Why do radiators leak?
Here at Feature Radiators we realise that an article
referring to leaks is probably best avoided for a company selling radiators but
we are extremely confident about our range of feature radiators, their quality
and our track record in dealing with issues. Therefore let’s grab this ‘leaks from radiators’ subject by the
horns and discuss.
Three main reasons a radiator would leak:
·
Inadequate maintenance of the central heating
system the radiator is on.
·
A manufacturing fault with the radiator.
·
Incorrect or poor installation.
Incorrect or poor installation
Let’s firstly look at possible installation issues. All our
feature radiators come with instructions to install, so the process should be
as simple as possible for a qualified heating engineer/plumber. Should your
installer have any questions we have a dedicated Technical Manager to deal with
any queries.
To start if you imagine you are looking at a radiator….
The majority of radiators will have 4 entry points (holes),
some have 6.
Starting at the top, all radiators will have a bleed vent to
go in one of those entries and usually on the opposite side at the top a
blanking plug. Both of these plugs come supplied from Feature Radiators and
those parts will have an O-ring, (ring of rubber or silicone) that when screwed
into the radiator forms a water tight seal.
We find that these get over tightened, so the rubber o ring
that is present gets deformed due to being compressed too much and that leaves
gaps for water to escape, although in very small amounts initially over time
the issue worsens. Symptomatic of this is ‘veining’ paint around that part of
the radiator or rust runs from that part of the radiator.
With bleed valves and blanking plugs, sound advice would be
to screw them in hand tight then one quarter turn more with a suitable tool. Also
never use any other sealant when an o ring is present. This will ensure the
seal is formed correctly and avoid deforming.
Moving onto the remaining 2 entry points at the bottom of
the radiator. In 99% of installations in the UK the bottom entries will be for
taking the valves (taps).
When installing the majority of valves offered by Feature
Radiators an installer would add PTFE tape (plumbers tape) to the threads of
the valve tail, this helps to form a water tight seal between the radiator and
the valve, there are a few examples of valves that arrive with their own O ring
on the valve tail but the majority require a sealant.
Once the installer has filled each of the 4 entry points of
a radiator, so air vent, blank plug and a valve at each entry at the bottom,
the radiator is ‘dressed’ but may not be filled with water as other works may
be ongoing.
At the end of the whole works to the central heating system
and after other relevant chemical cleaning and preparation work in accordance
with British Standards has taken place the plumber will fill the system with
water and fire up the heating. This gives the plumber a chance to inspect all
their joins on the radiator with the radiator under the pressure of the central
heating system and the radiator also expanding with the heat and then
contracting when the system is turned off, that is always a good test for their
seals and allows them to notice any seals that need attention.
Based on a sound water tight installation and good seals
being formed the next possible reason for a leak would be poor maintenance of
the central heating system.
Inadequate maintenance of the central heating system the
radiator is on
Much like a car our central heating systems and radiators
require regular maintenance to keep them in top condition. We provide this
advice on our Feature Radiators delivery information sheet that every customer
receives when ordering.
The plumber will chemically clean the entire central heating
system on its initial set up or if work is being done on an older system they
will use their professional acumen to decide if that is required, always speak
to your plumber if in doubt or you have questions it is always best to check. Once
the plumber has successfully filled the system with water and everything is
water tight they will add – inhibitor, this is the chemical that stops water
rusting through radiators and boilers.
Water in its natural state is very corrosive therefore a
chemical is required to counter that corrosiveness. Without inhibitor in your
central heating system it can suffer an array of issues and leaks can occur
from a variety of places. A qualified heating engineer/plumber will
appropriately deal with the relevant chemicals for your central heating system.
A good point to remember is making sure inhibitor levels are checked annually,
usually you can incorporate that on your annual service. If your radiators have
been installed for over a year and then they begin to leak, serious consideration
needs to be given to the maintenance they have received in their working life.
A manufacturing fault with the radiator itself
Finally and the I am glad to report (from Feature Radiators
point of view) the least common cause of
leaks in radiators we supply are due to manufacturing issues. As an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems
accredited company we ensure all our manufacturers and suppliers work to the
highest possible standards. This means our products are all either batch tested
in the factory or pressure tested and/or visually inspected before they are
dispatched to customers. In doing so the majority of issues are identified
before they are even dispatched to the customer.
In the unlikely event a leaking radiator is supplied this
will most likely be down to a pin hole in the radiator body, faulty weld or
joint possibly hidden out of view of the naked eye or under the radiators paint
coat preventing it being identified on the pressure test. In any of these
eventualities the manufacturer’s warranty would cover a replacement or repair of
the leaking radiator to ensure you get the radiator working as it should.
I hope the article has been useful, if you have any further
questions or queries on this subject matter or Feature Radiators in general,
feel free to contact us on 01274 567789 or email –
contact@featureradiators.co.uk
