Why is an American installed on a heated towel rail?

Heated towel rail leaks what to do

A heated towel rail in the bathroom performs two functions at once: it heats the room and dries the bath towels laid out on it (hence its name).

1. The main reasons for the leak
2. Eliminating the leak

In fact, it is a serpentine curved radiator pipe connected to a riser of a heating or hot water supply system.

It often happens that, due to thermal expansion during operation, under the influence of increased pressure and corrosion, a heated towel rail is leaking.

What to do in this case? How to fix a leak? Everything in order.

The main reasons for the leak

Such a nuisance as a leak can occur at any time. And not only with an old and long-used heated towel rail, but also with a new, recently installed one. The reasons for this can be very diverse:

Reasons for the leak

1. Towel dryers that have been in use for a long time can corrode. Here it should immediately be noted that not only the metal pipes themselves are subject to corrosion, but also the places in which they are connected.
2. Mechanical damage. In this case, a leakage problem may arise if the heated towel rail is accidentally damaged by some foreign object. Very often, mechanical damage occurs during repairs in the bathroom, as well as with a careless attitude to the dryer.
3. Wear of parts. This is the main problem. Due to the wear of the rubber bands and gaskets, the dryer begins to flow precisely at the joints.
4. Incorrect operating conditions. Often there are cases when a heated towel rail is completely different from the functioning of the system in the bathroom. So, for example, it can be noted that the coil may not be designed at all for the pressure from the system.
5. Poor installation. A negligent attitude towards the installation of plumbing products, as well as non-compliance with simple rules during installation, can lead to a dryer leak.
6. Defective equipment. Exceptions are quite rare, and mostly defective models very soon remind the owners of their shortcomings.
7. Incorrectly routed pipes. During installation, the ends of the pipes may be pulled out crooked. In this case, you should not be surprised that after a while your heated towel rail began to leak.

As you can see for yourself, there are a lot of reasons for this. Even an insufficiently tightened internal hex can cause you a lot of trouble, including leakage too. That is why it is important to know not only the cause of the leak, but also a good enough way to quickly stop this leak.

Eliminating the leak

Eliminating the leak

You can connect a water heated towel rail with a hot water supply system in various ways: using an assembly of metal fittings, to connect to a wall-mounted water outlet, by supplying pipes made of copper, steel, metal-plastic or polypropylene with a union nut for connection.

Each of these connections has its own characteristics, and the occurrence of a leak in each case can have several different reasons. Therefore, it is worth examining each case separately.

Water seeps through the threads

When the water sockets are located in the wall, in the immediate vicinity of the place where the heated towel rail is installed, for example, a "ladder" with a bottom connection, it is convenient to use an assembly of metal threaded fittings, brass or stainless steel for connection. A "nipple" is connected to the water outlet, after which, if necessary, an extension cord, an angle with an internal or external thread, then an American and a transition sleeve can be installed.

Water seeps through the threads

It is quite possible that the drip of some of the elements of this connection was not twisted securely enough during installation, somewhere there is not enough winding. As a result, the entire structure flows. What to do in such a situation?

First of all, you need to carefully inspect all connections from this assembly and make sure that it flows precisely along the thread. There may be a problem elsewhere: for example, the American has an unimportant gasket and leaks from under the union nut. Then try tightening the nut with a wrench first.

If, upon inspection, you are convinced that the flow is really in the threaded connection, unscrew the fittings and take flax and plumbing paste. Many people prefer to use Unipak paste, it is designed to work at temperatures up to 140 ° C and does not affect water quality. In addition, together with flax fibers, it provides good tightness and makes it possible to adjust when assembling the joint.

You can use other similar pastes, silicone sealant. Previously, they used drying oil, red lead, but after applying paint, it is almost impossible to disassemble such a connection. For reeling it is better to use old reliable linen. Fum tape does not give such quality, it is more suitable for tapered connections.

Before winding flax, thoroughly clean the threads from dirt. Winding is performed evenly along the entire length of the thread, in the direction of its pitch. An even layer of paste is applied on top. After a while, you can assemble and stretch the fittings and reconnect the condenser.

Water leakage under the union nut

Water leak

The heated towel rail can be connected to a common DHW system with pipes using a union nut. If a stream of water flows from under the nut, then the reason may be either an insufficiently stretched nut, or a worn gasket under the nut.

Due to the temperature difference, even a tightly tightened nut can loosen over time, therefore, so that it does not flow anymore, it is enough just to tighten it again with a wrench. For the same reason, water flows from under the nut if there is a fluoroplastic gasket under it. When cooled, the fluoroplastic tends to shrink slightly.

What if the rivulets are still flowing when tightening the nut? Unscrew the joint and go over all surfaces with automotive or silicone sealant. Give it time to dry. After that, the flow should stop.

Another option is to replace the gasket. You can buy new pads from the store or make your own. To do this, take a suitable sheet of rubber or paronite and cut new gaskets out of it, using the old one as a sample. If you pick up a piece of pipe of the required diameter, sharpen the edges on emery and, placing a wooden lining under the sheet, simply knock out the gasket with a hammer blow.

