Quick plumbing help

Mudball

Mudball

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this morning i have realised that there is a very small leak coming from one of the welded pipes that connects to the towel rail heater. Overnight it may have leaked about 25 mil. During the day, it leaked about 2 drops - but the heater had not kicked in.

Given that it will be sitting on pipes that will heat up and cool during the winter months. Also the central heating is pressurised over 1 atm... Is there a way i can seal this off as a DIY job.
 
Are you sure it's welded? and not soldered?

Most leaks are from the compression joints or the actual radiator or lockshield valve gland. If it is from a soldered/welded/brazed joint then it will just get worse as the heating system is called for more now we are going into the heating season and the continual expansion and contraction.

Really needs a drain down and permanent fix I suggest.
 
Mudball said:
this morning i have realised that there is a very small leak coming from one of the welded pipes that connects to the towel rail heater. Overnight it may have leaked about 25 mil. During the day, it leaked about 2 drops - but the heater had not kicked in.

Given that it will be sitting on pipes that will heat up and cool during the winter months. Also the central heating is pressurised over 1 atm... Is there a way i can seal this off as a DIY job.
Click to expand...

No.

Get a local plumber out to sort it, tell cost you less in the long run.
 
Whereditgo said:
Are you sure it's welded? and not soldered?

Most leaks are from the compression joints or the actual radiator or lockshield valve gland. If it is from a soldered/welded/brazen joint then it will just get worse as the heating system is called for more now we are going into the heating season and the continual expansion and contraction.

Really needs a drain down and permanent fix I suggest.
Click to expand...

Tbh.. Its so slow, just can’t locate it yet. 2 drops all day today. I have turned on the heating to see if it forces it. It is possibly from the bottom joint in the pipe (which has a small blob).. tonight I will wrap the joint in some paper to see where it comes from
85866B25-E81F-49B8-B54D-DA59474FF320.jpeg
 
I'm 99.9% certain it's not the soldered elbow.

Experience tells me its wither the valve head or where the tail goes into the rad.

Drain down replace valve refill and test £90 thank you very much.
 
Mudball said:
Tbh.. Its so slow, just can’t locate it yet. 2 drops all day today. I have turned on the heating to see if it forces it. It is possibly from the bottom joint in the pipe (which has a small blob).. tonight I will wrap the joint in some paper to see where it comes from
View attachment 32560
Click to expand...

Are you sure it’s not leaking from the compression joint on the radiator and just tracking down to the soldered joint? Try tightening the joint, see if it moves......

Or roll the dice, phone a turdy and see what they quote! ??
 
Always amazes me how some view trademen such as plumbers and the like as rip off merchants doing an insignificant job that anyone can do.
Whats more costly, a plumber fixing it or a new ceiling below where the leak went that was created by attempting something not within your comfort zone or skill set?

(Im not digging at the OP btw:) , just the usual responses to plumbing issues and the like)
 
Until you work out exactly where the leak is coming from I do not think any advice can be given. It is amazing just how far a tiny leak will travel before it is obvious.

A thorough clean and dry and a few bits of toilet paper strategically placed (wrapped around joints) may help.

With steel towel rails it can be in the welded sections where the bars joins the uprights and flowing down the back of an upright where you cannot see it, so a bit of toilet roll wrapped around the lowest part of an upright would be good.
 
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