Random washer question for PH plumbers

[Zippee]

Possibly a daft question but we have a towel radiator plumbed into our en-suite but the top nut keeps leaking slightly. I've replaced with a same size washer that fits perfectly into the groove of the 22mm nut but when I come to screw it back in as soon as the washer hits the metal of the rad it goes out of shape and squeezes out of hold of the nut thus leaking again. What am I doing wrong? Is there another sort of washer I should be using instead of the round edged one? Apologies if this is pretty obvious but it's driving me mad trying to stop the rad leaking when turned on.

[essexplumber]

Wrong sized washer. Get some P.T.F.E tape instead.

[Gingerbread Man]

Do you mean the blanking or bleed vent plugs in the top of towel rails? If the rubber o ring has gone, wrap PTFE around it and screw back in.

[Zippee]

Thanks all - I'll give that a go. Another stupid question, how many times should you wrap the tape round the thread? Sorry if this is too obvious but it's pretty easy to tell I'm a desk jockey for my day job

[Gingerbread Man]

I'm still not 100% sure what bit is leaking!

If it's a blanking cap/ bleed vent at the top of the towel rail, then wrap the PTFE round ~10 times and see how you get on. Obviously you don't want it too thick that you can't screw the thing back in and it sticks out. Then again you don't want a too thin covering of PTFE and it winds in too easily not providing a seal.

[Simpo Two]

Zippee said:

Possibly a daft question but we have a towel radiator plumbed into our en-suite but the top nut keeps leaking slightly. I've replaced with a same size washer that fits perfectly into the groove of the 22mm nut but when I come to screw it back in as soon as the washer hits the metal of the rad it goes out of shape and squeezes out of hold of the nut thus leaking again.

Reading this again, is it an O-ring and are you overtightening it? My towels rads have O-rings and they don't need much torque.

[Gingerbread Man]

Simpo Two said:

Zippee said:

Possibly a daft question but we have a towel radiator plumbed into our en-suite but the top nut keeps leaking slightly. I've replaced with a same size washer that fits perfectly into the groove of the 22mm nut but when I come to screw it back in as soon as the washer hits the metal of the rad it goes out of shape and squeezes out of hold of the nut thus leaking again.

Reading this again, is it an O-ring and are you overtightening it? My towels rads have O-rings and they don't need much torque.

Aye that was my impression, so I guessed to he was referring to the blanking/ bleed screw plugs at the top of the towel rail.

[Simpo Two]

Gingerbread Man said:

Aye that was my impression, so I guessed to he was referring to the blanking/ bleed screw plugs at the top of the towel rail.

Yep, that's what I was referring to as well!

'top nut'