Rads cold and control valves leaking

Keisha07

I have oil central heating two story house now ten years old. Simply put over the past few years to save on heating costs I turned some radiators off, like kitchen and living room, where solid fuel was heating the room.

With the drop in oil price I decided to turn those rads on however two stayed cold two only got warm today however I noticed that they are dripping from the valve on the side that I used to turn it on,

I have turned them off again and the drip stopped, have I damaged the system, is this a problem for a professional. Needless to say I would be grateful for any advice

Wearb

Probably leaking from valve stem. A slight tightening of or maybe a bit of ptfe tape on the shaft will cure it. Have you checked those rads for air?

Keisha07

Wearb wrote: »

Probably leaking from valve stem. A slight tightening of or maybe a bit of ptfe tape on the shaft will cure it. Have you checked those rads for air?

I have checked for air, just cold water although the pipe from the rad on the side opposite the control valve is hot.
Is it likely to be a leaky stem on all the radiators I had off will certainly try the tape

Wearb

Leaky stem isn't causing your rads not to heat up. Turn of all the ones that are heating and see if those two are then heating up then.

RJF

Since the rads were turned off for a long period of time all the sludge in them will have settled to the bottom and with little or no movement can solidify to a certain extent (TRV's easily blocked, though not in this case I think from description). There will also be further corrosion over this time. Suggest removing the rads, flush clean, replace, refill and bleed system.

Keisha07

Wearb wrote: »

Leaky stem isn't causing your rads not to heat up. Turn of all the ones that are heating and see if those two are then heating up then.

Just did that am just waiting

Keisha07

Made no difference really one stayed cold and the other slightly less cold, although not a wasted exercise when turning rads off discovered another leaky valve which judging by the verdigris on the valve has been dripping a while.

Could I ask are the lack of heat and the leaking valve related or coincidence,

Dtp1979

Keisha07 wrote: »

Made no difference really one stayed cold and the other slightly less cold, although not a wasted exercise when turning rads off discovered another leaky valve which judging by the verdigris on the valve has been dripping a while.

Could I ask are the lack of heat and the leaking valve related or coincidence,

Possibly. Sounds like you need a powerflush but you'd want somebody to confirm this onsite to be sure.

Keisha07

Thanks RJF sounds well outside my husband's comfort zone would this be an expensive job in your opinion, also as I asked earlier could the leaking valve be related, irony not lost in order to save money I have cost us money

Keisha07

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Possibly. Sounds like you need a powerflush but you'd want somebody to confirm this onsite to be sure.

Was afraid of the that thanks for your advice

RJF

Its not that hard to do. Do a bit of research and do it yourself if its outside your husbands comfort zone. It shouldn't be too expensive to get a plumber to do it if you don't feel up to it.

Keisha07

RJF wrote: »

Its not that hard to do. Do a bit of research and do it yourself if its outside your husbands comfort zone. It shouldn't be too expensive to get a plumber to do it if you don't feel up to it.

Am really grateful for all the advice cheers I'll look into it, was really panicked over the cost of a powerflush

Dtp1979

Keisha07 wrote: »

Am really grateful for all the advice cheers I'll look into it, was really panicked over the cost of a powerflush

The only way to properly clean your radiators, pipework and boiler is by doing a powerflush.

Keisha07

Dtp1979 wrote: »

The only way to properly clean your radiators, pipework and boiler is by doing a powerflush.

I really appreciate the advice but costs here really prohibitive at the moment, try the cheaper option first bite the bullet then