Cannot isolate leaking rad

[JJDIY]

Hi all, I need some guidance on isolating a leaking rad please. First place post.

I found the leak is at the base of the pipe for the lockshield valve.

I have set zero on thermostat and closed the lockshield valve and attempted to drain it from the drain valve.

It looked like it was going well until I realised a lot of water was coming from the valve so now I'm not sure if it's isolated.

I then attempted to bleed the radiator with bleed key, but water comes out of here as well.

If the leak is at the base of the lockshield valve pipe, does that mean I can't actually isolate the leak? Have I missed anything from above?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ljrgas]

if your talking about the nut at the bottom of the valve on the pipw then you wont be able to stop it you will need to drain down.

you might get away with nipping it up

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If the leak is at the base of the locksheild valve and will not stop when tightened up, then you will need to drain the system down to the level of that rad or you could use pipe freezing kits.

 

[JJDIY]

Thanks guys. What I should clarify is the leak is on the pipe leading up to the lockshield rather than the base of the lockshield valve itself. Does that make sense or any difference?

 

[andytw]

... and attempted to drain it from the drain valve.

The drain valve you are describing is probably part of the lockshield valve, yes ?
When the lockshield valve is closed the drain valve will allow system water out, not radiator water.
Edit......not sure this is correct now, but irrelevant as the later image shows the true situation

Best way to drain the rad is to close it off, as you have, and crack open one of the valve fixings at one end of the rad. Catch the water in an ice cream container or similar. You will need to open the air vent on the rad to control the flow of water being drained.

andytw

 

[JJDIY]

Oh I see. So the drain valve let's water out of the system, not the rad. Bugger! OK, so rad is fine

The leak is on the pipe under the drain valve so doesn't sound like I can isolate. Tried sealant but don't think it's going to take as there still a slight drip.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Is the leak at the compression joint of the pipework to the valve, will it not tighten up?
Or are we talking about a leak further down the pipework.
Ideally you will need to drain the rad down, were is the drain off valve?
The drain off, will only drain the rad, if the rad valves are open and the radiator is positioned to be drained by the drain off. Sometimes systems will have several drain offs, depending how the pipework is routed.
Maybe a picture from you will help?

 

[JJDIY]

So it's still worth trying to drain down the rad?

The leak is coming from the bottom of the pipe where it comes up through the floorboards.

Will try and get a pic up.

 

[JJDIY]

Here's the pic View media item 69123

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You can drain down the radiator by closing all other radiator valves on the system and leaving the valves of this rad open. Connect hose to drain off then to a drain or collector. Opening drain off and bleed valve on rad, will allow water to empty to point of drain off valve.
If the leak is bellow the drain off valve, on solid pipe or capillary joint and another drain off is not at a lower point then the pipe will need to be cut (be prepared for more water from pipe) and repaired.
If the leak is at the nut, could require plumbers mate compound or PTFE to make water tight or even olive/nut replacing or possibly the valve.

 

[JJDIY]

If the leak is bellow the drain off valve, on solid pipe or capillary joint and another drain off is not at a lower point then the pipe will need to be cut (be prepared for more water from pipe) and repaired.
If the leak is at the nut, could require plumbers mate compound or PTFE to make water tight or even olive/nut replacing or possibly the valve.

Yep, that's the issue. Leak is below drain off valve. So sounds like serious pipework required then? Is there anything else I can do to stem the dripping?

Thanks

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You could sleeve it for temporary fix, but it must be permanently repaired.

 

[JJDIY]

Sleeve it? Can you explain

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

temp fix, a bit of hose, and jubilee clips, slice hose so you can slip over pipe, open clips so you can slip over hose, then tighten, you could use some LSX to help create a seal, but temp measure only.