. Edited September 23, 2023 by 12gauge82 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 I would give it another look and just check that there are no bits of grit or an old seal on the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 2, 2023 Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 I would normally leave any serious plumbing well alone , but in the past I have changed and renew my rads a few times and yes I have had the odd drip when they have been connected but with a bit more tape , sealant or just tightening I have sorted the problem out , I couldn't see any tape on the top of the thread in the photo so maybe try running the thread a bit higher with a couple of extra turns , hope you get it sorted before the cold weather start , if it ever will start that is, as at the moment it is still very mild and we haven't put our heating on yet , mind you we do sit here night times wrapped in blankets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted October 2, 2023 Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 On 23/09/2023 at 16:32, 7daysinaweek said: Anyhow after turning the air blue I have rang a few local plumbers. The response was two who said they do not touch radiators at this time of year and only do boiler fitting and servicing at the present time. Ahhh tradesmen turning work away because it's less profitable than other work? On the one hand good business sense, on the other hand infuriating, and does nothing but further add to the terrible reputation of the profession. Anyway, if the leak is on the threaded connection into the radiator, especially the 'towel' style radiator be careful. The point of PTFE tape is *not* to 'seal', the threads distorting onto each other do the sealing. The PTFE tape lubricates this process and reduces the friction, allowing you to actually do the thing up to the point where the threads seal. Problem is with towel radiators especially is that the thin boss that contains the female thread can be not thick enough for there to be enough thread to ever get a good seal. Various sealing products exist that will do a better job, such a Loctite 577. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted October 2, 2023 Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 it may be that the difference is in the Olive seating - try some white boss if it is - if coming out of the tails you could perhaps look at the Pegler Mistral ii https://www.bes.co.uk/pegler-mistral-ii-self-sealing-radiator-tailpiece-24988/ or https://www.columnrads.co.uk/evolve-double-packing-gland-o-ring-tail-15mm-angled-valve?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw38SoBhB6EiwA8EQVLit6eTbS4U_7HybfsmQpcwmdQF-AgQ6fXH76NzeT49loLJNcV1T44hoC9mcQAvD_BwE the 2nd one you don't need the lockshield part of it These seal against the mating face and not the thread. I am about to fit two radiators (valves came with pegler type) but I will also be putting a smear of liquid PTFE on the female threads. If you use liquid PTFE it needs a few hours to go off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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