Any plumbers on here? help needed - Now sorted!

minimeeze

minimeeze

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On Wednesday we had a plumber out to re-hang (if that's the right word) a large radiator which had come away from the wall. He also swapped the valves over on the ends of the radiator (not quite sure why - he just said they'd be easier to get to :shrug: )
Today (Friday) I notice that one of the valves (the one where you let air out) is dripping. After fiddling with it and wondering if maybe it wasn't tight enough, the valve has broken and now water is running out of the radiator and I can't stop it :help: I've phoned the plumber and he can't come out until this afternoon - I'm panicking that my living room is going to be flooded before then.
Is there anything I can do to stop the water coming out? I've pulled the carpet back and put plastic sheeting & towels & bowls down.
 
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mattyh said:
Turn the water off to your house for a start!

I'm not brilliant with plumbing etc... but... What sort of Heating system do you have?
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We have a combi boiler - I've turned it off and as the heating isn't on, I'm presuming that no water should be running to the radiators :shrug:
 
No, there won't be anymore water running to the Rads.. in theory. Once the water has drained from the rads (which probably won't be that much, if it's anything like mine) then no more will run into it.

I'd still turn the mains off though, just in case... better to be safe than sorry.
 
Hi Minimeeze

I am not a plumber but would try:

Make sure heating/pump is turned off.
If it is upstairs then it should not drip for long but in your roof you probably have a small water-container with a ball valve that refills your heating system you could tie or fix the ball valve up so it does not keep refilling. No point if radiator is downstairs as gravity from the system will refill it.
Does the radiator have an isolation thermometer on it, if so turn this off
If you have a wrench then you may be able to isolate that radiator
Try and find a screw that will fit in the air valve
Stick a piece of string in the air valve hole (with a matchstick) and put the other end in a bucket so the water runs down the string into the bucket

I stress I am not a plumber, these are just a few of the things I would try, no doubt one of the men will be along soon to tell me I have everything wrong :)


Edit: I see you have a combi-boiler - this means, I think, that you will not have the refill thingy in the roof but I think there is a tap on the boiler to regulate water intake - I would not touch this at all
 
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The quick fix for this is to hacksaw through the pipe and then bend it in half sealing it off. This will stop the system draining out until a proper repair can be effected. Been there, done it :(
 
Turn off the valves at both ends of the radiator. According to your plumber, they're now easy to get to. If one of them is a thermostatic control one, turn it to its lowest setting, often marked with a * (or snowflake). Invest in a proper bleed screw key - the lugs on them are so small it hurts too much to overtighten the bleed screw! A blob of chewing gum (chewed) might be enough to stop the flow - putty (glazing) or even Blku-Tak (or similar) might help as well - even if they just slow the flow, it'll help save the carpet. A roasting tin should be shallow enough to go under where the drips are dripping and can be emptied into a bigger receptacle regularly - not the ideal way to spend a Friday morning though.

Hope the plumber fixes it for you.
 
Thanks for the suggestions :)
There is no pipe to saw through as it's actually the inside of the valve which has snapped away - I know this as the remaining half is sat in the windowsill :lol: Water is collecting in the hole where the valve sits and is running away, although I have it partially blocked with an old towel at the minute.
 
I guess it's emptied by now, lots of wet towels and wetter minimeezes :)
 
Could you take a photo of the bit thats leaking & the whole Rad so I can see what you are talking about (I've fitted quite a few :))
 
Steep said:
I guess it's emptied by now, lots of wet towels and wetter minimeezes :)
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:lol::lol: There can't be much more left in there - I have a huge soaking wet bathsheet.
Minimeeze is rather annoyed - I'm off work with a bad back :( so all this scrabbling around on my hands and knees isn't doing me any good!
 
Quick update - the radiator finally stopped leaking (I knew I kept hold of those old bathsheets for a reason!!). The plumber has only just been (at 4.30pm) but drama now resolved as we have a brand spanking new valve on the radiator.
Good job I was home when it happened otherwise we could have been looking at a very soggy, stained carpet... and the house is going on the market on Monday! :eek:
 
I knew there was a reason for favouring L I A over D I Y


Glad it's sorted min.
 
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