Heating Lost Pressure

[DPG]

I am sure, but I could guarantee that as my experiences of a private tenant, I could absolutely trump those stories. The "rouge" landlords far outweigh the good ones unfortunately.

I'm out of this thread. Bye.

 

[clueless456]

I'm out of this thread. Bye.

Sorry you feel that way... Your judgment towards me seems to have changed since I stated that I was a tenant, rather than homeowner... Discrimination is very sad, and very unfounded.

Could anybody please advise - I currently have the heating control knob for the leaking radiator turned off, but I really do need heat in that room... Does having the heating control knob for that radiator turned on or off make any difference at all to the water leak from the nut on the pipe?

 

[DPG]

Sorry you feel that way... Your judgment towards me seems to have changed since I stated that I was a tenant, rather than homeowner... Discrimination is very sad, and very unfounded.

Could anybody please advise - I currently have the heating control knob for the leaking radiator turned off, but I really do need heat in that room... Does having the heating control knob for that radiator turned on or off make any difference at all to the water leak from the nut on the pipe?

I apologise. I didn't mean to come across that way. Ignore my previous comment. I've been reading a few anti-landlord comments on a BBC news story comments.

Stay on here - you'll get good advice.

 

[clueless456]

I apologise. I didn't mean to come across that way. Ignore my previous comment. I've been reading a few anti-landlord comments on a BBC news story comments.

Stay on here - you'll get good advice.

Thank you - I appreciate your reply... I have been a landlord myself in the past, and the fact that I currently pay rent instead of mortgage repayment doesn't make me any less of a decent human being.

I wouldn't want to get into any debate about current national Landlord / Tenant issues or laws at the moment, as my personal experiences have not been good, there is a national housing crisis, and would prefer to just focus on the leaking radiator problem.

If I turn the heating control knob back up on the leaking radiator, would that make the leak any worse at all?... I just need immediate heat, until the problem can be properly sorted out.

 

[James]

if you desperately need immediate heat from that radiator, you only have one option.

turn on the radiator valves, it will leak and you will have to collect or deal with the water that is coming out.

the boiler will slowly lose pressure as the water leaks, so you will have to continue to top up the system when the pressure drops.

the correct and final fix is to replace the item that is leaking, it may be a pipe or a valve, or a radiator.
realistically, if you intend to do it yourself, you must identify the failed component and replace it with a new one.

if not then it is a case of report it to the land lord and wait for a permanent repair, NOTE- this does not prevent you from constantly topping up the system so that it continues to work.
however, be aware that leaks can cause other damage so must be contained.

 

[brianmoooore]

The most likely cause of the leak is that the radiator has been knocked and has moved on its brackets, and a quarter turn or less of the nut will solve the problem, although the black tape is worrying. Was that there before the current leak?

 

[clueless456]

if you desperately need immediate heat from that radiator, you only have one option.

turn on the radiator valves, it will leak and you will have to collect or deal with the water that is coming out.

the boiler will slowly lose pressure as the water leaks, so you will have to continue to top up the system when the pressure drops.

the correct and final fix is to replace the item that is leaking, it may be a pipe or a valve, or a radiator.
realistically, if you intend to do it yourself, you must identify the failed component and replace it with a new one.

if not then it is a case of report it to the land lord and wait for a permanent repair, NOTE- this does not prevent you from constantly topping up the system so that it continues to work.
however, be aware that leaks can cause other damage so must be contained.

Thank you - I switched the radiator temperature control off to zero, but is still leaking. When you say "radiator valves" are there any other radiator valves / knobs I can switch off, other than the temperature control knob?

 

[brianmoooore]

Switching the radiator off will do nothing to help.

 

[clueless456]

The most likely cause of the leak is that the radiator has been knocked and has moved on its brackets, and a quarter turn or less of the nut will solve the problem, although the black tape is worrying. Was that there before the current leak?

Thank You - I don't think the radiator has been knocked or moved. No the black tape was wrapped around the nut by me today... There was a small pinhole leak spraying onto the wall from the nut.... Despite the tape, it is still leaking, but is now dripping down into a saucepan I have placed underneath the leak.

There was no leak before and the nut where the leak is spraying from looks to be a bit rusted / corroded.... I haven't yet been brave enough to try to tighten the nut, as am worried about turning the nut the wrong way and flooding the room.

