Drippy radiators
 

I re-sited a radiator which now drips. I put plenty of PTFE tape on,
made sure olives were ok and tightened as much as I dared - but still a
slight drip from each side around the valve. Now the weather has turned
colder and the heating comes on there is no drip. I guess that
expansion is the reason. Now the radiator is dry and warm would anybody
recommend putting some sealant around the joints?

Drippy radiators
 

"Pete L" wrote:
I re-sited a radiator which now drips. I put plenty of PTFE tape on,
made sure olives were ok and tightened as much as I dared - but still a
slight drip from each side around the valve. Now the weather has turned
colder and the heating comes on there is no drip. I guess that
expansion is the reason. Now the radiator is dry and warm would anybody
recommend putting some sealant around the joints?

I would apply plumbers jointing paste (boss) to the threads:
http://www.diytools.co.uk/product.as.../3428!TB_MISBW
PTFE tape isn't much good in these circumstance, and applying sealant around
the joints externally is useless.

Drippy radiators
 

"Pete L" wrote in message
ups.com...
I re-sited a radiator which now drips. I put plenty of PTFE tape on,
made sure olives were ok and tightened as much as I dared - but still a
slight drip from each side around the valve. Now the weather has turned
colder and the heating comes on there is no drip. I guess that
expansion is the reason. Now the radiator is dry and warm would anybody
recommend putting some sealant around the joints?


Fernox do a silicone sealant which stopped a minor leak from the lower seam
on a downstairs radiator for years - until it corroded through in other
places. (Standard two storey house - pumped, non pressurised system ) I
think it's still available.

--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Drippy radiators
 

Malcolm Stewart wrote:
"Pete L" wrote in message
ups.com...
I re-sited a radiator which now drips. I put plenty of PTFE tape on,
made sure olives were ok and tightened as much as I dared - but
still a slight drip from each side around the valve. Now the weather
has turned colder and the heating comes on there is no drip. I guess
that expansion is the reason. Now the radiator is dry and warm would
anybody recommend putting some sealant around the joints?


Fernox do a silicone sealant which stopped a minor leak from the
lower seam on a downstairs radiator for years - until it corroded
through in other places. (Standard two storey house - pumped, non
pressurised system ) I think it's still available.


It certainly is http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/93-14509 I used some to stop a
leak on the pipework to a garden tap & it worked a treat.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257
--
M Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK

Drippy radiators
 

"Codswallop" wrote in message
...
"Pete L" wrote:
I re-sited a radiator which now drips. I put plenty of PTFE tape on,
made sure olives were ok and tightened as much as I dared - but still a
slight drip from each side around the valve. Now the weather has turned
colder and the heating comes on there is no drip. I guess that
expansion is the reason. Now the radiator is dry and warm would anybody
recommend putting some sealant around the joints?

I would apply plumbers jointing paste (boss) to the threads:
http://www.diytools.co.uk/product.as.../3428!TB_MISBW
PTFE tape isn't much good in these circumstance, and applying sealant
around
the joints externally is useless.



I have used gas PTFE tape (much thicker) to stop leaks where the valve body
screws into the radiator and it seems to work a lot better than normal PTFE
tape.
I don't use anything on the other joints.

Drippy radiators
 

Thanks guys! Have redone the rad this afternoon using PTFE and this
magic jointing compound as recommended. All seems leak free at the
moment.............