How to repair a leak on the nut of a radiator valve

[@veryveryvonfused]

Im a 62 year old women, I have found the nut I need to work on using loo paper technique. I realised I needed to freeze it so I went to the shop £17 tape pennies. I am about to commence freezing - this guys voice is so calming I am going to have him relaying this in the background. I will let you know how it goes. I cannot thank Dereton33 for him help so far. The chap I called said first an emergency call out to isolate and then another day to fix it and he will have to drain the system. Lord knows how much that would have cost.

[@dereton33]

Good luck with Carole.

[@brettsheehan6143]

This video and your one on how to remove a radiator saved me a hell of a lot of money. I have no clue when it comes to plumbing. Got the rad off with no problem. (Previous owners bracket fixings were hanging off the wall) Fixed the leaky valve with some PTFE tape and put it back on. Got a little wet, but with the help of my wife we did it no problem. Thank you and keep up the great videos.

[@dereton33]

Thanks for your kind comments Hitman 1.

[@simons1543]

You sir are a star. Just in the process of replacing rads and valves and your advice has been invaluable. So glad I found your videos. Many many thanks.

[@dereton33]

No problem Al

[@stephenjeffreys4219]

Great video thanks - I'm much more confident sorting out our radiators now and cured a leak with no drama thanks to you!

[@dereton33]

No problem Stephen.

[@timoc90]

Thanks! the first minute of your video saved me from a real nightmare!

[@dereton33]

No problem.

[@geocoupe8144]

Still a great guide even many years after you made it! Had a small leak after removing a rad to decorate, a bit of ptfe on the olive sorted it 👍

[@dereton33]

Glad it helped!

[@SIRHOPES]

Really can’t thank this man enough, I had an up ( incoming) leak after freezing the pipe twice . But got there in the end 👍

[@dereton33]

No problem Alexx.

[@JCglitchmaster]

Fixed 2 of my radiators with your packing method. Cheers my man

[@dereton33]

Hi David, thanks for the extra info, Al

[@wayegoyabamye]

You rock fella, really well explained as usual. You are what makes KZbin great!

[@dereton33]

wayegoyabamye Thanks. Al.

[@napenhan]

Hi Al. Am in need of your expertise yet again. I have a leaking pin on a TRV. Therefore, I thought the best solution would be to replace the TRV. The system was flushed few months back with new chemicals poured in. The question is, if I need to add chemicals to the system again after drainage and valve replacement? Or there would be enough chemicals left inside to be topped by water only. Much obliged and utter respect as ever N

[@bakedbean1053]

Cheers buddy watched the vid this morning and fixed the job, it was how u applied the ptfe that helped me, I thought it had to be would very neatly around the olive (obvs it’s hid behind the nut, can’t fully see it) did it in situ with tape.. thank you !!

[@dereton33]

No problem 👍

[@pops2728]

Very clear and precise instructions. Keep up the good work.

[@dereton33]

+Pops 272 Thanks pops.

[@macone7490]

You my friend are a lifesaver! Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge...

[@dereton33]

No problem Mac. Al.

[@minaramin9209]

Brilliant video. I'm not a plumber and I have a leak in my upstairs radiator. The leak is definitely from the last description. Home Emergency said they would have to isolate it but they won't replace the valve or nut. How much does the valve replacement cost?

[@dereton33]

About £6.00

[@Izzidien]

Great videos! Im trying to replace a radiator with a towel rail. The valves need to go in vertically rather than horizontally. Can I save the hassle of bleeding and repressurissing and the cost of new vavles by just attaching some elbow joints?

[@dereton33]

Sometimes but it depends on what valves you are connecting from.

[@ryandobbs2132]

If one was to have done exactly what you said not to do at 3:17 (before they had watched this video) and caused water to leak down the pipe from the valve is there any way of repairing the seal or will the valve need to be replaced?

[@dereton33]

Just use some PTFE tape around the olive. PS shows how important to watch the whole video before proceeding..

[@lizwindsor8983]

Great advice, easy to understand. never fixed a leaky radiator before but thanks to you i did it with ease :)

[@dereton33]

No problem liz.

[@jtk1ify]

another informative video easy to understand thank you you just missed one essential point when trying the live fix DO NOT PANIC and STAY CALM (unlike my wife did when holding the pipe into the valve} water everywhere and my wife disappeared out of the room screaming.

[@dereton33]

Great point. Ha ha.

[@ChapuGrg]

Hi Dereton, My radiator has been leaking from the side of the radiator end which you have mentioned at 06:51 and which is very rare. It was only installed 2 months ago and the plumber had put a new PTFE tape on it. Now what should I do? Should i just tighten the end that goes inside the radiator or put a new PTFE tape on it again? Thanks

[@dereton33]

Try tightening it first. If it still leaks then add some more PTFE tape to the joint wrap it around the olive.