Paronite gaskets can be held in hot water for a while before installation. Sometimes it helps to install an additional gasket to the existing one.

Other causes of leakage

Other causes of leakage

If the heated towel rail is connected through a metal-plastic pipe, in this case, a crimp or press fitting is usually used. If the crimp fitting drips, chances are there is nothing to worry about. The pipe is put on such a fitting, which, as a rule, has 2 rubber (EDPM) gaskets, and is fixed on top with a compression ring (cracker). To eliminate the leak, you just need to tighten the nut. This should be done periodically, at least once a year.

Source: https://potolki-72.ru/protekaet-polotentsesushitel-chto-delat/

How to fix the leak at the connection on the heated towel rail?

• 29 Jul /
• admin /
• popecham

Many, having finished making repairs in the bathroom, install a new heated towel rail made of steel, copper, brass or stainless steel.Made from plain steel, such products are cheap but quickly deteriorate due to corrosion. This is due to the increased oxygen content in the water. In addition, a heated towel rail in Russia is connected to a hot water supply system (DHW), which is often turned off in summer for repairs, the water is discharged, and the entire system is air-conditioned.

Installation diagram of a water heated towel rail.

A brass heated towel rail is designed by the manufacturer for a service life of about 5 years, copper is quite expensive, and stainless steel is inexpensive and regularly serves 25-30 years. For this reason, towel warmers made of stainless steel are so widespread in our country.

Such a heated towel rail is connected to water pipes using various fittings, which allow it to be cleaned, repaired or replaced, if necessary. But just in the place of such a connection, water often leaks.

If a heated towel rail suddenly leaks in the bathroom, do not postpone the solution of this problem until later.

Heated towel rail device diagram.

Even if the water is dripping little by little, the best way out is to immediately shut off the hot water supply to it and determine the cause of the leak. Otherwise, a strong jump in pressure in the pipe can arrange a real flood in the apartment.

If a bypass was immediately provided during installation, turn off the supply there. If the bypass in a city apartment is equipped with shut-off valves, sometimes this is prohibited, first open this valve so as not to leave the neighbors without water. Otherwise, you will have to block the entire riser on your side of the entrance by contacting the housing office. You will have to pay for this service.

Next, you need to carefully inspect the leak in order to understand what is the reason for such a nuisance. Prepare the necessary tools to repair the leak:

• adjustable wrench, or a suitable open-end wrench;
• flax with UNIPAK paste or other sealing paste;
• paronite, rubber or ready-made gaskets;
• assembly knife, scissors.

You can prepare pieces of pipes with a sharpened edge, corresponding in diameter to the dimensions of the punched holes for the gaskets, and a hammer.

The towel warmer is dripping (leaking), what should I do?

Have you noticed that heated towel rail leaking... Something needs to be done, as women say.

Do I need to shut off the water?

Situation 1. Definitely necessary if water flows out in significant volumes and there is a serious risk of flooding your bathroom, apartment and neighbors below. We are looking for a couple of containers and organize a watch for the timely drainage of water, while we ourselves run (call) the housing office and insist on shutting off the water. To be convincing, you can promise a mogorych - you don't have to choose, repairing a neighbor's apartment will be more expensive.

Heated towel rail leaks - What to do?

A heated towel rail in the bathroom performs two functions at once: it heats the room and dries the bath towels laid out on it (hence its name).

1. The main reasons for the leak
2. Eliminating the leak

In fact, it is a serpentine curved radiator pipe connected to a riser of a heating or hot water supply system.

It often happens that, due to thermal expansion during operation, under the influence of increased pressure and corrosion, a heated towel rail is leaking.

What to do in this case? How to fix a leak? Everything in order.

Eliminating the leakage of a heated towel rail with your own hands

Do-it-yourself leak elimination

1. If the cause is damaged parts or corrosion, then these parts need to be replaced. With severe wear of the structure, a complete replacement of the entire heated towel rail is required. If a leak occurs on a flat section of the pipe, it is possible to install a coupling after cleaning and degreasing the problem area. But you need to remember that this is a temporary measure. And such a heated towel rail should be replaced with a new one.
2. Leakage can occur when the pressure inside the system rises sharply. Therefore, it is recommended to install a hydraulic protection system at the entrance.
3. In the event of a leak in the places of sealing, it is necessary to turn off the water supply, disassemble the structure and replace the worn out parts with the installation of new silicone or rubber gaskets. Also use tow or red lead. In case of leakage of joints on polypropylene pipes, heat the joint with a construction hairdryer and install a clamp of a suitable size. Or cut the problem section of the pipe and install a new one.
4. Leakage due to a factory defect is not an uncommon cause. Therefore, you need to purchase products that have a quality certificate and a guarantee. In case of a poor-quality installation, it is possible to eliminate the leak by reinstalling. If there is a leak in the nut joint, eliminate it by applying an additional layer of sealant or tow. Or by tightening the nut connection more tightly. If the leak occurs due to improper installation of the structure with a bias, it is necessary to reinstall the heated towel rail completely. And be sure to take into account that the diameter of the heated towel rail pipe must exactly match the diameter of the pipes of the main water supply system.

