Switching off Central Heating / Leaking Radiator

[MikelManchester]

Hi,

I'm currently staying at a friends house (who is at the other end of the country) and he has a leaking radiator (leaking at the bolt on the top of the copper pipe). Whenever there is any pressure in the system water flows down the pipe under the floorboards so I've just been having to wrap something round it to soak up the excess. Hopefully someone is coming to look at it next week. I daren't try anything with it myself as if I make it worse I'll probably have to foot the bill. In the meantime to stop the leak I've drained the system as I'd been told that I could still get hot water which is not the case. So I now know I'm going to have to refill the system but I don't want any water going to the central heating as this will cause the problem again.

On the combi boiler (A baxi Combi 80Eco) I have the option to switch from Reset,CH/HW, Off or just HW. I presume this will not control the water flow just where the hot water gets sent?

There are also some taps underneath the unit : CH Flow, HW Outlet, Gas Supply, CW Inlet, CH Return and Pressure relief. If I switch off the CH Flow will this stop the water going out to the radiators? Is it safe to do this for a week or so and do I also need to switch off the CH Return.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Mike

 

[John M]

Summink I've learned ....... Don't mess with other pplz plumbing ....... Recipe for disaster.......

It was leaking, you have taken the water out to stop the leak, Quit while your ahead.

You could draw where the bolt on top of the copper pipe is ........ But that will probably spur somone to reply & you'll get all keen, wanting to fix it again

You should probably calculate the now lack of heating system addative in to your equasion of wether you should do any more...... Life used to be simple ...... Then John Prescot took a trip round B&Q ..... After that the world went mad

 

[MikelManchester]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I'm not really looking to fix it. I just would like to have hot water for showers, washing up etc. I can see the various controls on the combi boiler but how safe is it to switch off for the short term (a week or two) I've read that switching off the central heating flow can cause problems in overheating.

Basically I don't like cold showers

Cheers,
Mike

 

[John M]

The place your at now is ..... Leave it like it is

OR

Repair the leak & fill it up again

Or

Bridge the flow & return & pressurise it