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Plumbing

Radiator pipe leak

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.55 PM

Hi The pipes for the central heating in the downstairs section of my home are underground as opposed to being visible. However there is now a leak in one of the pipes and I'm sure its radiator pipe leak as opposed of water main as the water (that's soaked the carpet) is warm. Additionally, when the heating is on, the leak stops. When pulled up the carpet to loom for the source, the flooring beneath carpet is concrete. I have had someone come to take a look and he has said that he will charge £285+VAT to break concrete, find leak, fix it and then lay concrete again. I believe that's a reasonable cost however I'm not sure! Additionally, I have been wondering what the solution would be in the future if the problem occurred again. I understand that it is possible to relocate the piping so should there be a future problem, I won't need to have concrete removed etc. My living room and dining room downstairs is all open plan with nice clean walls but if I relocated the pipes so they were above ground, they'd visible and frankly think they'd look a little ugly. I've reading about putting the piping into the wall instead my house is 70ish years old and as far as I know, there is no cavity wall insulation as the walls are not thick enough?! That being said, would it be advisable to have the pipes put into wall? - would it not leave the pipes more prone to freezing and then leaking?? I'm extremely confused as to what to do and which would be the best option and also what sort of price I should be quoted! Is there any advice you can give to me? Thank you in advance for any help you are able to provide. Min :-@

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1 Answer

HD Design and Build

Rating: 5 out of 5

Herne Bay

Hello, let me start with explaining why your pipe is likely leaking, many time we have had to repeat very similar pipework and the cause is that the pipes in the concrete/screed have not been wrapped in denzo tape before the concrete was laid. Cement is corrosive and if you sink pipes into anything that has cement in it needs protecting. If I am correct and this is the problem then you have a decision to make, you can do the repair at the cost specified which by the way seems very reasonable but as all of the copper pipe in the floor will have been laid at the same time and will have degraded at the same rate it is completely possible that in 2 months time you will spring a leak on another section of the pipe...... this could keep happening. Ok to you question regarding putting the pipes in the wall, they are not fitted in the cavity, no pipework or services of any kind are allowed to be run in the cavity, for the exact reason you mentioned.The pipes would be installed in a chasing on the internal side either in trunking or wrapped in denzo tape and plastered over. Another option to consider is box skirting which hides the pipes pretty well Ultimately if it was me I would remove all of the screed, replace the pipes with polypipe (cement does not affect it) and re-screed the floor. This is most certainly not the cheapest option but the most pleasing to the eye and long term

Answered15 January 2015