Radiator leak

bignev72 · 5 Jun 2012 at 22:29

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if there was anyone that could help with a (hopefully) easy to solve problem.

I took my radiator off to decorate and now I have put it back on it has a slight leak.

The nut will not screw completely onto the thread. I have tried to tighten the nut but it just starts to bend the pipe away from the wall now and does not seem to go any tighter.

Does anyone have any advice?

Pic below. I have highlighted where it is leaking from.

moss · 5 Jun 2012 at 22:30

PTFE Tape

Slade2 · 5 Jun 2012 at 22:31

Get yourself some PTFE gas tape from a local hardware store. Wrap this around the thread before tightening the nut on it and it should make a water tight seal.

bitslice · 5 Jun 2012 at 22:34

just FYI the nut doesn't have to screw completely onto the thread, it's a compression joint so it only has to compress the olive just enough to seal.

as above, PTFE or mustard

C.K · 5 Jun 2012 at 23:33

Replace the olive and don't over tighten!

daisycutter · 6 Jun 2012 at 03:34

no olives in this type of fitting.

as mentioned, undo, clean up and use PTFE tape.

Mickie · 6 Jun 2012 at 03:45

daisycutter said:
no olives in this type of fitting.

as mentioned, undo, clean up and use PTFE tape.

ignore *no insults*..

the fitting is brass so you can normally tighten it up a lot, its only on copper where it may start leaking, just tighten the fitting till the leak stops, going a little tighter at a time, it wont take much as the fitting looks new anyway

bignev72 · 6 Jun 2012 at 09:37

Mickie said:
ignore idiot..

the fitting is brass so you can normally tighten it up a lot, its only on copper where it may start leaking, just tighten the fitting till the leak stops, going a little tighter at a time, it wont take much as the fitting looks new anyway

It doesn't tighten any further. The pipe just starts to bend away from the wall.

I will get some pfte tape today and do this tonight.

Thanks guys

Archy · 6 Jun 2012 at 09:40

PS, you should have masked off the skirting board before painting the walls!

Mickie · 6 Jun 2012 at 10:37

bignev72 said:
It doesn't tighten any further. The pipe just starts to bend away from the wall.

I will get some pfte tape today and do this tonight.

Thanks guys

it bends away from the wall because you dont know what you're doing, thats why it bends..

try holding the fitting with a spanner and tightening the nut with another spanner then it wont spin..

generally only idiots use ptfe tape on olives, you're better off using some paste

C.K · 6 Jun 2012 at 10:54

daisycutter said:
no olives in this type of fitting.

as mentioned, undo, clean up and use PTFE tape.

Yes there is.

bignev72 · 6 Jun 2012 at 11:58

Mickie said:
it bends away from the wall because you dont know what you're doing, thats why it bends..

try holding the fitting with a spanner and tightening the nut with another spanner then it wont spin..

generally only idiots use ptfe tape on olives, you're better off using some paste

I'm not sure why you feel the need to be so abusive.

I did use a wrench to hold the pipe in place. As previously mentioned it will not tighten any further.

What paste do you recommend?

neodude · 6 Jun 2012 at 13:24

Check that all your connections look this...

Make sure the valve tail is very clean and smooth. Replace the olive. Don't over-tighten.

Showboat · 6 Jun 2012 at 13:27

When i had a plumber connect a radiator, he wrapped the tape around the nut 13 times! So don't go too easy!

PistolPete · 6 Jun 2012 at 14:24

Showboat said:
When i had a plumber connect a radiator, he wrapped the tape around the nut 13 times! So don't go too easy!

I wont be calling your plumber out any time soon - 13 times around the nut is a complete and utter waste. I hope he had enough left on the roll to put some on the threads where it belongs

craarc · 6 Jun 2012 at 14:26

good old tape or buy a new fitting if its damaged

bignev72 · 6 Jun 2012 at 14:48

neodude said:
Check that all your connections look this...

Make sure the valve tail is very clean and smooth. Replace the olive. Don't over-tighten.

I won't need to replace the olive because that isn't where it is leaking from.

I'll put some tape on where it is leaking and see how it goes.

neodude · 6 Jun 2012 at 18:52

bignev72 said:
I won't need to replace the olive because that isn't where it is leaking from.

So your original picture is wrong then??? :confused:

C.K · 6 Jun 2012 at 18:57

bignev72 said:
I won't need to replace the olive because that isn't where it is leaking from.

I'll put some tape on where it is leaking and see how it goes.

Yes, it is leaking from the olive. You shouldn't need PTFE tape on this connection!

daisycutter · 6 Jun 2012 at 19:05

Mickie said:
ignore *no insults*..

the fitting is brass so you can normally tighten it up a lot, its only on copper where it may start leaking, just tighten the fitting till the leak stops, going a little tighter at a time, it wont take much as the fitting looks new anyway

For all those EXPERTS, not all fittings have olives in that location, some have flared fittings, all my rads have flared fittings.