leaking radiator

[lorraine29]

Just checked on kids and their bedroom carpet is wet, when I have checked it a small section of paint on the bottom of their radiator is bubbling and flaking off and water is dripping quite fast from it. I've turned the radiator and the heating off but it still seems to be dripping.
How do I stop the water dripping at least til tomorrow when i can get someone out to repair it

Thank you

Lorraine x

[sddsddean]

If you have turned off both the valves (one either end of the radiator) it is isolated from the heating system, so you can switch that back on. The rad should stop leaking fairly quickly as the pressure is off, but this depends on how bad the hole is. Don't touch the 'bubbled' area, as this will make it leak again. If it is still leaking, I'm afriad its a bowl under the rad for the night. I changed a rad a couple of weks ago. Its dead easy if you are into DIY stuff and if you google 'changing a radiator' you will find loads of info.

[lorraine29]

Thank you, The radiator is a large one with 2 pipes coming up from the floor, through the thermostat switch before going into the radiator. turned the switch right off over an hour ago but water is still dripping now.

I wouldn't know where to start to change a radiator, but as it's a council house that shouldn't be a problem.

Lorraine x

[trendypaul]

If there is a hole in the radiator as it sounds then you will need to turn the radiator off via both valves (the non thermostatic valve may need a spanner to turn it off). If you don't turn both valves off the water will still come out as long as there is water in the system!!!

[dave m]

turn the water of and drain the tank by turning al the taps on this should drain yor cold water tank ,emmersion heater and all yor radiators,so the radiator wont be pressurised so hopefully this wil stop the dripping,but as always water wants 2 escape from any hole under pressure,doing this means you wil have no running water til a plumber is called out,is it a leak from the radiator or pipework? u never really said

[lorraine29]

it's the radiator itself, got the council coming out to fix it today. but still leaking quite fast

Lorraine x

[dave m]

hopefully!! lol,hope you have lots of pans etc,radiators hold a lot of water,as you wil find out when the plumber disconects it,oh and horrible black sludge which he wil prob release into yor bath! nice

[lorraine29]

Thanks for the warning Dave,

He's just been and turned all the water supply off to the radiator so i can turn the heating back on, and measured up for a replacement radiator which i should get in about a weeks time.

Thanks for everyones advice.

Lorraine x