Can I test radiator plumbing by temporarily joining the flow and return?

[mjgreen81]

The existing plumbing for my towel radiator is in a bit of a mess. I plan to cut most of it out above the floor and replumb it to 15mm. My new radiator has the flow and return a lot closer together as well.

After I make my changes I would like to test the plumbing before boarding the wall and final fixing. Can I test for leaks by simply connecting the flow and return temporarily? I appreciate that this won't pressure test it to any high level like a dedicated tester might.

Is there a better way to do this?

Thank you

 

[cross thread]

Is that the before photo or is that your final pipe work ?
Joining flow and return is ok.

 

[mjgreen81]

Is that the before photo or is that your final pipe work ?
Joining flow and return is ok.

Very much before!

Glad to hear it's ok, is it actually a reasonable leak test?

 

[CountryFan]

Depends if you can get all water in it by expelling air

 

[mjgreen81]

Depends if you can get all water in it by expelling air

Presumably you mean by bleeding the other rads in the system?

Does it matter that this location is presumably the highest point in the system as it was always this radiator that would seem to be where any air in the system would gather (or at least it was when the radiator was still attached to the wall).

 

[steven lee]

Agree with cross thread, looping the flow and return works fine as a basic leak check. As CountryFan says you need to get the air out, and since this is the highest point in the system that is where the air will collect, so vent it there properly before you trust the test. Refill the system, bleed every rad in the house, run it up to temperature and check each joint with a dry tissue. If you want a proper pressure test, a pressure test pump from a hire shop is the right tool.

 

[mjgreen81]

Agree with cross thread, looping the flow and return works fine as a basic leak check. As CountryFan says you need to get the air out, and since this is the highest point in the system that is where the air will collect, so vent it there properly before you trust the test. Refill the system, bleed every rad in the house, run it up to temperature and check each joint with a dry tissue. If you want a proper pressure test, a pressure test pump from a hire shop is the right tool.

Thanks, how can I vent it here without a method to bleed it? Or presumably if there is a leak, will it essentially self-bleed any air?

 

[terryplumb]

Not much point in joining the flow and return together. Just fit an isolation valve to each pipe ,which you can open to expel air ,pressurise the system and check pipework for leaks.