Leaking Alde heating

[Suzie]

Hi, just picked up van from storage and noticed alde fluid 10mm below minimum in header tank. Found a leak - seeping from above one of the rubber elbow joints - wood under furniture is also blue so must have been doing this for a while. Van not been used since Sept 2019 and serviced Oct 2019. Supposed to be going to Scotland next weekend - help! Any temporary fixes possible? I have not tried running system at all.

 

[otherclive]

If you can get all around pipe try silicon Rescue Tape. Easily cope with pressure and temperature.

Rescue Tape

 

[Suzie]

If you can get all around pipe try silicon Rescue Tape. Easily cope with pressure and temperature.

Rescue Tape

Brilliant thank you, will give it a try - then phone round a few mobile engineers on Tuesday.

 

[otherclive]

Brilliant thank you, will give it a try - then phone round a few mobile engineers on Tuesday.

The tape is normally very good for that sort of problem. But if Rescue Tape doesn’t help you then it’s Rescue Remedy for you 😂

 

[Jcloughie]

The rubber joints are normally held on with spring clips.





I would release the pressure with pliers, twist and reseat the pipe inside the tube, the replace the clip. And/or replace clip with a jubilee clip.

Then top up the fluid.

John


PS. Just a thought. If you use a jubilee clip you may need to release the spring clip and slide it to one side to make room. Then open the jubilee clip and wrap it round. This way there is no need to take the pipe out and any leakage will be minimal and can be caught with some old towels.

 

[JezzerB]

Jcloughie's solution is just what I'd suggest-careful how much you tighten the jubillee clip though-v capable of exceeding the strength of the ally tubing .

 

[ProfJohnL]

I'ts not clear from the picture, but I do wonder if the leak is not from the ends of the coupler but from the bleed valve. In the picture I can see an orange deposit on the brass insert on the bend just where the chromed bleed valve sits.

 

[RogerL]

I'ts not clear from the picture, but I do wonder if the leak is not from the ends of the coupler but from the bleed valve. In the picture I can see an orange deposit on the brass insert on the bend just where the chromed bleed valve sits.

I wonder if the OP has checked that the bleed valve is done up properly?

 

[Suzie]

Thanks for all your tips, silicone rescue tape has reduced leak to 1 drop approx every 4 hours. System topped up and run - leaks slightly less when warm, no air locks so holiday is go! Leak is actually from 2 of the spring clips on 2 small right angle bends about 2inches apart. Bottom of one bend and top of the next. Will monitor and buy jubilee clips - just in case!

 

[otherclive]

Thanks for all your tips, silicone rescue tape has reduced leak to 1 drop approx every 4 hours. System topped up and run - leaks slightly less when warm, no air locks so holiday is go! Leak is actually from 2 of the spring clips on 2 small right angle bends about 2inches apart. Bottom of one bend and top of the next. Will monitor and buy jubilee clips - just in case!

Thank you for the feedback. It’s good that the Rescue Tape has worked sufficiently well for you to still go away. Enjoy the holiday.

 

[Suzie]

Does anyone know what size jubilee clips would be needed?

 

[Jcloughie]

I'ts not clear from the picture, but I do wonder if the leak is not from the ends of the coupler but from the bleed valve. In the picture I can see an orange deposit on the brass insert on the bend just where the chromed bleed valve sits.

I wonder if the OP has checked that the bleed valve is done up properly?

The picture is the example I posted, not the OP‘s leak!

Does anyone know what size jubilee clips would be needed?

22-30 mm I believe.



John

 

[PeterK]

How old is the heating fluid/van?

If it's blue it's 3 year fluid, and may be the original fluid which if left in the system for too long, the anti corrosion properties of the fluid give up and the alloy pipework starts to corrode.

 

[Suzie]

UPDATE - 2 jubilee clips have sorted leaks from ends of the two 90 degree rubber bends (some splits in edge of rubber showing). Still have seepage from base of bleed valve on one of the bends. Van in for service in October and blue fluid due for change to pink so will get dealer to resolve all issues under warranty. Scotland here I come!

 

[Jcloughie]

I am surprised that a ‘rubber’ bend on a van still under warrantee appears to be deteriorating. Mine is 5 years old a the joints look like new.

John

 

[Geoffhifi]

Thank you for the feedback. It’s good that the Rescue Tape has worked sufficiently well for you to still go away. Enjoy the holiday.

Just a quick heads up, Never use jubilee clips on heating hose - spring clips are designed to expand and retract as the hose heats up and cools . Jubilee clips do not expand at the same rate as the aluminium pipe and rubber hose and can cause damage to both elements also as the jubilee heats up and cools down the screwdriver on the clips becomes loose.

 

[Martin_E]

It is rare for the dlbows with the bleed valve to leak but do occasionally.

They can be changed by clamping off the rubber connectors the opposite end of the heat exchangers with very little spillage

 

[Buckman]

Just a quick heads up, Never use jubilee clips on heating hose - spring clips are designed to expand and retract as the hose heats up and cools . Jubilee clips do not expand at the same rate as the aluminium pipe and rubber hose and can cause damage to both elements also as the jubilee heats up and cools down the screwdriver on the clips becomes loose.

The thread is nearly three years old so OP is unlikely to respond.