 

[brianmoooore]

If there's any sign of corrosion it's been leaking for a while, although maybe not as fast. The corrosion will also make the nut harder to turn.

 

[clueless456]

If there's any sign of corrosion it's been leaking for a while, although maybe not as fast. The corrosion will also make the nut harder to turn.

I tried tightening the nut. It wasn't that difficult to turn, but seemed to make the leak worse whichever way turned, even when tightened... I think maybe the pinhole leak is on the actual pipe and not the nut.

I have wrapped in tape, but still dripping... Is there anything else I can do temporarily to stop it dripping?

 

[clueless456]

The leak seems to be slightly worse now - Not sure if that's because I just increased pressure to the heating guage again..

I have run out of the black tape - Is there anything else I could use to stop the leak? Or is there any possible way to turn off the water supply to that pipe/radiator?

 

[brianmoooore]

No way to turn the water off to one radiator if the leak is before the valves. The only way you can stop it is to depressurise the whole system by using the PRV knob to let the water out. Note that there should be a chemical in the water to help prevent corrosion, and this chemical is being diluted every time you add fresh water to the system.
You've tried, now I think it's time to get a professional in.

 

[clueless456]

No way to turn the water off to one radiator if the leak is before the valves. The only way you can stop it is to depressurise the whole system by using the PRV knob to let the water out. Note that there should be a chemical in the water to help prevent corrosion, and this chemical is being diluted every time you add fresh water to the system.
You've tried, now I think it's time to get a professional in.

I had to remove some of the black tape to tighten the nut and have now run out of the black tape.

Is there any other kind of tape, or household item I could use to temporarily stop the leak until I can get a plumber to the property?

 

[DPG]

I had to remove some of the black tape to tighten the nut and have now run out of the black tape.

Is there any other kind of tape, or household item I could use to temporarily stop the leak until I can get a plumber to the property?

Get some self-amalgating tape. It's useful stuff to have in anyway. It's rubber, and once it's wrapped around something it forms a one piece rubber covering.

Stretch it slightly as you are wrapping it round.

 

[clueless456]

Get some self-amalgating tape. It's useful stuff to have in anyway. It's rubber, and once it's wrapped around something it forms a one piece rubber covering.

Stretch it slightly as you are wrapping it round.

Thank you.

I tied a rubber glove around it. I didn't turn the mains water off, but switched the heating off overnight and the dripping seems to have stopped overnight.

I have ordered something called Poxipol Epoxy putty glue and PTFE plumbers sealing tape, which will hopefully arrive tomorrow. Will that work? Is that the same as self-amalgating tape?

 

[DPG]

Thank you.

I tied a rubber glove around it. I didn't turn the mains water off, but switched the heating off overnight and the dripping seems to have stopped overnight.

I have ordered something called Poxipol Epoxy putty glue and PTFE plumbers sealing tape, which will hopefully arrive tomorrow. Will that work? Is that the same as self-amalgating tape?

Mains water won't affect it - the heating loop is isolated from it.

The putty and tape sound worth a try. The heating system isn't at as high a pressure as mains water so the leak will be easier to fix.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[clueless456]

Mains water won't affect it - the heating loop is isolated from it.

The putty and tape sound worth a try. The heating system isn't at as high a pressure as mains water so the leak will be easier to fix.

Let us know how you get on.

Thank you - Will do.

 

[Moley]

I have ordered something called Poxipol Epoxy putty glue and PTFE plumbers sealing tape, which will hopefully arrive tomorrow. Will that work? Is that the same as self-amalgating tape?

PTFE (sometimes known as thread tape) won't help. That's just for sealing threads. If you have a pin hole in the pipe then self amalgamating is the way to go.

 

[brianmoooore]

Self amalgamating tape is a stretch black rubber ribbon that isn't really sticky, but when you wind it around something the layers immediately start to melt together, and over the course of a few hours it will become one solid piece of rubber.
I doubt if self amalgamating tape on its own will completely stop a pinhole leak, but if you can get a hose clip (worm drive, Jubilee type) over it, it will.
Next question is why has the pipe developed a pinhole. This is probably because the inhibitor chemicals have disappeared over time, or were never added in the first place, and a particle of iron based debris, which was once part of the boiler or a radiator, has lodged itself inside the pipe and corroded through it.

