Hi,
I was taking off a radiator which hadn't been taken off for about 20 years.. men back in those days apparently had a strength unheard of today and it was ON. I was starting to wonder if some muppet had glued it before it finally started to show some give.
I digress. In taking the radiator off, the valve end bent. I don't know if it was the piece itself or the join to the pipe. The valve end has developed a slow leak. It produces a drip every 15 seconds or so.
It is difficult to see where the leak is coming from. I patched it with a rubber glove and some masking tape. I need to tackle this before the new carpet goes down.
This is what I know at the moment.
1) I need to turn off the water in the street.
2) I need to drain the heating system to tackle this (as it is pressurised right?) I have a pipe end which a hose goes into near my front door to do this.
This is where I am stuck.
I don't have a combination boiler, I have a tank in the roof which I assume does something.
Questions:
1) Do I need to completely drain it? This radiator is upstairs so maybe I just need to drain enough to take any pressure out?
2) Does the tank automatically refill the heating system? If so do I need to turn off a valve or completely drain the tank before I can start working on the heating system?
3) Basically the same as (1). Once the work is done and I turn the water in the street on again will the heating system refill by itself. If not what do I need to do? Also do I need to add any 'special' liquid to the heating system?
4) Does anyone know of a good video which shows how to take off the valve piece and put it back on? Is this done with the plumbers tape and screwed on or does it use another method?
The house was built in the 70's and the heating system went in some time after that if that makes any difference.
I can provide more information and some photos a bit later if they are required.
I would like to do this myself as there are a number of small plumbing tasks that need doing around the house and I can't really afford a plumber to them all. I figure if I can develop the skill to do this I can do the rest. Any information at all would be greatly appreciated.
I was taking off a radiator which hadn't been taken off for about 20 years.. men back in those days apparently had a strength unheard of today and it was ON. I was starting to wonder if some muppet had glued it before it finally started to show some give.
I digress. In taking the radiator off, the valve end bent. I don't know if it was the piece itself or the join to the pipe. The valve end has developed a slow leak. It produces a drip every 15 seconds or so.
It is difficult to see where the leak is coming from. I patched it with a rubber glove and some masking tape. I need to tackle this before the new carpet goes down.
This is what I know at the moment.
1) I need to turn off the water in the street.
2) I need to drain the heating system to tackle this (as it is pressurised right?) I have a pipe end which a hose goes into near my front door to do this.
This is where I am stuck.
I don't have a combination boiler, I have a tank in the roof which I assume does something.
Questions:
1) Do I need to completely drain it? This radiator is upstairs so maybe I just need to drain enough to take any pressure out?
2) Does the tank automatically refill the heating system? If so do I need to turn off a valve or completely drain the tank before I can start working on the heating system?
3) Basically the same as (1). Once the work is done and I turn the water in the street on again will the heating system refill by itself. If not what do I need to do? Also do I need to add any 'special' liquid to the heating system?
4) Does anyone know of a good video which shows how to take off the valve piece and put it back on? Is this done with the plumbers tape and screwed on or does it use another method?
The house was built in the 70's and the heating system went in some time after that if that makes any difference.
I can provide more information and some photos a bit later if they are required.
I would like to do this myself as there are a number of small plumbing tasks that need doing around the house and I can't really afford a plumber to them all. I figure if I can develop the skill to do this I can do the rest. Any information at all would be greatly appreciated.
