rusty radiator

[diane1]

one of my radiators is really rusty at the end where you would bleed it. does this mean its about to fall to pieces really soon?

 

[nickso]

difficult to say without seing how bad it is but ive an idea from seeing others like it.

if it does leak sods law it will be when you are not at home and cant do anything about it. safest thing to do is get a new rad fitted.

 

[diane1]

i thought so. this radiator is over 2meters long, im not sure you can get them that long anymore. is it a big job to move the pipes for a shorter radiator?

 

[nickso]

no need to do that in most cases. if you cant get the same size rad again you can use extensions to make up the space.

 

[JohnD]

As well as swapping the rad, bear in mind that all the others are probably equally rusty (being equally old and filled with the same water).

Probably you have no corrosion inhibitor in your system and it is full of corrosion sediment.

It will be a good idea to replace the rusty rads, do a chemical clean and refill with inhibitor. If none of the others are leaking yet it will be more convenient to replaace them during the summer. Modern radiators usually have fins on the back and give out slightly more heat so a slightly shorter one will be OK, or you can fit doubles (which is reasonably easy if the pipes come through a wooden floor so will move a bit) which give out considerably more heat.

If you can afford an extra £100 or so for a Magnaclean or similar it will attract and retain circulating black sediment and prevent it from causing (more) blockages and damaging your pump and boiler.

 

[diane1]

cheers for the advice