 

[clueless456]

Thank you for the replies.

I will order some of the self-amalgamating tape as well.

I was thinking of using the Epoxy glue and then the plumbers sealing tape over the top of that? Would that work?

The bend in the pipe where the leak is coming from looks to be a bit rusty / corroded, so think that might have caused the leak.

The radiator key I ordered has arrived and the Epoxy glue and plumbers tape should arrive tomorrow. If I order the self-amalgating tape today, that should arrive next week.

Should the Epoxy glue on it's own work? And then using one of the tapes over the top of that for extra seal?

Any tips on the best way to try and fix the leak easily with the above would be appreciated.

 

[DPG]

Thank you for the replies.

I will order some of the self-amalgamating tape as well.

I was thinking of using the Epoxy glue and then the plumbers sealing tape over the top of that? Would that work?

The bend in the pipe where the leak is coming from looks to be a bit rusty / corroded, so think that might have caused the leak.

The radiator key I ordered has arrived and the Epoxy glue and plumbers tape should arrive tomorrow. If I order the self-amalgating tape, that should arrive next week.

Any tips on the best way to try and fix the leak easily with the above would be appreciated.

I'd wrap self amalgamating tape round it in several stretched layers. Then as Brian said, fit a jubilee clip type pipe clamp around it and tighten it.

Forget the plumbers sealing tape. I didn't realise you were meaning ptfe tape. That won't help here.

 

[nicebutdim]

I will order some of the self-amalgamating tape as well.

I'm sure if faced with a choice between paying for a plumber and having water damage to their property, your landlord is going to choose the former. Does the landlord even know about this issue? They won't thank you if matters become progressively worse and no one thought to inform them. This thread does not portray the actions expected of a responsible tenant and I hope, for your sake, the landlord never reads this thread posted on a public forum.

 

[DPG]

I'm sure if faced with a choice between paying for a plumber and having water damage to their property, your landlord is going to choose the former. Does the landlord even know about this issue? They won't thank you if matters become progressively worse and no one thought to inform them. This thread does not portray the actions expected of a responsible tenant and I hope, for your sake, the landlord never reads this thread posted on a public forum.

That is a very good point. Have you notified the landlord at all? That really should be the first thing you do.

If he ignores you or won't do anything then that's another thing. But you must report it.

 

[clueless456]

I'd wrap self amalgamating tape round it in several stretched layers. Then as Brian said, fit a jubilee clip type pipe clamp around it and tighten it.

Forget the plumbers sealing tape. I didn't realise you were meaning ptfe tape. That won't help here.

What about the Expoxy glue - Would that possibly work on it's own?

There is a very tight gap between the pipe and the wall... I was only able to use that black tape as a temporary measure, as the tape roll was small enough for me to wrap between the pipe & the wall.

 

[DPG]

What about the Expoxy glue - Would that possibly work on it's own?

There is a very tight gap between the pipe and the wall... I was only able to use that black tape as a temporary measure, as the tape roll was small enough for me to wrap between the pipe & the wall.

You can cut a length of amalgamating tape off the roll, so that you can get it behind the pipe.

I wouldn't use the Epoxy I don't think. The tape is easily removed, whereas the Epoxy may not be.

As above though, see what your landlord says.

 

[clueless456]

I'm sure if faced with a choice between paying for a plumber and having water damage to their property, your landlord is going to choose the former. Does the landlord even know about this issue? They won't thank you if matters become progressively worse and no one thought to inform them. This thread does not portray the actions expected of a responsible tenant and I hope, for your sake, the landlord never reads this thread posted on a public forum.

My landlords agents are extremely slow and take on average 1-6 weeks to reply, even when urgent.

 

[DPG]

My landlords agents are extremely slow and take on average 1-6 weeks to reply, even when urgent.

Did you inform the agent in writing? Keep this, and then if anything goes wrong you have something to fall back on.

 

[SJD]

Apologies for the digression, but all this reminds me of an issue with a rental property a few years back, I was there to fit a new consumer unit. The tenant was there to let me in before heading off to work, but cryptically told me he had put a board down in the bathroom to make access easier.

When I went in said bathroom after he had gone, I found the floor had mostly rotted, and what was left of it had such an incline that one side of the room was a few inches lower than the other side. There was a leak from the bathroom plumbing that had rotted the flooring including some of the joists. It transpired this had been going on for some years, but not reported. On discussing with the agent, it turned out this was likely the reason the tenant was always reluctant to have any work done.