[@sawbridge007]

okay thanks which way do I turn the nut to take it out clockwise or anticlockwise?? and also does the radiator need to be OFF to do this?Thank you for your help

[@dereton33]

The rad can stay on, to take the nut out it is anti clockwise.

[@gp7257]

Great video thanks. We have lockshield valve with a leaky pipe nut (the one at the bottom) and are hoping just to nip it up. But if we do need to undo it completely to add ptfe tape, what if the valve is on the INLET side - wont water just pour out once the nut is loosened? Cheers

[@dereton33]

It will leak out on either side, just have some old towels ready while you wrap the PTFE tape around and tighten the nut back up.

[@andyyolesen]

Thanks. Was not sure if i had to turn off the water supply or not. No one says you do. Turns out i simply had to turn the nut down a half turn or so, until the leak stopped.

[@nickpowell1085]

Leaking radiator sorted thanks bud

[@dereton33]

No problem 👍

[@bedlamitejester]

Hi, big fan of your work, thank you. I have a leak from exactly this place you've shown, can it be repaired or a new "olive" be fitted without removing the whole thing?

[@dereton33]

+bedlamitejester Yes it can. Al.

[@LS3SJP]

big fan of your videos by the way, massive help!

[@staegor]

Dereton, I recently came across a bad situation. A cleaner had tried to let air from a radiator by turning the escape valve at the top. Within seconds the whole component literally came away and very hot water at high pressure started spraying across the bedroom. The taps at the base of the rad were also seized. What emergency remedy could you suggest to a householder in such bad circumstances, to stem the flow, whilst a plumber is on the way?

[@dereton33]

A large ball of plumbers mait, whacked into the valve.

[@LS3SJP]

My leak is coming from the bottom nut. I tried removing and packing it with PTFE, but as you suggested the flow of water is too much to let it take hold. I'm tempted to just replace the valve without draining. Apart from dealing with a couple of minutes of live water flow while I swap them, is there any big downside?

[@dereton33]

No just be as quick as you can with the change over, if you are worried though you can always get a freezing kit and do it with no worry s.

[@russellbethwaite1550]

You could take the risk of doing it live but be aware the thread on the nut on the pipe may not have the same thread as the new valve

[@rtyrtyrtyus]

On the last valve you mention on the live, is it clockwise to tighten on the left side of the rad looking at it and anti on the left?

[@dereton33]

Yes.

[@rtyrtyrtyus]

@@dereton33 Thanks. Is there anything better than PTFE that you can use on an olive that leaks? I see plumbers using grey stuff all the time when connecting various pieces. Is this good to do?

[@vicstanding9856]

Silly question possibly but I have a leaking packing gland ( 45 secs in this video ) and this guy says to unscrew and pack with ptfe . Do I need to drain the system as surely water will burst out or hopefully not , just unscrew and pack, with minor spillage ? Thanks in advance ! ☺

[@dereton33]

No need to turn the water off very minor spillage if any, just have a cloth under it, if you are worried.

[@vicstanding9856]

@@dereton33 cheers pal! 👍

[@matthewcrown4017]

Massive help to me today, thank you so much to both of you.

[@dereton33]

Our pleasure!

[@rocketrider1405]

I'm trying to get this, but shouldn't you wrap the Teflon tape around the pipe in the direction that your nut will turn so it won't bunch up or back out? At 6:20 you're wrapping the tape in one direction and at 6:30 you're turning the nut in the opposite direction. Or does it not matter here?

[@dereton33]

On this job it does not matter.

[@philsavage858]

Question : I have 8mm copper on the radiator pipe coming from the manifold in the loft could I replace this with a plastic speedfit pipe 10mm using an insert 🤔

[@dereton33]

Not without connecting the 8 mm copper to 10 mm first.

[@clivelangford6411]

Thanks Dave for all your help cheers

[@andycable4777]

Thanks for this. Just sorted one of our radiators.

[@dereton33]

No problem Andy.

[@websurfer1585]

I have one that is dropping where the rad tail screws onto to valve. I have tried nipping it up, no success, then drained rad and applied plenty of ptfe around the valve thread, but still it drips? Regarding having to drain the system when working on the live side, would it not be possible to fit a compression isolator (perhaps a full bore one) on the pipes up to the rad valves, to facilitate maintenance?

[@dereton33]

You can fit valves they just don't look nice.

[@Hitngan]

thx for sharing your invaluable knowledge. You are a true gent.

[@dereton33]

No problem.

