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Leaking radiator drain valve leaking

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jrtrrror

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Hi. I've started draining the central heating system to make a repair and now have three of these drain off valves leaking. Please say there is an easy repair without removing the whole unit.
Water is pooling in the top, where the screwhead is and I think, dripping from the outlet too.
I've not finished draining yet, so just getting ahead of the problem
Many thanks
D

IMG_20190615_111005361.jpg
 
I tried fixing one the other day and no joy. If you’ve screwed all the way down and leaking then, I would recommend a replacement, but get the same one if you can, size matters on this occasion.
 
You can’t repair them stupid really
 
jrtrrror said:
Hi. I've started draining the central heating system to make a repair and now have three of these drain off valves leaking. Please say there is an easy repair without removing the whole unit.
Water is pooling in the top, where the screwhead is and I think, dripping from the outlet too.
I've not finished draining yet, so just getting ahead of the problem
Many thanks
D

View attachment 39167
Click to expand...
As above these are mickey mouse valves, just change them for normal valves ...the replacements are really cheap
at your local plumbers merchants or toolstation etc are
about early Sunday
chking
 
CBW1982 said:
I tried fixing one the other day and no joy. If you’ve screwed all the way down and leaking then, I would recommend a replacement, but get the same one if you can, size matters on this occasion.
Click to expand...

Can’t edit this for some reason. You can get a different type but will need a rad tail extension also.
 
Rob Foster said:
As above these are mickey mouse valves, just change them for normal valves ...the replacements are really cheap
at your local plumbers merchants or toolstation etc are
about early Sunday
chking
Click to expand...
Hi. When you say normal valves, do you mean valves without a drain on. I've actually already ordered these

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/drayt...viihAVyKT__seBmHUmG3kF61a5NjsBEgaAt19EALw_wcB

I was hoping that they would be exactly the same because I'm beginning to feel out of my depth. I hate plumbing. Haha. I don't really want to mess around with extensions, cos I don't really know what to buy.
Thanks
 
jrtrrror said:
Hi. When you say normal valves, do you mean valves without a drain on. I've actually already ordered these

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/drayt...viihAVyKT__seBmHUmG3kF61a5NjsBEgaAt19EALw_wcB

I was hoping that they would be exactly the same because I'm beginning to feel out of my depth. I hate plumbing. Haha. I don't really want to mess around with extensions, cos I don't really know what to buy.
Thanks
Click to expand...
yes, just simple lockshield rad valves
 
CBW1982 said:
Normal lockshield won’t have enough on the rad tail, to overcome the added length for drain off will it?
Click to expand...

since its plastic should be able to sort something out eg hide a bit more
 
Sorry about this chaps.
I have ordered some very similar looking drain valves from SF. In the mean time I bought this valve as pictured. You're gonna have to forgive me, I cont know all the terminology. The bottom of this valve has s compression nut that I guess screws down right onto cooper pipe. However, if I remove the nut, can this valve be fitted to the elbow shown in the picture?
If I'm honest, everything has gone wrong today, I'm left with no heating or hot water till I get it sorted. I don't wanna undo the nut on the elbow to investigate, incase it starts leaking. There is still s little water in the pipe. It's getting late.
Thanks again.
And thanks for your patience and replies.

IMG_20190615_203743572.jpg
 
jrtrrror said:
Sorry about this chaps.
I have ordered some very similar looking drain valves from SF. In the mean time I bought this valve as pictured. You're gonna have to forgive me, I cont know all the terminology. The bottom of this valve has s compression nut that I guess screws down right onto cooper pipe. However, if I remove the nut, can this valve be fitted to the elbow shown in the picture?
Thanks again.
And thanks for your patience and replies.
View attachment 39175
Click to expand...

It will fit, but you’ll still have a leak if you do that as it’s on the rad tail, which needs to be removed, and replaced. You should have one with the valve you bought.
No chance of calling a plumber, or is this something you want to do yourself?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
CBW1982 said:
It will fit, but you’ll still have a leak if you do that as it’s on the rad tail, which needs to be removed, and replaced. You should have one with the valve you bought.
No chance of calling a plumber, or is this something you want to do yourself?
Click to expand...
Hi. Again, thanks for the help
It's leaking from the screw that opens the valve, I think it's also leaking from the opening too, the tube that you put your hosepipe over. So, with this particular new drain valve, that I could replace the leaking one. Unscrew from the radiator and then from elbow. I hoped then to screw the new drain valve into the rad, then screw the compression nut attached to the elbow upto and onto the bottom of the new valve.
 
I think I get what you mean, but just to be safe:

Turn off TRV other end.
Undo nut circled blue
Undo drain off tail circled yellow
Wrap PTFE tape around thread of new tail and insert into radiator
Undo nut circled red
Tighten nut (circled red) onto new valve
This is where you may need to push plastic piping towards radiator
Tighten nut (circled blue) onto thread of new valve
Open TRV and hopefully then start to fill up

B298EE7E-F0D4-4B90-B6C6-D341D1DA97A7.jpeg
 
CBW1982 said:
I think I get what you mean, but just to be safe:

Turn off TRV other end.
Undo nut circled blue
Undo drain off tail circled yellow
Wrap PTFE tape around thread of new tail and insert into radiator
Undo nut circled red
Tighten nut (circled red) onto new valve
This is where you may need to push plastic piping towards radiator
Tighten nut (circled blue) onto thread of new valve
Open TRV and hopefully then start to fill up

View attachment 39177
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for your reply.thxts very helpful.
The new valve is from BQ, everywhere else was closed. Will it be satisfactory. Also, the new drain valve has a separate tail from the valve. At first I thought, how do you screw this in, there is no outer nut. But when I disassembled it, I noticed that the bore has a hexagonal shape to it. I presume this is how it is screwed tightly into the rad. I don't have Allen keys large enough. Would Screwfix sell a tool for this application. If, what would it be called? I've seen this, but it doesn't really state in detail it's use. Or size.

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/radia...x4676Qg6DVAkt1VtfRaqtPMm5Nyi-O_caAiwcEALw_wcB
Sorry, loads of questions I know

IMG_20190615_203329494.jpg
 
Thinking about the pushfit elbow. Assuming that is what it is.

Can it be disassembled? If so, how?

I was thinking, just in case I need to shorten the white 10mm pipe to better align with the new valve.
 
jrtrrror said:
Thank you very much for your reply.thxts very helpful.
The new valve is from BQ, everywhere else was closed. Will it be satisfactory. Also, the new drain valve has a separate tail from the valve. At first I thought, how do you screw this in, there is no outer nut. But when I disassembled it, I noticed that the bore has a hexagonal shape to it. I presume this is how it is screwed tightly into the rad. I don't have Allen keys large enough. Would Screwfix sell a tool for this application. If, what would it be called? I've seen this, but it doesn't really state in detail it's use. Or size.

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/radia...x4676Qg6DVAkt1VtfRaqtPMm5Nyi-O_caAiwcEALw_wcB
Sorry, loads of questions I know

View attachment 39180
Click to expand...

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/radia...x4676Qg6DVAkt1VtfRaqtPMm5Nyi-O_caAiwcEALw_wcB Yes this is what you’ll need.
 
jrtrrror said:
Thinking about the pushfit elbow. Assuming that is what it is.

Can it be disassembled? If so, how?

I was thinking, just in case I need to shorten the white 10mm pipe to better align with the new valve.
Click to expand...

Yes it looks like push fit, just push the white ring towards the elbow and pull the white pipe. You should be able to reuse if not damaged. There maybe enough on it to push it in though, probably only needs about 5-10mm.
 
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