How To Check Your House For Radiator Leaks
If you suspect a central heating leak because your boiler is losing pressure, then a starting point to find the leak is to check your radiators for leaks.
Regardless of boiler pressure loss, it is advisable check our home radiators for leaks at least anually. There are several reasons why your one of your radiators could be leaking.
- One cause might be due to corrosion. An underlying fault usually causes corrosion with the system. If the valves or any parts of the radiator are corroded, then you might need to replace the radiator.
- Another reason could be the age. With time, parts wear out, and this could lead to holes where water seeps through, and this might mean the parts need to be replaced or if the damage is extensive, you might need a whole new radiator.
How To Check If A Radiator Is Leaking
To find out the source of the leak, first, ensure that the area around your radiator is dry. Dry the radiator valves and any visible pipes, with paper towels. This is a quick way of establishing which pipe is leaking and at what point.
Turn on the radiator
To check for any leaks, ensure that the radiator is on. Water is only pumped into the radiator once it has warmed up and when it does, you’ll notice drops of water seeping from the radiator.
Check different sections of the radiator
A radiator can leak from different spots. Check the valve connection, the joints in the pipework and look for any parts that look old or worn. There are chances that the radiator parts may have corroded over time, and this is the cause for the leaks.
As a temporary solution, turn off the valves to the radiator by turning them in a clockwise direction if you can. This can slow down the leaking water until a qualified professional comes to attend to you and fix the issue.
Do You Have Leaking Radiator Valve?
If you have a leaking radiator valve, you can easily fix it yourself. This happens when the spindle packing in the valve is damaged or worn out. These leaks can happen when the valve is in the middle, and the leak stops when the valve is fully open or closed.
To repair it, drain the central heating system and have a replacement valve of the same type ready. Loosen the nuts connecting the valve and water pipe and unscrew the valve to replace it. Bleed the radiator and be sure to wrap the new valve in PTFE tape. Carefully screw it back in place.
Call a Professional Leak Detection Company
If your central heating is leaking without any noticeable leaks then it is time to call a central heating leak specialist.
Here at ADI Leak Detection advise you on the steps to take to prevent any further damage to your central heating system.
Our leak detection specialist can use 5 main methods of leak detection to locate your leak without causing damage to your floors.
- Thermal imaging
- Hydrogen & Nitrogen tracer gases
- Acoustic leak Detectors
- Borescope cameras
- Damp meters
We are one of the few leak detection companies that actually have qualified plumbing and heating Engineers on our team who can carry out permanent repairs to leaking pipes.
Contact ADI Leak Detection on: 0800 731 3843. We provide cost effective solution and will even give you free advice and up front, fixed price quotations over the phone.
