I've just fitted a chrome ladder-type towel rad as part of my bathroom
refit. Right angled valves onto pipes that I've chased into the wall. No
problems with any of that, but I've got a slight weep from the tails where
they screw into the rad. I wrapped the threads with what I thought was an
appropriate amount of PTFE tape before fitting the tails, and pulled them up
(needs a bloody great allen key) as tight as seemed reasonable.

It's only a small weep, resulting in a single drip perhaps every 10 minutes.
The heating system is off at the moment, and has been all summer, so it's
all cold, and any water pressure is static only, so I'm thinking if I power
back up, this problem is only going to be worse. I've looked very carefully,
and the water is definitely coming down from where the tail enters the rad,
not welling up from the tap to tail union. Both sides are doing it , but one
about twice as much as the other.

So what's the answer ? More tape ? Pull the tails up a bit tighter ? Some
different thread sealer ? Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to have to keep
draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a 'guaranteed
fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem, and sorted it.

TIA

Arfa

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:28:49 +0100 someone who may be "Arfa Daily"
wrote this:-

It's only a small weep, resulting in a single drip perhaps every 10 minutes.
The heating system is off at the moment, and has been all summer, so it's
all cold, and any water pressure is static only, so I'm thinking if I power
back up, this problem is only going to be worse.

It might, to begin with. Then it is likely that the leak will seal
itself.

I would catch the drips and see what happens. With luck nothing else
needs to be done as the drips will probably stop in a while.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

In article ,
"Arfa Daily" writes:
I've just fitted a chrome ladder-type towel rad as part of my bathroom
refit. Right angled valves onto pipes that I've chased into the wall. No
problems with any of that, but I've got a slight weep from the tails where
they screw into the rad. I wrapped the threads with what I thought was an
appropriate amount of PTFE tape before fitting the tails, and pulled them up
(needs a bloody great allen key) as tight as seemed reasonable.

It's only a small weep, resulting in a single drip perhaps every 10 minutes.
The heating system is off at the moment, and has been all summer, so it's
all cold, and any water pressure is static only, so I'm thinking if I power
back up, this problem is only going to be worse. I've looked very carefully,
and the water is definitely coming down from where the tail enters the rad,
not welling up from the tap to tail union. Both sides are doing it , but one
about twice as much as the other.

So what's the answer ? More tape ? Pull the tails up a bit tighter ? Some
different thread sealer ? Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to have to keep
draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a 'guaranteed
fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem, and sorted it.

IME, it varies considerably with different radiator makes how
many PTFE turns to use. I started with 10 turns. In a few cases,
this wasn't enough, so I stripped it all off and rewound with 15
turns. With it being a whole new install, I could pressure test
sections with air and using gas leak detector spray, which made
finding and fixing leaks easy with the system all still dry.
It's harder when you're modifying a system.

So, I would redo the connections with more PTFE tape. There are
liquid versions of it which some people claim is easiler to use,
but I've never used it myself.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Arfa Daily wrote:
SNIP

So what's the answer ? More tape ? Pull the tails up a bit tighter ?
Some different thread sealer ?

Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to
have to keep draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a
'guaranteed fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem,
and sorted it.

The answer is more tape and pull the tails in tighter, but as you say a
PITA. Why not just inject a leak sealer into the rad?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"Arfa Daily" wrote in message
...
I've just fitted a chrome ladder-type towel rad as part of my bathroom
refit. Right angled valves onto pipes that I've chased into the wall. No
problems with any of that, but I've got a slight weep from the tails where
they screw into the rad. I wrapped the threads with what I thought was an
appropriate amount of PTFE tape before fitting the tails, and pulled them
up (needs a bloody great allen key) as tight as seemed reasonable.

It's only a small weep, resulting in a single drip perhaps every 10
minutes. The heating system is off at the moment, and has been all summer,
so it's all cold, and any water pressure is static only, so I'm thinking
if I power back up, this problem is only going to be worse. I've looked
very carefully, and the water is definitely coming down from where the
tail enters the rad, not welling up from the tap to tail union. Both sides
are doing it , but one about twice as much as the other.

So what's the answer ? More tape ? Pull the tails up a bit tighter ? Some
different thread sealer ? Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to have to
keep draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a 'guaranteed
fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem, and sorted it.


If there is enough PTFE tape on they shouldn't need a lot of force to
tighten enough. It sounds from what you say you are putting a lot of force
on, ergo there isn't enough PTFE tape. The threads are (or should be)
tapered and quickly tighten onto the PTFE. If they are tightening metal to
metal they wont seal.

There may be another problem but I would just put a lot more PTFE on!


