Leaking Radiator Valve: What to Do

Water at the base of a radiator usually means the valve's packing nut or the valve body itself is leaking — not the vent. Steam condenses to water inside the radiator, and a worn valve lets it weep out. It's a slow leak, but it rots the floor under the radiator if it's ignored.

First, lay a towel and contain it — don't let it sit on the floor. Don't force a stuck valve; that's how the valve breaks off in the pipe. The fix is a valve replacement, which means draining that section of the steam system to swap it. It's a real job, not a tighten-and-go.

A weeping valve is a slow problem that turns into a rotted floor. Call and tell me which radiator and how fast it's leaking — I'll tell you whether it can wait for a maintenance visit or needs to be done sooner.