Outcome was the whole bathroom had to be stripped out, new flooring fitted including joist repairs/replacements, then a complete new bathroom.

 

[DPG]

Apologies for the digression, but all this reminds me of an issue with a rental property a few years back, I was there to fit a new consumer unit. The tenant was there to let me in before heading off to work, but cryptically told me he had put a board down in the bathroom to make access easier.

When I went in said bathroom after he had gone, I found the floor had mostly rotted, and what was left of it had such an incline that one side of the room was a few inches lower than the other side. There was a leak from the bathroom plumbing that had rotted the flooring including some of the joists. It transpired this had been going on for some years, but not reported. On discussing with the agent, it turned out this was likely the reason the tenant was always reluctant to have any work done.

Outcome was the whole bathroom had to be stripped out, new flooring fitted including joist repairs/replacements, then a complete new bathroom.

Must have cost the landlord a fortune. Having said that he (or his agent) should have been doing regular checks.

 

[clueless456]

Apologies for the digression, but all this reminds me of an issue with a rental property a few years back, I was there to fit a new consumer unit. The tenant was there to let me in before heading off to work, but cryptically told me he had put a board down in the bathroom to make access easier.

When I went in said bathroom after he had gone, I found the floor had mostly rotted, and what was left of it had such an incline that one side of the room was a few inches lower than the other side. There was a leak from the bathroom plumbing that had rotted the flooring including some of the joists. It transpired this had been going on for some years, but not reported. On discussing with the agent, it turned out this was likely the reason the tenant was always reluctant to have any work done.

Outcome was the whole bathroom had to be stripped out, new flooring fitted including joist repairs/replacements, then a complete new bathroom.

Thanks for sharing this dodgy tenant experience - But not all tenants should be tarred under the same brush.... I had some issues with heating when first moved into property and had no heating or hot water for several days at the start of the tenancy, in freezing weather.... The managing agents completely ignored any of my communications....

There are equally as many rouge landlords, as there are rouge tenants.

Does anyone have any experience of using the Epoxy glue on a leak?

 

[nicebutdim]

My landlords agents are extremely slow and take on average 1-6 weeks to reply, even when urgent.

They may well respond quickly if made aware of the fact that this issue will have a detrimental effect on the fabric of the building, but won't respond at all if they aren't notified. If an agent is slow to act, then the cost of repairs for any subsequent damage is a matter to be resolved between agent and landlord - if you fail to notify this issue it may be that both agent and landlord decide to pursue you for cost of repairs due to subsequent damage.

It matters not what the ratio of dodgy tenants to landlords might be, what matters it that you have an issue which needs to be properly resolved and temporary repairs are just that - temporary.

I really don't understand why you seem reluctant to notify the agent of this issue, which would a normal requirement of any tenancy agreement, but you don't need to justify your reasoning to me. I'll reiterate once more that this is a public forum and it wouldn't be the first time that posts on have come back to bite people.

 

[DPG]

Thanks for sharing this dodgy tenant experience - But not all tenants should be tarred under the same brush.... I had some issues with heating when first moved into property and had no heating or hot water for several days at the start of the tenancy, in freezing weather.... The managing agents completely ignored any of my communications....

There are equally as many rouge landlords, as there are rouge tenants.

Does anyone have any experience of using the Epoxy glue on a leak?

Neither should all landlords be tarred with the same brush.

Have you notified your agent yet?

Epoxy - no idea. As we've said, the Amalgamating tape is the way to go.

 

[mainline]

Thanks for sharing this dodgy tenant experience - But not all tenants should be tarred under the same brush.... I had some issues with heating when first moved into property and had no heating or hot water for several days at the start of the tenancy, in freezing weather.... The managing agents completely ignored any of my communications....

There are equally as many rouge landlords, as there are rouge tenants.

Does anyone have any experience of using the Epoxy glue on a leak?

Maybe you could ask them at the same time to sort out the socket that you got an electric shock from.

Water not leaking onto the socket is it

 

[Skys]

This has to be a wind up thread surely.

 

[westward10]

This is nearly as ridiculous as your other thread which went similarly to nine pages. Contact your landlord to resolve this issue.
Thread closed.