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
om...
Arfa Daily wrote:
SNIP

So what's the answer ? More tape ? Pull the tails up a bit tighter ?
Some different thread sealer ?

Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to
have to keep draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a
'guaranteed fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem,
and sorted it.

The answer is more tape and pull the tails in tighter, but as you say a
PITA. Why not just inject a leak sealer into the rad?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk



Yeah, I considered that - you could get it in through the bleed hole - and I
also considered just leaving it as David Hansen suggested. However, on
balance, I decided that as it was a new-fit, and the bathroom is still in a
considerable amount of disarray, the best thing is to have it back off the
wall, and do the job properly. It's a bit annoying really, as it's the last
place that I expected to have a problem with a leak. It's incredibly
difficult to get the pipes lined up exactly when bringing them up the wall,
and I thought that I might have 'misalignment' leaks when I came to mating
the taps with the tails, but no, that bit seems quite watertight. Still,
first thing this morning, I have re-drained the rad, and left it on the wall
dripping away into a bowl. Later, when it's just about dry, I'll drag it off
the wall, and have the tails back out, and retape them. Do you reckon it's
worth putting just a 'wipe' of silicone sealer on the innermost part of the
threads as a bit of 'belt and braces' ?

Now, I wonder if the bloody window fitters are going to turn up this morning
to replace the unit they cracked when fitting it, and to put the right
obscure glass in the garage window ... :-\

Arfa

"Bob Mannix" wrote in message
...
"Arfa Daily" wrote in message
...
I've just fitted a chrome ladder-type towel rad as part of my bathroom
refit. Right angled valves onto pipes that I've chased into the wall. No
problems with any of that, but I've got a slight weep from the tails
where they screw into the rad. I wrapped the threads with what I thought
was an appropriate amount of PTFE tape before fitting the tails, and
pulled them up (needs a bloody great allen key) as tight as seemed
reasonable.

It's only a small weep, resulting in a single drip perhaps every 10
minutes. The heating system is off at the moment, and has been all
summer, so it's all cold, and any water pressure is static only, so I'm
thinking if I power back up, this problem is only going to be worse. I've
looked very carefully, and the water is definitely coming down from where
the tail enters the rad, not welling up from the tap to tail union. Both
sides are doing it , but one about twice as much as the other.

So what's the answer ? More tape ? Pull the tails up a bit tighter ? Some
different thread sealer ? Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to have to
keep draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a 'guaranteed
fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem, and sorted it.


If there is enough PTFE tape on they shouldn't need a lot of force to
tighten enough. It sounds from what you say you are putting a lot of force
on, ergo there isn't enough PTFE tape. The threads are (or should be)
tapered and quickly tighten onto the PTFE. If they are tightening metal to
metal they wont seal.

There may be another problem but I would just put a lot more PTFE on!


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)


Thanks for the advice Bob. That's what I'm gonna do. Let you all know how I
get on ...

Arfa

In article ,
Arfa Daily wrote:
So what's the answer ? More tape ?

Yup.

Pull the tails up a bit tighter ?

With plenty PTFE you can use the tails to adjust the fit to the valves
slightly - they don't have to be tightened up till they groan, and still
won't leak.

Some different thread sealer ? Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to
have to keep draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a
'guaranteed fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem,
and sorted it.

The one sealer I wouldn't be without is Fernox LS-X. But shouldn't be
needed here.

--
*That's it! I‘m calling grandma!

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Arfa Daily wrote:
So what's the answer ? More tape ?

Yup.

Pull the tails up a bit tighter ?

With plenty PTFE you can use the tails to adjust the fit to the valves
slightly - they don't have to be tightened up till they groan, and still
won't leak.

Some different thread sealer ? Obviously, it's a pain in the arse to
have to keep draining the rad, and taking it back off the wall, so a
'guaranteed fix-in-one' would be nice, if anyone's had this problem,
and sorted it.

The one sealer I wouldn't be without is Fernox LS-X. But shouldn't be
needed here.

--
*That's it! I‘m calling grandma!

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.


Mission acomplished. Rad back off the wall. Tails back out and previous tape
removed. Bit of fine emery run around internal threads in rad, as they felt
a little 'sharp', and had made a bit of a dog's dinner of the original tape.
Re-taped with rather more than I first used, and put back in and whacked up
to the 'just pinched' point. Rad remounted and connected and filled. This
morning, still completely dry at all joints. Just need to put heating on for
a couple of hours today to let everything get nice and hot, and if all ok,
which I'm now confident it will be, tomorrow, the couple of boards that I've
got up where I made the changes to the pipework, can go back down.

Thanks all for the suggestions on how to sort this problem. Bang on, as
always. d;~}

Arfa