[@chrisjames1924]

How can i pack with ptfe if the water is pooling up around the valve? It's totally locked off but it keeps pooling up! Happy Easter and great vids by the way.

[@dereton33]

You have to persevere and poke it down with a sharp bradawl, then start the thread of the nut (packing gland)

[@chrisjames1924]

Thanks for the replies. I'll see if i can figure it out for myself. All the best

[@Chanesmyname]

Sent a few pounds as a donation! Seen loads of your vids and appreciate your time!

[@dereton33]

Thank you very much. As they say every little helps.

[@nowthenad3286]

Great video Al. Really useful tutorial.

[@dereton33]

Many thanks!

[@brianmaxwell1832]

Does aircock need to be opened to do this as i have older heater and its wore away and i cant turn it

[@dereton33]

No, you will not let any water run out to need topping up the rad.

[@CHRIS1SYD2]

On the end with the Thermo stat can I shut that off and then detach the other side (where my leak is) and not drain the entire system

[@dereton33]

Yes as long as the temperature does not drop below 5%. Or the thermostatic valve will turn on.

[@davidjackson8969]

You can disconnect one end of a radiator and have the pipe open without draining the system, and not have water come out of the pipe, as long as the pipe into the radiator comes up for at least the last 6" (For a pipe coming down from the ceiling think letter "J". If the pipe is horizontal this may not work: 1. If it is a sealed system, release the pressure through a drain cock on the boiler (or at the lowest point of the system if fitted). If there is no drain cock, loosen one of the radiator fittings as shown in the video. This is only to let the pressure out - don't let air go in. If it is an open system with a header tank, put a bung into the bottom hole in the tank, AND into the expansion loop that is over the header tank before you release the pressure. 2. On the radiator you are servicing, close the valve at the end away from where you are working, open the air cock on the radiator, and loosen the nut that holds the valve to the radiator. Let all the water out. 3. At this point a partial vacuum develops in the system, and the water cannot flow out any more. This perhaps seems risky, but I've done it several times, including just now while I am trying to stop the type of leak mentioned in the video. This has the advantage that when you have done, you only have to fill up the equivalent of one radiator, and you don't lose (or have to store) the whole of the systems water, if it has preservative in it.

[@juliehicks9487]

what can we do we turned tried to turn the radiator back on took the cap off and used pliers but the brass part snapped off when turning

[@dereton33]

O dear sorry Julie, the valve will have to be renewed now.

[@antonygiggins4030]

this really saved my arse today. great vid!

[@Chugchug19]

Thanks for your explanation I saved fortune 🙏

[@dereton33]

Most welcome 😊

[@tk4270]

What does turquoise colour crystalisation on radiator valve mean.

[@dereton33]

That it has been leaking.

[@simonwilkinson3909]

Hi. I have a leak from the gland, but there is no hex head packing gland, as you call it. :(

[@dereton33]

Oh no! It will have to be renewed.

[@montylaurenann]

Thank you for your helpful video

[@rodneyleadbeater5410]

Should the tail threads of a new radiator be rusted/have metal debris in the threads and, thus, it is impossible to screw in the valve tails by hand by even the smallest amount? Should screwing in with the spanner be VERY stiff on such a new radiator and cause a crunching noise to occur when doing so? Not cross-threaded. Should the number of threads on the radiator tail entry be significantly less than that on the valve tail? If this can be the case, does one screw in the valve tail until just one thread is showing, ie way past the number of threads in the radiator tail itself? Even if screwing in thus is excruciatingly stiff with 5 or 6 threads of the tail still showing? Does it sound like we have been sold a 2nd-hand duff radiator as new? It arrived without plastic plugs in the tail and the wall fixings were missing (towel radiator). Metal debris was on the tails; could be felt easily on the fingers. The debris inside the bleed valve was even worse and the bleed valve itself immediately failed to shut after bleeding once the radiator was filled up. New bleed valve seemed to solve that, but water bleeds out of the tails after radiator gets hot and cools down. I suppose I did only put 10 wraps of PTFE tape on, but I would assume the PTFE got destroyed by the crunching that occurred when screwing in the tails as far as they would go, ie with 4-6 threads still showing. When I say, bleed out of the tails, I mean where you say in your video that it very, very rarely leaks.

[@dereton33]

The tails should screw in at least 4 to 6 threads deep, also try using hemp and boss white instead of PTFE tape.

[@rodneyleadbeater5410]

@@dereton33 Thanks for the reply. I used Jet Blue with PTFE to be extra sure! Didn't know about hemp. Of course, it's in the back of my mind that perseverance is pointless if the radiator is duff. Problem is I don't know what a new radiator should look like around the tails. I was not expecting rust/debris in the tail threads. All the online videos show you guys screwing the radiator tails in by hand quite easily!