Related entries:

The heating pipe is leaking, what should I do? The heating radiator is leaking, what should I do? The heating boiler is leaking, what should I do? The ball valve is flowing. What to do?

Repair of water heated towel rails

Repair of water or electric heated towel rails is the most common reason for consumers to contact service centers. Why does a modern heated towel rail model occupy such an important place in every bathroom and can its failure be avoided? Our experts answer this question in as much detail as possible in order to eliminate all inaccuracies and misunderstandings among clients.

The most common reasons for contact

Our experts offer professional installation of a heated towel rail, which will provide the most efficient access to the product and all the necessary service work.

With the correct connection, a tap is installed, which allows you to disconnect the heated towel rail from the main heating system and, at the same time, do not shut off the hot water.

This installation method allows you to carry out preventive and repair work aimed at eliminating the cause of failures.

What should be done if the water heated towel rail does not heat up? and what are the most common reasons that can lead to such a development of events?

Service center employees constantly hear the same list of complaints. All requests can be conditionally divided into several categories:

• The heated towel rail does not heat - there is no circulation. In some cases, the reason for this may be an incorrect wiring diagram. Attempts to connect independently in the absence of the necessary tools and experience lead to the fact that after the completion of all installation work, there is no circulation in the heated towel rail.

It is almost impossible to correct the situation yourself, because there can be quite a lot of reasons why water does not circulate in a heated towel rail. In this case, calling the wizard will help not only to understand the true essence of the breakdown, but also to eliminate it in a timely manner.

There is also a possibility that the heated towel rail is airy and you will need the help of a specialist to remove air from the system, ensuring full circulation of hot water.

• Heated towel rail leaks. The most common reason that a heated towel rail is leaking at the junction is an incorrect connection. Only special materials and fittings that can withstand hot water should be used at the time of installation.

If a heated towel rail leaks, you will need professional help to properly connect all elements of the heating system.It should be clearly understood that if a heated towel rail drips at the junction, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to do without the help of professionals.

If a heated towel rail flows at the junction, then such a process is fraught with product failure, as well as the risk of flooding the neighbors in the absence of owners for a long time and increased leakage.

• Blockage. If the water in the heated towel rail is cold, this may indicate the presence of a blockage that prevents the free circulation of liquid inside the system. Replacing water pipes inside an apartment or house, installing filters, as well as timely service work will help eliminate the likelihood of blockages and failure of the heated towel rail.

How do I fix the problem?

So, the heated towel rail is cold. What to do? There is no need to call a plumber right away. You can fix the problem yourself. All manipulations must be done very carefully, observing safety precautions.

How do I clear the blockage?

If the electric heated towel rail is clogged, it is necessary to disconnect it from the network. Then unscrew the valve and clean with a long metal wire or brush. After cleaning, you need to reinstall the device and check it by plugging it in.

If the pipes of the water heated towel rail are clogged, turn off the tap on the pipe and remove the device. It is best to place the coil in the tub to drain off the remaining water. After removing the liquid, using a thick cable, all sections of the pipe should be cleaned. For best performance, you can shake the device over the bathtub.

It happens that when cleaning the water coil, a hard deposit is found on the inner walls of the pipes. In this case, you will have to use hydrochloric acid. The solution must be poured into the device and left to act for 10 minutes. After this time, it is necessary to rinse the coil under running water.

Why does the heated towel rail rust and leak | Protection against electrocorrosion

In April of this year, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BELARUS, the mass production of heated towel rails of the "Lesenka" type with protection against electrocorrosion will begin !!!

Why is this topic so acute and relevant? In fact, consumers often ask questions about what is the protection of a heated towel rail from electrocorrosion., they are also concerned with topics such as:

• What is this "heated towel rail electrocorrosion", "stray currents", or the more general term "electrochemical corrosion"?
• Why is a stainless steel heated towel rail still leaking?
• Why does almost none of the manufacturers give a guarantee if a heated towel rail is leaking due to electrochemical corrosion?
• Is it possible to protect a heated towel rail from stray currents at all?

Later in the article we will try to answer these questions in more detail.

Stainless steel towel warmers

One of the popular materials from which heated towel rails are made is stainless steel, or "stainless steel". The name suggests that this material does not rust.

The presence of oxygen in our tap water has always been the main cause of corrosive black or galvanized steel heated towel rails. Indeed, a stainless steel heated towel rail is not subject to this kind of corrosion for at least 10 years, provided that high-quality stainless steel is used, for example, the AISI 304 brand.

However, one circumstance is an exception - these are stray currents in a heated towel rail. They are the reason for the question "why is the heated towel rail leaking?".

What are stray currents in a heated towel rail?

The nature of the occurrence of currents in tap water is still not fully understood. Therefore, it is difficult to find methods to combat this phenomenon. At the moment, all manufacturers of heated towel rails recommend grounding as a way to solve this problem.

