Rust at bottom of radiator - repairable?
Discussion
Noticed visible rust on the bottom of the radiators, with the worse culprits in humid rooms (en-suite/bathroom).
No leaks so far. Is this something repairable?
From memory we had a "power flush" few years back, and the guy put in a treament (Sentinel X100). Would this prevent corrosion?
Picture below is the one worst affected.
Many thanks for any advice, greatly appreciated!
No leaks so far. Is this something repairable?
From memory we had a "power flush" few years back, and the guy put in a treament (Sentinel X100). Would this prevent corrosion?
Picture below is the one worst affected.
Many thanks for any advice, greatly appreciated!
Ransoman said:
rust treatment protects rust on the inside, not the outside.
That rust is all external. I would just brush any loose stuff off, paint a little bit of kurust on, then repaint with white metal paint. Beware though that if it was bad enough to bubble the metal, it may spring a leak.
Agreed, my radiators are 30+ years old and in good shape, system having always been treated with corrosion inhibitor, but the bathroom rads tend to go like that, presumably due to the humid environment.That rust is all external. I would just brush any loose stuff off, paint a little bit of kurust on, then repaint with white metal paint. Beware though that if it was bad enough to bubble the metal, it may spring a leak.
Could be cleaned up and painted but, in reality I'll probably just wait until it leaks and then change it.
catso said:
Agreed, my radiators are 30+ years old and in good shape, system having always been treated with corrosion inhibitor, but the bathroom rads tend to go like that, presumably due to the humid environment.
Could be cleaned up and painted but, in reality I'll probably just wait until it leaks and then change it.
Hmm, if the radiator starts to leak would turning TRV off isolate the radiator?Could be cleaned up and painted but, in reality I'll probably just wait until it leaks and then change it.
Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
anxious_ant said:
...Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
Its a bathroom, so I imagine window hasn't been opened enough/extractor not running long enough. So when radiator is cold, steam water upon meeting the radiator condenses on to the cold metal and collects at bottom and hangs around? Causing the rust at the bottom.Edited by hyphen on Monday 21st February 18:16
anxious_ant said:
Hmm, if the radiator starts to leak would turning TRV off isolate the radiator?
Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
No, you would need to turn off the other side lockshield valve as well as the TRV to isolate the radiator.Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
It is not unusual at all, they all rust at the bottom. The moisture in the air turns back to water and will sit at the bottom, also this is where the factory paint job will be weakest along the flange.
Stop over thinking it. Paint it or replace it.
hyphen said:
anxious_ant said:
...Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
Its a bathroom, so I imagine window hasn't been opened enough/extractor not running long enough. So when radiator is cold, steam water condenses on to the cold metal radiator, and collects at bottom and hangs around? Causing the rust at the bottom.
We usually open the doors to help ventilation but of course not when someone is in the bathroom.
Must say I never really noticed steam on the bottom of the radiator.
Lincsls1 said:
anxious_ant said:
Hmm, if the radiator starts to leak would turning TRV off isolate the radiator?
Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
No, you would need to turn off the other side lockshield valve as well as the TRV to isolate the radiator.Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
It is not unusual at all, they all rust at the bottom. The moisture in the air turns back to water and will sit at the bottom, also this is where the factory paint job will be weakest along the flange.
Stop over thinking it. Paint it or replace it.
For now I would go with the paint it option due to budget constraints. Hopefully that would give it more time until a replacement is warranted.
Will order some Jenolite for the job.
anxious_ant said:
Hmm, if the radiator starts to leak would turning TRV off isolate the radiator?
Strange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
It's at the bottom as that's where the seam is - the primer that the radiators come finished with is always thin there, hence why they rust in that location as well as gravity making any the moisture end up thereStrange that most of the corrosion is at the bototm of the radiator.
I'm a surveyor and, amongst others things, I survey a lot of commercial premises where you get to inspect the ladies and gents - rads always rust in the gents but not usually the ladies.
It's always the ones near to the urinals that rust - not nice to think of but I reckon it's the corrosive mist of urine which does it! You see the same effects next to WC's in male occupied houses.
My sister in law has had two similar looking rads let go in the last month and without the same sort of visible exterior rust.
I would get that changed ASAP & do NOT touch it with a wire brush.
If that lets go in the middle of the night you'll have no ceiling downstairs (and worse) by the time you find out.
In the meamntime I would close the valves off to isolate it and just stick a couple of big towels underneath
I would get that changed ASAP & do NOT touch it with a wire brush.
If that lets go in the middle of the night you'll have no ceiling downstairs (and worse) by the time you find out.
In the meamntime I would close the valves off to isolate it and just stick a couple of big towels underneath
anxious_ant said:
Noticed visible rust on the bottom of the radiators, with the worse culprits in humid rooms (en-suite/bathroom).
No leaks so far. Is this something repairable?
From memory we had a "power flush" few years back, and the guy put in a treament (Sentinel X100). Would this prevent corrosion?
Picture below is the one worst affected.
Many thanks for any advice, greatly appreciated!
Do you put wet towels on the radiators? Just kurust and a bit of white enamel paint.No leaks so far. Is this something repairable?
From memory we had a "power flush" few years back, and the guy put in a treament (Sentinel X100). Would this prevent corrosion?
Picture below is the one worst affected.
Many thanks for any advice, greatly appreciated!
Wombat3 said:
My sister in law has had two similar looking rads let go in the last month and without the same sort of visible exterior rust.
I would get that changed ASAP & do NOT touch it with a wire brush.
If that lets go in the middle of the night you'll have no ceiling downstairs (and worse) by the time you find out.
In the meamntime I would close the valves off to isolate it and just stick a couple of big towels underneath
Listen to this. I would get that changed ASAP & do NOT touch it with a wire brush.
If that lets go in the middle of the night you'll have no ceiling downstairs (and worse) by the time you find out.
In the meamntime I would close the valves off to isolate it and just stick a couple of big towels underneath
A new rad will be £50-100 get it, and any others that are rusting changed ASAP.
When the new ones go on get some more inhibitor in them before refilling.
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