A pinhole leak on the radiator body

[geordief]

I am currently trying to drain this radiator (don't want to drain the system ) but am a little unsure if the entry and exit points are entirely shut offable (will see eventually)

I have had the idea of putting something like radweld into the bleed nut hole as I have costed a replacement at around 800 eu (it is 4 metres long)

But I have read that it is pointless trying to fix any leak in the actual body.

Is my "radweld" idea dead in the water?

 

[Wayners]

If radiator is rusty inside then its only a matter of time before it bursts.
Old system with no inhibitor in?

What about the other radiators?

 

[geordief]

If radiator is rusty inside then its only a matter of time before it bursts.
Old system with no inhibitor in?

What about the other radiators?

Yes ,pretty ancient (maybe 50 or more yrs old)

There are quite a few rads in the downstairs system (upstairs are out of action)-maybe 13 or so.

Not all work but only one other leaks and I think that is where the water goes in and not the radiator itself (I will get a plumber to fix that as tightening does not help)


If you are right about this rad being on its last ,rusty legs then I may just drain it (if I can) and seal it off or take it out (I have another one a little smaller that I don't ever use hardly)

It might be handy ,though if radweld or similar could hold it at bay....

 

[foxhole]

Replace.

 

[Wayners]

Radweld is a bodge fix. Sure it has it's uses but I wouldn't.
Summer now so drain. Clean system. Fill with inhibitor at least to stop anymore rusting.
You get one rad rusted they all are

 

[Madrab]

I have had the idea of putting something like radweld into the bleed nut hole

Don't put radweld anywhere near it - it could find its way back to the boiler and then you could be in a world of pain.

Only way to properly fix a rad is to weld it but if it's bad enough to be starting to pinhole then it's time to replace.

 

[geordief]

Don't put radweld anywhere near it - it could find its way back to the boiler and then you could be in a world of pain.

Only way to properly fix a rad is to weld it but if it's bad enough to be starting to pinhole then it's time to replace.

Not being facetious but the price of the new rad I saw is a lot more than the price I recall for the last boiler I had put in (admittedly sec hand) - think it was around 4 or 5 hundred.

Actually I seem to have managed (after 2 days) to drain the radiator now (the leak has stopped for a couple of hours with the bleed nut removed) so I have the luxury of waiting for the plumber who I want to to come for the other radiator that I mentioned and I can at least have a look at the hole in this one without the risk of water coming out (it was just going into the foundation of the house ,luckily ,anyway).

I can at least clean up the area now even if I can't use the radiator.