For example, there may be such a case: a neighbor on a riser grounds a faulty household appliance (most often it is an old "washing machine") to the water supply pipes. Thus, the currents propagate through the pipes, and since the supply of polymer pipes is made to the heated towel rail (i.e., the pipe material is dielectric), the current passes into the water, and a process begins that leads to the heated towel rail rusting from the inside.

As a result, points with signs of corrosion appear on the heated towel rail. The number of these points increases over time, and the original points increase in diameter, and you can already notice a slight leakage of water through them. The electrochemical corrosion process has begun. Here is the answer to the question why the heated towel rail is flowing.

In the case described above, grounding will help save your heated towel rail.

For this you need:

1. Make potential equalization: connect the metal parts of the riser with a copper wire. The places where the wires are attached to the pipes must first be cleaned of paint.
2. For reliability, ground the metal riser itself. It is necessary to bring the copper wire from the riser to the PE-bus of the nearest storey electrical panel. First, you need to make sure that the grounding on the electrical panel is operational.

However, the case described with an old washing machine is not often the case in practice. It is much more common for products to deteriorate due to other causes that cause electrical corrosion of stainless steel. And the installation of grounding is no longer able to provide full protection for the heated towel rail.

Currents can even occur in the device itself. For example, in hard water, simply due to the contact of incompatible materials: for example, a brass sleeve with a steel towel warmer body.

The reasons for the corrosion of the heated towel rail may be different. However, the consumer is interested not so much in the reasons that cause rusting of the device, as in the protection of the heated towel rail from electrocorrosion.

In Belarus, the question is often asked: a heated towel rail is leaking, what to do with this problem? The problem is especially urgent in cities with hard tap water with a large presence of salts and chloride compounds.

These cities include Soligorsk and Mikashevichi. In part, this problem is relevant for Baranovichi, Luninets, Vitebsk, Gomel and Minsk.

Protection against electrocorrosion

To solve the problem, our engineer and technologist have developed a special protection for the heated towel rail. Thanks to it, the service life of the product in cities with hard water is extended three times when compared to a stainless steel product without this protection. And provided that grounding is installed, and brass fittings are not used when connecting a heated towel rail, the service life will further increase significantly.

I must say that this protection is installed only in products of the "Ladder" type, and M- and MP-shaped heated towel rails are produced without protection against electrochemical corrosion.

We offer reliable heated towel rails of the "Ladder" type with protection against electrocorrosion. They will be relevant both for residents of Belarus and for other countries where the same problem exists:

• Kazakhstan (Astana and most cities in central and northern Kazakhstan).
• Russia (Moscow, Chelyabinsk region, Kaliningrad region, Primorsky region and a number of other regions and cities), etc.

We are ready to provide these cities and regions with our heated towel rails with protection against electrochemical corrosion. For the convenience of settlements, companies in Russia do not need to work directly with Belarus.

Signing contracts, issuing documents and all settlements will be carried out through a Russian company. In this case, transport costs, as a rule, do not exceed 5% of the product cost.

The shipment of heated towel rails is carried out to the Russian Federation by means of transport and fuel and energy complex "Transaviatour" ...

We are waiting for your orders!

Source: https://glossreiter.by/elektrokorroziya-polotencesushitelya/

Corrosion on the heated towel rail

One of the most common problems that can adversely affect stainless steel heated towel rail during the service life is metal electrocorrosion.

Examples of the manifestation of electrocorrosion:

If you notice that a stainless steel heated towel rail begins to gradually become covered with a gray coating and / or small rust spots (from 2-3 match heads), and if you wipe this spot, then there will be a small black dot behind it, which rusts and spreads along surfaces - these are signs of metal electrocorrosion.

Corrosion Is the process of metal destruction under the influence of the external environment. According to the mechanism of flow, chemical corrosion is distinguished, which occurs under the influence of gases and non-electrolytes (oil), electrochemical corrosion, which develops in the case of metal contact with electrolytes (acids, alkalis, salts, humid atmosphere, soil, sea water, etc.), which can aggravate a phenomenon called stray current corrosion (electrocorrosion). The nature of stray currents lies in the potential difference between grounded structures in different parts of the building.

Theoretically, with proper construction, there should be no potential difference, since all metal structures must have a galvanic contact with a neutral conductor in the ASU (input switchgear) or main switch cabinet (main switch cabinet) of the switchboard house, connected to the anode protection of the building. This is called the equipotential bonding system. But in practice it happens differently. Somewhere the welded joint is replaced with squeegees and additional resistance is introduced, and somewhere pipes made of metal-plastic or propylene are inserted, breaking the metal bond between the pipes of the riser and the metal heated towel rail. And consequently, the potential is bursting: on a metal riser, one potential connected to the ASU and the ground, and on the heated towel rail - another. We get a potential difference, an electric current appears between different potentials, if there is a conductor between them, which is the flowing water. And the magnitude of the current, and, accordingly, the harm that it can bring to a heated towel rail depends on various accompanying factors: from grounding electrical appliances to risers and water pipes, ending with the immediate proximity of the railway, the chemical composition of water, etc.

