Leaks with radiators are almost all attributable to three things. Either incorrect installation, inadequate maintenance, or a manufacturing fault with the product. Faults in our products are extremely rare, however as with any product there is always some scope for faults occurring.

Installation

We always recommend that our products are installed by a suitably qualified installer.

With most of our radiators, there are end caps called blanks and air vents to bleed the radiator. These are located at the top of the radiator at either end.

There is a rubber ‘O’ ring which acts as a seal between the surface of the end cap and the surface of the radiator. The most common mistake when using these is over-tightening. If you over-tighten them then you might deform the ‘O’ ring and no seal occurs. To avoid this, you need to put them in just hand-tight and then about a quarter turn with a spanner will be fine.

At the bottom of the radiator is the valve connection points. To install them, you should use PTFE tape (plumber’s tape) or another suitable sealant. If the sealant is not applied correctly, there might be weeps or leaks around the valve tails. These might not be apparent on initial installation because the sealant may hold but as your radiator heats up and cools down, the expansion and contraction might result in a leak.

Maintenance

For the first month or two, if you are dusting or hoovering around the house just check on your radiator to make sure everything is okay.

If the radiator has been installed correctly and has been working for some time, then a leak might be due to corrosive water eroding materials within the radiator or inadequate maintenance. When water enters a central heating system initially it is very corrosive. The British Standards for commissioning central heating systems instruct that you should chemically clean your system that you should flush it and use an inhibitor. An inhibitor is a chemical that stops corrosion occurring. These British Standards are effectively a rule book for installers.

If the body of your radiator was installed correctly and your system is maintained, there is no reason why a good quality radiator should leak. If it does it is likely to be a manufacturing fault with the product.

Manufacturing fault

Manufacturing faults in our products are rare, but as with any product there is always some scope for faults occurring. Should there be a manufacturing fault, we aim to make sure that it is dealt with as efficiently as possible, and to help you every step of the way.

At Feature Radiators, we have a strict process for adding new products to our range. We sample our products to make sure they meet our exacting quality standards and that packaging is appropriate to ensure the radiator arrives with customers safely and securely. We take great pride in the quality of the products we sell as well as the quality of service we provide. Our main focus is looking after our customers.

We have a dedicated technical line so if you have any questions, give us a call, email us, or use our online chat facility on our website.