Leaky Imperial Radiator Valves

[BillyWillySilly]

Hi there,
I live in a mid-80’s house full of lovely imperial radiators. I noticed wet carpet in one of the rooms and found there to be a leaky radiator valve. Long story short I managed to isolate both the shut off valve and the lock shield. However, when shutting off the lock shield there was a bit of water escaping. I was planning on doing the PTFE-acting-as-a-washer trick as espoused on many YouTube vids but the fact that both are leaky makes me wonder whether I just need to replace the whole lot. New valves mean new rad and while that is not expensive overall, I also have British Gas Home Care 4.

In this situation, what would the British Gas plumber do? Replace the valves? Just fix the leak? Before the BG person comes I am going to try the PTFE repair so all may be well but this is a temporary fix. But that £60 excess could be avoided.
Thoughts?

 

[terryplumb]

If the valve is leaking from the gland ,re pack it. Or if you want to lash out buy two new valves for around 15 quid ,or less, and fit them yourself.
BG would fix the leak !

 

[ReganAndCarter]

In this situation, what would the British Gas plumber do?

Power flush.

 

[BillyWillySilly]

I might just go for a new rad completely. Free TRV valves with a kudox radiator at Screwfix. The radiator i might replace has a drain valve on it also and i have a combi boiler. Therefore it’s fairly straight forward to replace without draining the whole system, right?

 

[Madrab]

Size will be an issue and getting the pipe centres to line up. Your imperial radiator with not be the same length as a metric one, so pipes will need adjusted.

Turn off all rads and you should get away with just releasing the system pressure and draining the one your changing.

 

[dilalio]

You'll need to drain to change the valves... Or you could snatch it if you're feeling brave

 

[BillyWillySilly]

I think i can get the system pressure down to a minimum without causing too much of a problem. Having said all of that I just went into my daughter’s bedroom and noticed the same issues with the valve.

“So THAT’s where the water is coming from” she said...

Maybe two valves replacing. These are the originals form 1986 and we have four rooms where the rads have not been touched. It’s probably about time they were all looked at.

 

[dilalio]

I think i can get the system pressure down to a minimum without causing too much of a problem. Having said all of that I just went into my daughter’s bedroom and noticed the same issues with the valve.

“So THAT’s where the water is coming from” she said...

Maybe two valves replacing. These are the originals form 1986 and we have four rooms where the rads have not been touched. It’s probably about time they were all looked at.

Kids eh
"how long has that been like that" is a common utterance in chez moi

 

[BillyWillySilly]

Thanks for the replies all - new valves and radiator replaced. Took me a while but then again...i have never done this before! I certainly didn’t realise that you needed to use THAT much PTFE. Took two goes to learn that one...