While the pipelines of cold and hot water, as well as heating were made of steel pipes, the issue of electrocorrosion did not arise, in the basement each pipeline was grounded in at least two places (as an extended element).

Please note: each bath was necessarily grounded (to the pipeline) with a separate conductor, because otherwise, it has no electrical connection to a grounded water pipe.

When they began to use plastic or metal-plastic pipes everywhere, few people think about grounding. And it turns out like this: water is conductive enough to bring dangerous voltage to an unnecessary place, but not conductive enough to protect a person from electric shock. Plus, when moving, the water is electrified due to friction against the walls (dielectric), and a static charge accumulates on metal elements (a kind of Leiden bank).

Recently, it is very difficult to keep track of the observance of all norms of installation and operation of electrical appliances in the house. Performing electrical work by unqualified specialists leads to sad consequences. Violation of these norms (for example: they confused the neutral wire with the ground in the electrical outlet) leads to the appearance of leakage currents on the hot water riser. It is important that it may not be your fault, the work could have been done by the neighbors.In this case, stainless steel, being even under an extremely small but constant influence of stray currents, is subject to electrochemical corrosion.

As a result, microscopic black or brown spots of rust, as well as plaque (see Fig. 1-4), may appear on the heated towel rail during the first weeks of use, indicating electrocorrosion.

If you take the necessary and in each case individual measures in time, this will not lead to a water leak.

IMPORTANT: the problem does not always manifest itself before the appearance of water droplets or plaque. After that, it is extremely difficult to save a water heated towel rail, and replacing it, as a rule, does not solve the problem, but can save you from it only for a while.

Ways to solve the problem of electrocorrosion:

Attention: Installation of a heated towel rail in the room and its connection to the water supply (heat supply) system should be carried out only by qualified specialists who have an appropriate license.

The first step is to contact the housing department serving your house with an application to measure the static voltage (6 volts is enough) in the water supply system.

In order to avoid the occurrence of local electrical corrosion, grounding is required for the correct operation of the heated towel rail.

Another possible solution to the problem can be the installation of a KUP (Potential equalization box). KUP is designed to organize an additional potential equalization system in apartments, houses, offices and industrial premises. In accordance with the Rules for the Arrangement of Electrical Installations PUE 7th edition, clause 7.1.88 “All accessible to touch open conductive parts of stationary electrical installations, third-party conductive parts and zero protective conductors of all electrical equipment (including plug sockets). For bathrooms and shower rooms an additional potential equalization system is mandatory and should provide for, inter alia, the connection of third-party conductive parts that go outside the premises. "

IMPORTANT: before installing the PMC, it is necessary to consult with specialists.

Also, the solution to the problem can be the internal treatment of a water heated towel rail made of stainless steel with a polymer composition, which creates an insulating coating inside the product that prevents the formation of a potential difference. This service is available to order on our website.

And of course, the problem of electrocorrosion can be eliminated by replacing a conventional water heated towel rail with an electric model or with a galvanized water heated towel rail. A galvanized heated towel rail is not subject to electrical corrosion due to the special properties of its coating, and the electric model does not have to be connected to the heating system, so there is also no need to protect such a heated towel rail from stray currents. In the assortment of the Elite Metal company there is a wide range of both electric heated towel rails (with a heating element or a heating cable (the so-called "dry heating element"), and heated towel rails with galvanized. online store or the stores of our partners.Of course, do not forget about the advantages and disadvantages of water and electric heated towel rails.

It is important to understand that there is no universal solution that would once and for all save you from the problem of electrocorrosion without carrying out complex work on examining the power supply and water supply system of an apartment or house in order to identify possible causes of electrocorrosion.

Warranty obligations do not apply to heated towel rails with signs of electrocorrosion.

How to fix a leak in a heated towel rail?

When a person buys a heated towel rail, it may not always be of high quality. On the outside, they are all attractive and, at first glance, good. But there are manufacturers who sell defective towels. As a result, unpleasant situations happen.

Some time after being installed in the bathroom, the towel starts to leak. When the water starts, high pressure is created, which finds a weak point, a thin wall of the towel, and squeezes out a small hole in this place through which water oozes.

You can eliminate any leak with a clamp, but for this you first need to turn off the water supply to the towel.

How to bleed air from a heated towel rail

Usually, air accumulates in the hot water system before starting water. Accordingly, it enters the water supply systems of multi-storey buildings.

The main reasons for the leak

There are several possible reasons for the leakage of heated towel rails, and not all of them are associated with marriage or mechanical damage. Most often, the malfunction is associated with long-term operation of the device, which is accompanied by a noticeable weakening of some of the connecting elements, wear of the intermediate rings or corrosive changes.

Loosening the union nut

As a rule, such a problem arises as a result of natural shrinkage processes or under the negative influence of regular changes in temperature and humidity.

Corrosion damages metal and causes leaks

Guide to fix the problem:

1. Disconnect the water supply.
2. Inspect the connections.
3. Tighten the fastener with a wrench.
4. Test the system operation.

