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Leak or Condensation

7 replies

Elephant75 · 14/11/2020 11:01

Morning everyone

How do I know if my radiators are leaking or whether it's just condensation on the pipes. Just happened to notice a couple of damp patches under a couple of my rads. Have put bowls under there and there is literally one drip of water in each bowl. Have had the bowls under there all night so it's defo not constant.

@pigletjohn can you help before I call a plumber or anyone else.

Thanks all.

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QueenStromba · 14/11/2020 11:17

Dry them, wrap with toilet roll and see if the toilet roll gets damp with the heating on.

Elephant75 · 14/11/2020 11:49

Hey Queen, yes I've done that but only when the rads first heat up....

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PigletJohn · 14/11/2020 12:19

pretty sure to be a leak.

If the radiator is wet along the bottom seam it may be rust in the radiator, which needs to be replaced by new, and the cause (probably a fault in the pipes) repaired.

if it is on the copper pipes coming out below the valves it is probably a bad joint. Sometimes this can be corrected by tightening slighly, but if they have been badly assembled, tightening can crush the pipe and make it very difficult and annoying to fix

If the leak is under the plastic head of the radiator valve, round the tap-spindle, then the valve is worn. This tends to happen with old manual valves that have been turned on an off for many years. Although it is possible to dismantle and re-seal them, it is seldom worthwhile (unless the pipes rise up through a concrete floor and have no movement) so it is usual to fit new. If it is spindle wear, the leak will probably stop if you screw them tightly shut (finger tight only).

Unless you are moderately competent at simple plumbing, best to get an experienced local plumber by personal recommendation from someone you trust (not an advertising website).

You don't need a boilerman for a radiator leak, any experienced plumber can do it. A wrinkly semi-retired one will be fine.

There should be no need to drain the system.

Does your boiler have a pressure gauge?

how old do you think the radiators and valves are?

photos will help.

PigletJohn · 14/11/2020 12:20

btw you may not be aware of a leak when the rads are hot, because the heat will evaporate the water away. It is likely to leave a brown mark though.

Elephant75 · 14/11/2020 14:48

Thank you PigletJohn. That is brilliant. To be honest I'm really not sure where it's coming from. It just seem to be when the heating comes on. Its funny because I have checked the pressure gauge on the boiler a few times and I think that every few days it is going down. I topped it up yesterday.

I had the boiler serviced last month and all looked fine. Its a Viessman by the way and that and the rads are about 5 years old. I think there have been a few bodge jobs before I moved in.

I actually text my plumber who is also a gas man and he is going to pop by next week to take a look. It's literally a tiny couple of drops. I just showed my neighbour and he said it wasn't worth worrying about as there is literally one drop but I'd still rather get it checked.

Really appreciate your help.

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PigletJohn · 14/11/2020 15:00

check that the bleeding nipple is tightly (finger-tight with the key) closed, and that the key is not accessible to any small person.

Elephant75 · 14/11/2020 15:12

Thanks PigletJohn. Only me here so no little ones....

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