Leaking radiators, Cats drinking the water!!

[Craig Ireland]

My radiators have suddenly decided to blow pinholes, and now my Cats are trying to drink the fluid leaking from the radiators is it safe for her to do this?

Or should I banish the Cat from the rooms?

 

[dancinplumba]

if its got anti freeze in it, cats love it, but its poisonous to them
imo 🙂

 

[Craig Ireland]

Is it likely to have anti-freeze in it then?

 

[diamondgas]

I'd keep your ***** away from any extraneous fluid 🙂 Turn off the valves either side and get a replacement radiator ..... OH! Also ask the plumber why your rad would "pinhole" 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

No it's not good for them. LOL.

Did you really need to ask!!?

🙂

 

[Craig Ireland]

I did think it wouldn't be good for them but I was just checking if it was just water or had other fluids in it (also the water is slightly green)

 

[Dannypipe]

Green. Oh dear.

Call a plumber asap mate. Have you had any work done to the system recently?

Green can indicate flux in the system (an acid that we apply to copper pipe when joining it with a blow torch - soldering).

It should be flushed out the system once work is complete. Then the water in the system should be treated to prevent corrosion.

If left in the system, the acid in the flux can cause leaks....pin holes as desciribed.

 

[diamondgas]

I did think it wouldn't be good for them but I was just checking if it was just water or had other fluids in it (also the water is slightly green)

Would you drink it?

 

[Craig Ireland]

No work done recently, but the system has been playing up a bit recently so I think it might be time for a full service! can i temporarily fix pinholesw ith fernox sx?

 

[Dannypipe]

Yes, you can fix most pin holes with a leak sealer addative. Fernox F4 is about the best, but Sentinal make them and Screw Fix do an own brand one too.

You need to grasp the nettle and sort this properly though. The flux will eat through steel first as it's easier, but it will also be attacking the copper. Eventually you could get pin holes in the copper tube, and that will be far more expensive to change than a few pressed steel radiators.

Flush the system out properly. My advise is to call a plumber.

 

[REDSAW]

if your ******* called rusty then it will be fine.

isolate rads and drain of water from them.

 

[diamondgas]

:iagree: with Dannypipe mate, pinholing could be down to age or something more sniisister that could cost you a new system ... best get it sorted sooner than later ... maybe worth mentioning to whomever you have around the pinholing though IMHO

 

[Craig Ireland]

I'm sure it is down to age of system as I've lived in my house 22 years and only had 1 radiator updated but I will get plumber ASAP thanks for your advice Dannypipe and Diamondgas top blokes!

 

[diamondgas]

I'm sure it is down to age of system as I've lived in my house 22 years and only had 1 radiator updated but I will get plumber ASAP thanks for your advice Dannypipe and Diamondgas top blokes!

You're welcome 🙂

 

[Craig Ireland]

Should I remove cats from the room while I go to bed?
They did drink some off floor but I've now got a container catching the drips and I'm also worried it's going to overflow while I sleep!

 

[Dannypipe]

Shut the valves to the radiators off. The drips will continue for a while.

Don't let the moggies drink it, it's full of iron oxide, and quite possibly flux chemicals, not to mention the chance that it may have corrosion inhibitor in it (though I doubt it!!).

Off to bed now. Good luck with it Craig.

 

[JCplumb]

How is the cat this morning?

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

you really get some interesting topics here..

 

[Craig Ireland]

How is the cat this morning?

They're both fine I build a barrier around the bowl thats catching the drips so they couldn't drink the water and I gotr plumber coming round Monday to fit the new Rads and flush system if needed!

On the green water - I am assuming it was just the one radiator that has a flux problem as all the others have clear water leaking out, also the one that had Green water is now clear too!

(7 Radiators on system - 3 Leaking)
One with definate pinhole.