Problems of loose nuts at the joints are most often detected during natural cooling (narrowing) of the pipe system. However, during the repair process, do not overtighten the fasteners, which can also cause the towel dryer to malfunction.

Corrosion of metal

The appearance of rust or electrochemical corrosion on metal products is due to the presence of oxygen in tap water, as well as the formation of so-called stray currents.

Over time, even the highest quality heated towel rails fail.

Guide to fix the problem:

1. Disconnect the water supply to the dryer system.
2. Check for grounding.
3. Perform the internal processing of a water heated towel rail with a polymer composition.

In some cases, it is advisable to completely replace the rusted device with a new heated towel rail of the "Ladder" model, which for the most part are equipped with special protection against the appearance of electrochemical corrosion.

Wear of gaskets

One of the most common and fairly easy to fix problems is natural wear or deformation and rupture of the rubber (silicone) gasket.

Before carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to find out the size of the old worn out gasket. for a new one to come to the device

Guide to fix the problem:

1. Shut off the water supply with shut-off valves.
2. Remove the paint layer from the union nuts and unscrew them.
3. Replace old gaskets with new ones.
4. Connect the device and tighten the union nuts.

After the water supply to the system is resumed, it is necessary to make sure that there is no leakage.

Fluoroplastic gaskets are more durable and reliable.

Why is the heated towel rail leaking?

In the list of perpetrators of apartment floods, the heated towel rail takes an honorable second place after a burst radiator. And it causes trouble not only years after installation, but after a month or two. Why is the coil leaking? Let's find out the reasons and take a closer look at the most common ones.

Reasons for a heated towel rail leak

1. Poor sealing at the junction of the heated towel rail with the pipeline. Sealing wear.

Often leaks at the joints are associated with the use of outdated seals - for example, linen strand. Linen is susceptible to rotting, swells due to contact with water, and also provokes the appearance of corrosion on the threads. As a result, the connection ceases to be airtight, water seeps out. The linen seal should be changed every 2-3 years. Otherwise, a sudden leak will not keep you waiting.

To "make and forget" and live peacefully without fear of a flood, use modern sealants to seal the threads - gels, synthetic threads. This is a great alternative to rubber pads, linen winding and FUM tape.

2. Water hammer with a sharp increase in pressure in pipes

The phenomenon is rare, but possible. Apartment buildings are not 100% protected from it. It can "hit" during hydraulic tests, when the work is carried out incorrectly. This is due to the human factor or old equipment - it's hard to understand. The only plus in such a situation for the homeowner is that the responsibility for the leakage and flood falls on the heat point or the management company. This means that they will compensate for the damage.

3. Mechanical damage to the coil or joints with pipes

It happens during repairs or other work in the bathroom (replacing the door, connecting the washing machine, etc.).

4. Poor installation and connection of a heated towel rail

Possible when replacing an old coil. If the team worked carelessly and used bad sealants, sooner or later this will manifest itself. Therefore, always conclude a contract with workers, even if you chose them by acquaintance. Only official paper gives the right to make claims to the quality of the work performed and demand compensation.

5. The characteristics of the device do not match the system requirements

The most stylish and original heated towel rail will be useless in your bathroom if it does not meet the requirements of the domestic water supply and heating system. The selected heated towel rail (for a design or a low price) may not withstand the working pressure in the pipes and may not match the ph of the local water. Carefully study the passport of the equipment before purchasing to avoid unnecessary expenses.

6. Corrosion outside and inside the heated towel rail

Let us consider this reason in detail, since it is corrosion that is the main enemy of plumbing, spoiling equally new and old equipment.

Corrosion on a heated towel rail appears due to:

• Low quality anti-corrosion coating. This is a manufacturing defect, and you have the right to return the coil to the seller, having received the money back. Damage during pipe bending also belongs to defects. Subsequently, microcracks are covered with rust and they leak. • Unsuitable material.

If the heated towel rail is not made of stainless steel, but of thin chrome-plated or nickel-plated steel. In this case, in the places of coil bends, the coating quickly comes off and the pipes rust. • Draining water in the heating system. Draining corrosion forms inside the coil and gradually eats away at the pipe.

• Stray currents.

They arise if: the heated towel rail is not grounded; a washing machine, water pump or electromagnetic water filter is poorly grounded; when replacing steel pipes with polypropylene or metal-plastic, grounding was not performed (the same with replacing the coil itself); pipes and heated towel rails are made of materials with different electrochemical potential, which causes electrocorrosion.

How to understand that there are stray currents? You may notice rusty spots on the surface of the coil. First - if you look closely, then - with the naked eye. The dots gradually become larger, and as a result, they form cracks through which water appears. The stray currents "eat up" the pipes.

Heated towel rail drip - we do repairs

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Author: Cleaning of premises Category: Construction and renovation Posted: April 26, 2020 Hits: 3396

The towel dryer is leaking, it means it is being repaired.