[@dereton33]

If the rad tails in the rad itself are rusty you will get a real problem with sealing it.

[@rodneyleadbeater5410]

@@dereton33 Once again thanks. Got another new rad and tail thread is not rusty, so the other one was duff. Checked out a lot of new radiators (after getting paranoid) and none of them ever have more than 3 threads at the tails. Valve tails have 10+ threads. Are we supposed to screw in only 3 threads or as far as the valve tail will go? Companies making these products never reply to questions esp. Pegler Yorkshire

[@superseven220]

@@rodneyleadbeater5410 it's a taper thread so you need to screw the tail in until it's reasonably tight but don't overdo it

[@jonwilliams3269]

hi what do I do if there is a leak underneath the actual radiator?

[@dereton33]

Get a new rad Im afraid, a leaking rad is an impossible repair no matter what you put on the leak.

[@hexmex100]

Any advice when I have a valve where the cap is one of the chrome covers that doesn't seem to come off? My leak appears to be inside the cap rather than on the nuts shown here. Sadly the chrome cap doesn't seem to unscrew or pull off. Many thanks.

[@dereton33]

The cap should come off to reveal a screw underneath this will allow the top to come off.

[@hexmex100]

dereton33 many thanks / cap unscrewed after a little bit of limescale remover All sorted , appreciated

[@PanPuchacki]

Do I adx inhibitor after each drain of the radiator?

[@dereton33]

Just a small amount if it is a large radiator.

[@majorpygge-phartt2643]

How about sticking a few layers of pvc insulating tape on the jaws of the grips so they don't damage the nice shiny chrome finish on the valve, those pegler valves are well expensive.

[@dereton33]

Good idea if you can get the grips to grip with it on.

[@Chatbuddyroom]

Good video. Thanks for the tips.

[@RANMANC]

Thanks very much, your talk clear and to the point 😊👍

[@dereton33]

You're welcome!

[@russellnickerson1419]

I have a valve on my radiator I turned off wen replacing the radiator I came to turn it back on and it will not move it not on the thermostat valve it's the other one how do I release it

[@dereton33]

Take the plastic top off and use a small spanner or pliers.

[@colintotalfishing5374]

Hi I have a problem my radiator brackets are coming off the plaster board and created a bigger hole can you please help thanks colin

[@dereton33]

Hi Colin you will need plaster board fixing screws.

[@colintotalfishing5374]

Hi I thought that I would have to move the pipes, the holes are bigger than the original not sure how to do it,, I thought of wedging some pieces of wood in the holes and try to screw size 6 coach bolts so they can tighten on the wall of the plasterboard regards Colin

[@dereton33]

There are some fixers that are like large screws that would fit into an oversized hole, once screwed in the over sized holes the smaller screw that comes with them, screws into that.

[@honolulu1476]

Thanks for the video.

[@fionaloxley268]

Fantastic advice. Thanks so much!

[@dereton33]

No problem.

[@shanedorgsn76]

great stuff, thanks for the help.

[@kandasamiyogarajah8397]

Seriously u explain very well Thank sir

[@dereton33]

No problem.

[@sawbridge007]

my valve doesn't leak when the radiator is on but leaks when the radiator goes off at night when the valve goes cold. What do you suggest please??

[@dereton33]

Repack the gland with PTFE tape. I have a video on how to do it.

[@elainecocker7043]

thanks for the avice ia am going to attempt ficing my leaking valve

[@dereton33]

+Elaine Cocker I'm sure you will do fine.

[@villagerintheshire]

You're a good man 👍

[@dereton33]

I appreciate that. Thanks.

[@PJHBedford]

Great video, probably saved me £100 calling out a plumber! Thanks very much

[@dereton33]

No problem.

[@janeeaston5259]

It worked, thank you!!

[@roshansampang]

Great video 📹 👍, thank 🙏 you

[@dereton33]

Thanks for visiting

[@shaunmadrid1]

Very useful, many thanks. :)

[@dereton33]

+shaun madrid . No problem.

[@TheOnlyMosesMalone]

Thank you so much!

[@mmack3286]

Good advice but your doing a good job to put plumbers out of business.

[@dereton33]

m Mack Don`t worry there be al-right. I am one of them. Al.

[@staegor]

Great information ..!

[@AliTwaij]

Brilliant thankyou sir

[@dereton33]

No problem.

[@ianmowbray3284]

great tips

[@stuartspencer9038]

Cheers

[@AliTwaij]

thankyou

[@dereton33]

No problem Ali.

[@chalkycliff4068]

Just replaced the hole value yesterday even put the special tape around as well, but still getting slow drip grrrr

[@dereton33]

Try boss white and hemp.