The heating radiator is leaking and the pipe is leaking: what to do, how to fix it
If an emergency situation arises and the radiator leaks, you need to understand what to do first. Determine the location of the leak, place a container or a rag under it. First, the cracks and joints are sealed using accessible methods. But in any case, repairs will be required, which must be carried out by the management company. The most common types of accidents and how to eliminate them are described in this material.
The content of the article
What to do right away
If a pipe leaks, the reasons are often related to wear and tear. For example, heavy cast iron radiators exert their weight on the hinges for a long time, do not bend, and the contact point becomes thinner, which is why a leak occurs.
If a heating pipe is leaking, you need to understand what to do first. To do this, determine the location of depressurization:
- connection of the riser to the pipe;
- a certain part of the pipe;
- connection between battery sections;
- leakage within one section of the radiator.
It’s clear what to do where the heating radiator is dripping:
- If there is a tap, turn it off immediately (position perpendicular to the pipe).
- Immediately place a rag in the flooded area (if there is very little liquid) or place a flat basin or another container (if there is quite a lot).
- The radiator also needs to be covered with thick material to prevent splashes from splashing onto the wall.
- Immediately after this, they contact the management company or homeowners association, whose dispatcher must take calls around the clock.
There are also emergency cases when it is not clear what to do if the heating battery is leaking. For example, a fairly strong gust was detected during the heating season (the water is very hot, even a small stream burns). In such cases, one person should take the first measures described above, and the other should simultaneously call rescuers by calling 112 or 01.
Eliminating leaks in the area between the pipe and the riser
Such leaks are often associated with improper installation or selection of pipes of the wrong diameter. Or objects that were too heavy were placed on the radiators for a long time, causing them to be partially damaged. For fixation, you can temporarily use a thick towel, but then it should be replaced with another material as soon as possible:
- rubber (from bicycle wheels);
- automobile clamps;
- strong wire.
For reliable fixation, several strips of 5 cm wide (31 cm long) are cut from rubber. After tying, it is recommended to fasten the entire surface with clamps.
If a small crack is found, it can be repaired with a cement-plaster bandage:
- Prepare a cement solution of medium thickness.
- Cut several strips of bandage (length up to 25 cm).
- Soak them in the solution and wrap them around the damaged pipe.
- Lay out 3 more of the same layers.
Crack at the junction of sections
In this case, it is difficult to determine the damaged area, so you need to constantly wipe the radiator and immediately look for the source of the leak. Immediately after detection, the tap is turned off so that no more water flows.
Then you need to reduce the pressure using the Mayevsky tap. If the water has already stopped dripping, you can begin repairs.They use cold welding, and if there is no machine, the damaged part can be covered with mastic based on epoxy resins.
Now it’s clear what to do if a heating pipe is leaking:
- First, the surface is thoroughly cleaned of old paint.
- Then they take the steel cable and remove the rust.
- After this, they begin welding or sealing with mastic.
Since the composition dries for at least 2 hours, the battery is kept closed. In this case, it is not necessary to apply repeated layers - it is enough to treat the composition so that a surface with a thickness of 5 mm is obtained. As a last resort, you can also paint a hot radiator; for this, heat-resistant paint is selected.
Leakage in the contact area between the riser and the battery
To fix the problem you need to do the following:
- Close the tap.
- Drain all water from the radiator.
- Unscrew the fixing nut and remove the flax.
- Carefully disconnect the radiator from the riser.
- Connect again by inserting new flax.
- Tighten the nut until it stops.
To understand what to do if the heating battery is leaking, you need to accurately determine the cause and location of the damage. Moreover, first they take emergency measures so that the leak does not intensify and, moreover, a gust does not occur. If you have doubts about reliability, you should contact not only the dispatcher, but also call the rescuers.
Moreover, it is important to understand that radiators and pipes belong to the overall heating system of the house. Therefore, repairs are carried out not at the expense of the owner, but at the expense of the HOA or management company, which collects monthly fees for the maintenance of the house.
Therefore, you can figure out how to fix it if a heating pipe is leaking, fix the leak, and entrust the repair itself to specialists. After completing the work, they must draw up an acceptance certificate and indicate the warranty period.