In order to connect a heated towel rail, you need to know all the options for its installation. Although, by and large, there are two of them. It would be necessary to embed specialized taps into the design of the heating system, or, as another method, into pipes supplying the apartment with a hot stream of water. You will be able to use the product when installing the first type only during the heating season, when heated water begins to circulate through the system. As for the second option, then the season is not a hindrance.

It would be nice to know that no matter what the dryer was, it would belong to a domestic manufacturer, or a leading foreign one, it can work, in theory, no more than three years. Sometimes a little more. But then all sorts of breakdowns inevitably occur, which means that the heated towel rail must be repaired.

Do we repair or replace?

If you notice that leaking pipes are the cause of the malfunction, then disconnect the heated towel rail from the system to which it was connected and proceed to fix the problems. Usually the problem is with the correct pipes. That is, even at the stage of mounting, they could be laid incorrectly, made a bad commit. So the old pipes still have to be dismantled and replaced.

But you shouldn't relax. Towel dryer repair is a multi-step approach. Therefore, you cannot cope without a professional master. The cause of the leak should be determined in the most accurate way, it is necessary to prepare everything that the employee may need. The diagnostics carried out will tell a lot about the condition of the heated towel rail as a whole. It happens that the product heats up in different places with different intensity. It turns out that air has accumulated in the device that does not allow heat to pass through, and it must be urgently released.

Often water locks appear in heated towel rails. As a result, the hot liquid does not circulate properly inside the circuit. But repairs may also be required due to clogged pipes. The blockage can be provoked by sand, rust particles, salt-type deposits that accumulate in the passing system and enter the dryer with a stream of water. Since there are a lot of curved elements in the device, all these particles safely settle there and gradually completely block the flow of water. To fix the trouble, you will need to disconnect the dryer from the main source of fluid. To do this, you have to block the riser - heating or hot water. We must continue to work very quickly, because in this way your neighbors will either be left without heating or without hot water. Although, in order not to create discomfort for people for a long time, you can put stubs.

They clean the heated towel rail in the same way as other pipes using a plumber's cable. After the performed manipulations, the dryer is tapped and washed with a strong water pressure. Then the product is installed in place, an audit of its work is done in order to make sure that the device is in good working order.

It happens that the heated towel rail flows directly. Moreover, the reason may be a factory defect. Also, the warranty period ends, corrosion affects the metal. The characteristics of suitable pipes that do not correspond to the assigned duties also have a bad effect on the dryer. It is worth carefully reading all the technical descriptions of the device. For example, the pressure that the water flow in the hot water supply pipes has may exceed the installation capabilities specified by the designer.

It is a very unpleasant event to face such a misfortune as pitting electrochemical corrosion. Point "ulcers" form on the pipes of the heated towel rail - a deep lesion of the metal body. Sometimes this is found on the cases of radiators, batteries. So, if, at least on some section of the heating plant, incorrectly tuned equipment of private regulation is mounted, which regulates the rotation speed of the electric motor by means of frequency pulses, you get a source that emits electromagnetic interference. Even in the process of selecting a dryer, it is worth consulting with the company that serves the house. So you will calculate in advance all the options for choosing equipment that will meet the rules and parameters for ensuring the safety of the operation of the device, and will not become dangerous for the entire system.

The heated towel rail is not able to withstand too long a strong pressure. As a result, it will either burst or burst at the seams, releasing a stream of boiling water over the entire nearby surface. When purchasing a dryer in a store, do not immediately believe all the promises of consultants. Even before sending for the purchase, you must decide on the parameters of the product that you will purchase. If the heated towel rail gives out a leak, then study the connections of the ladder made of stainless pipes. And although the device may have recently been purchased from the very best distributor of the best manufacturer, problems can arise in any case. Electrical corrosion can lead to leakage at the weakest points - in the pipe welding areas. Moreover, the problem can arise in a short time, for example, after a year and a half of operation. Sometimes even a couple of weeks is enough for a new device to drip. The reason is simple - the lack of anodic protection of the structure.

Therefore, if the heated towel rail itself drips, just get rid of it. You should not even try to do cold welding, change individual sections. As practice reveals, the product can already be heavily corroded and will soon leak in a different place. Even if you do decide to repair, you will constantly fear that it will burst or disperse. But all the manipulations with the device should be carried out only by a specialist.

Choosing a heated towel rail

As we know, a heated towel rail is a specialized device, which is a heating pipe that can be detected in every room of the house, both for heating and drying wet towels, a small format of things for wearing, some of them also try to dry shoes on this device ... There are a lot of types of dryers produced by all kinds of manufacturers. Differences in the form and characteristics of the models. Among the dryers there are versions of the standard type, modernized, also elegant and complex.

Standard models are made from a simple type curved tube. The bend is made in the form of the letters P or M. The heat transfer of such a device is not too high - about 0.6 lWT. The upgraded versions have gone ahead compared to the standard ones. There, on each pipe, there may be a kind of shelf that allows you to dry a much larger number of things. Elegant dryers have been endowed with graceful shapes, curves, and heat transfer is about 2.1 kW.

