Heating Lost Pressure

DPG · Oct 25, 2023

Surely it's worth you taking a few minutes to create an account on a plumbing forum?

brianmoooore · Oct 25, 2023

A very common cause of pressure loss in the heating system is a leaking PRV (pressure release valve). That's the thing with the red conical knob, just behind the pressure gauge.
The copper pipe to the left of the PRV, running slightly downhill and then forwards, should go outside and have an open end, like an overflow pipe. If there is water occasionally dripping from it, then the PRV is the problem.

littlespark · Oct 25, 2023

If it’s a rented property, I’d report it to landlord and stop tampering with it.

You pay rent to them so they can keep the property maintained.

DPG · Oct 25, 2023

brianmoooore said:
A very common cause of pressure loss in the heating system is a leaking PRV (pressure release valve). That's the thing with the red conical knob, just behind the pressure gauge.
The copper pipe to the left of the PRV, running slightly downhill and then forwards, should go outside and have an open end, like an overflow pipe. If there is water occasionally dripping from it, then the PRV is the problem.

Good shout. Can't believe I never thought of that, especially since I've had to replace the one on my previous boiler!

clueless456 · Oct 26, 2023

Thank you again for the replies. So have found the problem - One of the bedroom radiators has a tiny pinhole leak from the pipe that leads to the radiator. The pipes leading to the radiators go along the wall beside the radiators and through the wall. From what I can see the leak is coming from one of the nuts on the pipe leading to the radiator.

I have wrapped the hole/leak with waterproof tape and wrapped a towel around it for now to try to stop the leak, and have turned off the heat control knob for that radiator. Is there anything else I can try to stop the leak - Should I try to tighten the nut where the leak is coming from? Or is there any other valve I can switch off somewhere on the radiator?

DPG · Oct 26, 2023

clueless456 said:
Thank you again for the replies. So have found the problem - One of the bedroom radiators has a tiny pinhole leak from the pipe that leads to the radiator. The pipes leading to the radiators go along the wall beside the radiators and through the wall. From what I can see the leak is coming from one of the nuts on the pipe leading to the radiator.

I have wrapped the hole/leak with waterproof tape and wrapped a towel around it for now to try to stop the leak, and have turned off the heat control knob for that radiator. Is there anything else I can try to stop the leak - Should I try to tighten the nut where the leak is coming from? Or is there any other valve I can switch off somewhere on the radiator?

Difficult to say. You could try tightening it, but don't over do it. Try and hold the radiator valve body with an adjustable spanner while you do it. The valve will have a flat section to allow this.

brianmoooore · Oct 26, 2023

It will probably cure it, but alternatively there's a chance it will make things worse.

DPG · Oct 26, 2023

Have a jug/bucket/cloths ready just in case. And an assistant!

clueless456 · Oct 26, 2023

DPG said:
Difficult to say. You could try tightening it, but don't over do it. Try and hold the radiator valve body with an adjustable spanner while you do it. The valve will have a flat section to allow this.

The temperature control knob is on the opposite side of radiator. Does the other smaller knob, on opposite side to radiator have any purpose at all?

To try to tighten the nut on the pipe near the radiator, where the leak is coming from, do I turn the nut to the right, or the left? As do not want to loosen it by mistake.

DPG · Oct 26, 2023

clueless456 said:
The temperature control knob is on the opposite side of radiator. Does the other smaller knob, on opposite side to radiator have any purpose at all?

To try to tighten the nut on the pipe near the radiator, do I turn it to the right, or the left? As do not want to loosen it by mistake.

The valve on the other side is called a lockshield valve, and it is used when balancing the radiators so that they all give equal heat out. You wouldn't adjust it yourself.

The threads are standard right hand threads, so tighten as you would a normal nut on a bolt.

clueless456 · Oct 26, 2023

DPG said:
The valve on the other side is called a lockshield valve, and it is used when balancing the radiators so that they all give equal heat out. You wouldn't adjust it yourself.

The threads are standard right hand threads, so tighten as you would a normal nut on a bolt.

I am not experienced with tightening nuts in general, but I do have a tool box... I do not want to cause a flood by loosening the nut.... Is it generally left for loose and right for tight?

DPG · Oct 26, 2023

clueless456 said:
I am not experienced with tightening nuts in general, but I do have a tool box... I do not want to cause a flood by loosening the nut.... Is it generally left for loose and right for tight?

Clockwise to tighten.

May be worth getting someone in to be honest. Not necessarily a plumber, but a decent handyman.

The risk is fairly small, but there is a chance things may go wrong.

brianmoooore · Oct 26, 2023

Most radiator valves have two nuts - one to the pipe and one to the radiator. Both are tightened clockwise when facing the valve.

clueless456 · Oct 26, 2023

Here is a photo - The leaking nut is underneath the black tape. So facing the nut from the same angle the photo was taken, do I tighten it to the right, towards the wall?

Is there any way I can isolate the water flow to that pipe, without shutting off the water supply for entire house?

littlespark · Oct 26, 2023

RENTED!

Get the landlord to deal with it.

1. He pays
2. If it goes wrong, it his responsibility.

Heating Lost Pressure

DPG

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brianmoooore

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littlespark

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DPG

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clueless456

DPG

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brianmoooore

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DPG

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clueless456

DPG

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clueless456

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