Bleeding Radiators. .. HELP!

sheepshagger

Started bleeding a radiator this afternoon and a as expected some water came out. . .but its been nearly an hour and its still flowing. . . is this normal?

I've tried closing the valve agin but the water pressure is to strong!!

Terry

turn the rads off at the bottom (or whereever the main inlet is) that will stop the flow eventually.
once the water has stopped coming out you will need to let the area around the valve dry out. go and get some WD40 and spray it on the valve once it is dry. you should be able to open and close it with ease then.
then you can turn the rad back on at the source, but remember to leave the valve open when doing this to let any remaining air out. close when the water starts coming out.

sheepshagger

Thanks - turned off the radiator with the knob thing down the bottom. . .waters still flowing but guess that should stop as you say.

Is it normal to have so much water come out?

I didn't realise shaggin gas radiators were so technical!!

Terry

it sounds like you have an old radiator there. yes?
the water will keep flowing as long as there is pressure. it should ease of eventually. just go out and get the WD40 asap. you will need to close that valve.

feylya

Eh, are you trying to remove the air or remove the water? Cos if you're trying to remove the air, you should put the plug back in when the water starts coming out...

sheepshagger

got some WD40 here already so have that ready. . .the radiator is old and dont think its ever been bled since we moved in (3 years ago).

How much water can it friggen hold?. .. lol

sheepshagger

Fey

Thought I was trying to empty the air (it was warm at the bottom but not at the top whne the heating was on).

Terry

i gathered that was what he was trying, but he said that the valve wouldn't close. thus the WD40 suggestion.

Terry

screw it. put the WD40 on now and try to close the valve.

sheepshagger

just tried the wd40 - didnt work - the valve doesnt wanna close!

Terry

that's a serious ****ing problem you have there then. if the water hasn't stopped flowing in th next few minutes, you will have to call out a plumber.
sounds like you'll need a new radiator for starters.
if you haven't already done them, spray some WD40 on the valves of the other rads before opening them.
just check again and make sure that the water is properly off at the main inlet tap.

sheepshagger

yeah theres something wrong alright.

Just a question - when you say the main inlet do you mean the knob think at the bottom of just this radiator (the one im trying to bleed)???

Terry

yeah, the one beside the pipe with the arrows on it.
be 100% sure that it is fully off or you could be dealing with some major water damage.

sheepshagger

yeah its 100% off -

it feels like the pressure of the water is not as strong (and isnt as warm) was it was before. . . fingers crossed it will stop soon.

Terry

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/bleeding_a_radiator.htm

the valves referred to here are the ones that need to be turned off completely.
one is the inlet and the other is the outlet. the outlet generally doesn't have a tap on it, just a basic cap. the rest is pretty much self explanatory.

sheepshagger

Cheers - hada look at that, only 1 of the knobs moves and its in the OFF position.

The rads upstarirs, I went downstairs and you can hear the dripping. I've gota towel soaking up the water (and am squeezing all the water out of that ever 5-10 mins) but im getting worried.

Got the Yellow pages - do you reckon I should call someone now?

Supercell

The moral of the story - don't do DIY on a Sunday!!

Wertz

Also a good idea not to bleed a radiator when the heating is on...rads are best bled when fully cool IMO.
Not that that helps the leak problem...

is_that_so

Had a problem with a rad a while back where chap turned off the output as well. He lifted the cap off and used a wrench to turn it off. Not sure if this helps in your case.

sheepshagger

Heating had been on this morning but was off when I did it this afternoon.

Just tried a plumber - wanted EUR 200 + vat to come out

Im starting to get worried as water is now dripping thru the ceiling downstairs!

Supercell

If its going through the ceiling, pay the 200 euro, believe me if the ceiling gets unsafe you'll end up paying a hell of a lot more to put it right.

Chalk it down to experience and next time read up on doing DIY before you plunge in headfirst..esp on a sunday when a professional is going to assrape (moneywise) you for calling them out.

Terry

yeah, you're gonna have to bite the bullet and pay the money. it's going to cost you more if you leave it.
is the radiator still leaking? if so, you are going to have to turn off the water at the mains. then empty the tank by running the bath/shower and all the sinks and opening a downstairs rediator to get rid of the remaining water.

Kur4mA

You're a f*cking legend.

sheepshagger

Only rent this place so am going to give the landlady a call. . gave the guy who normally looks after these sort of things for her a call, hes in London for the weekend but recommended in the meantime to shove some bluetack on the valve to try and stem the pressure??. . . at least now I can get the water to drip into a cooking pot (and not going thru the wooden floorboards downstairs).

I culd always try and keep this up till tomorrow when (hopefully) plumbers rates come down a bit (as it wont be a Sunday)

Terry

if you can control the leak, then that's fine. i would still recommend the plumber though. leave it too long and you could be looking at paying a plasterer to fix the ceiling as well as paying a plumber.
not sure of the agreement you have with your landlady, but maintainance shouldn't be your job if you are renting. although you could be held accountable for this leak because you were the one who bled the radiator.
just get the plumber out. pay the €270 now instead of paying twice that to two tradesmen later.

Lump

AHAHAHAH.... Some people are stupid. If the water is coming throught the ceiling, but a bucket/cloth next to where it's leaking. Central heating isn't a closed system, so the water will keep flowing if you don't turn the water off going into the system (Ensure the boiler is off before you turn the water off)! Then turn the water off going into the rad in question (The washer may be worn down on the tap, hence it's not stopping the flow. If you turn the water going into the boiler off, you'll jusy have to wait for the entrie system to empty. If the pressure is too great to shut the valve... There's something wrong with the heating anyway, it's normally only a trickle.

Have you got a proper radiator key... Like This? http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/images/pwm0143s.jpg or this: http://images.trade-express.com/mascotmetal/pcat-gifs/products-small/11551-s.jpg

If you don't buy a proper key.

John

sheepshagger

Thanks for all the help earlier lads. . .called a mate who came around, he noticed that a bit of the valve had come off (and was on the floor near the radiator). . .he put that back on and hey presto the valve closed!

Lump - I had a twoel soaking up the water, it just wasnt catching all of it. My DIY skills are pathetic to say the least. . i wont be doing any more for a while (and not on a Sunday afternoon)

You can see some small water marks on the ceiling downstairs - but it looks as though I might of avoided the ceiling falling through!

Heating is back on and the radiator is working properly again.

Thanks again.

Supercell

Lol, all's well that ends well, you did provide us with great entertainment though, maybe next time google these DIY projects before doing them..especially on a Sunday

sheepshagger

Cheers Longfield. . .. think ill just giveup on DIY. . . .i dont do it that often. . .and now I know why!!!

Lump

AHAHAHAHAHA, so the little screw wasn't even in the hole. AHAHAH.... Darwin Award TBH!

John