Designs equipped with two heat exchangers can provide excellent circulation and excellent heat transfer from hot water from heating systems. A distinctive feature of a dryer with two heat exchangers is a separated stainless steel pipe, which is determined on a riser with hot water. Already after that, the wiring to the heated towel rail approaches.

Dryers are made from various materials6 from stainless steel, from plain steel, from non-ferrous metal. Outside, the product is polished, tinted / painted or chrome plated. The paintable versions are the most budgetary ones, they are considered the best option for almost any interior created in the bathroom. Products made of durable non-ferrous metal are made by domestic producers and also by a large number of foreign ones. These heated towel rails have increased heat transfer. Only now they do not "live" for long due to the aggressive composition of the heated water, which is why such products are almost never used in a broad sense.

As for steel dryers, they are of average quality and reasonable price for most social categories.

Heated towel rails can be electric, water, combined.

The water ones work thanks to the supply of hot liquid that circulates through the centralized heating system, therefore, they operate exclusively during the heating season.

If you purchase a water-type dryer, you need to pay attention to specific points and nuances.The device must be accompanied by a passport and a warranty card, with a period of at least a year. It is better to choose a dryer assembled from stainless steel. An imported device should be taken chrome-plated, since such a coating is considered the most reliable. It is followed by polymerization with painting. A special air release valve is always provided in the upper section of the product. It is also called the Mayevsky crane. It is needed to release air, which can become a problematic plug that prevents the circulation of hot liquid. If the accumulated air is not released, there may be a problem with the lack of water passage, which means that there will be no uniform heating of the heated towel rail.

When choosing a dryer, it is worth taking a closer look at the pipe. It is better to use a dryer with a solid bent pipe, because the suture tube can leak soon. Also, the butt should not have burrs. Electrical appliances are usually filled with oil or antifreeze. The heating part is mounted inside the device. You can manually adjust the temperature yourself. A thermostat can be used. The latter will automatically turn on and off the heating, depending on the set temperature indicator. When you buy such a dryer, be sure to begin with, the mains voltage in the house is always 220V. However, the increased humidity in the premises is a significant disadvantage for the electrical system. But if you arrange the wiring itself wisely, then you will avoid possible troubles. By the way, you can use an electrical product as a heater anywhere in your apartment or house.

Electric dryers can be classified as fairly economical household products. Their electricity consumption is low, although they are connected almost around the clock. The devices "live" for a long time. The device looks like a curved tube, although most of the design depends on the model. The developers reward the versions with the appearance of a coil or ladder; sometimes the product cannot be distinguished from a water heater.

The surface of the device can heat up to fifty or even seventy degrees. It is possible to control heating using a limiter sensor installed on the heated towel rail. Such a dryer is mounted on brackets that are always included in the kit.

Combined dryers operate both from hot water supply systems and from the electricity network. The heat carrier here is water. It can be heated in the warm season by a heating element built into the device. You can adjust the heating manually, or you can use a thermostat.

As you understand, on the market you can find heated towel rails of a wide variety of looks and designs. For all that, in the process of acquiring the version you like, you should take care of the installation issue. How will the device be installed? Very often, the purchased item cannot be mounted directly to the heating system due to the difference in diameters or the inconvenient location of suitable pipes. Sometimes the cause is a galvanic incompatibility of the two metals. Therefore, you have to buy all kinds of adapters and even additional pipeline products.

Buying the same product is worth it only in specialized stores. But even there you need to be attentive to some of the nuances. The accompanying instructions and other documents for the device must have a version in Russian. Next, you need to look at how legibly and in detail the information on the manufacturer of the heated towel rail is indicated. There must also be present: the address of the company, requisites, warranty period of service. Specify what pressure and how many atmospheres the apparatus can withstand. The consultant can inform you in the area of ​​the compatibility of the selected dryer and the heating system of your home, that is, whether the purchase will withstand the pressure. For more confidence, you should purchase a seamless pattern.

It is better to entrust the installation, assembly of any dryer to professionals. The present will help to avoid all kinds of problems in the near future. In principle, it is not difficult to mount the models. For this there are specialized sets of fastening systems. Sometimes the design of the dryer allows you to use the device as a floor unit.

The water device should be mounted with extreme caution. This requires special knowledge and solid experience. And here you cannot do without the help of specialists.

Installing a heated towel rail on your own

A properly selected heated towel rail will also become an excellent option for heating the bathroom. Well, some models will also decorate the interior. The most common among consumers are dryers made of brass and stainless steel. Brass during production are covered with a protective layer of chromium-nickel coating.

The heated towel rail is an excellent heating product for bathrooms. Used mostly for drying towels. It is often used as a radiator.

Some heated towel rails are connected to centralized heating systems, some to hot water supply.

There are quite a few types of dryers. Among them there are rotary type, ladder-shaped, equipped with shelves, classic with a U-shaped or M-shaped version.

If you purchase a heated towel rail belonging to the Economy class, then it should be mounted to hot water supply systems. You can, of course, install devices of this type for heating systems.

In any case, you should not choose on your own, and even more so - mount a heated towel rail. Contact professional craftsmen.
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