Towel Radiator smelling

[N parker]

Hi can anyone help. Last year a new towel radiator was fitted in our bathroom. It was fine until a few months ago when i noticed a smell. It smells like metal or pickles. The heating wasnt on over the summer so was only a slight smell but now with the colder weather, whenever we put the heatting on the smell gets worse. We have oil heating. But definetly smells of metal type or pickles.
Any help would be more than appreciated.

 

[Old Account]

@Best perhaps this nice fella could help you out. He is one of our good oil engineers. Unfortunately, I never came across such a strange smell.

 

[N parker]

Thank you. Its driving me mad so any help is appreciated.

 

[Best]

Probably being an oil system is irrelevant, as the radiators still only contain water and inhibitor.
I suspect you have a leak around the towel rail somewhere. The radiator valve threaded joint into the towel rail can be a high risk of leaking.
Do also check for dead mice though and have your oil boiler and it’s combustion and oil line checked.

 

[rpm]

@Best perhaps this nice fella could help you out. He is one of our good oil engineers. Unfortunately, I never came across such a strange smell.

I`m pretty sure Best has been in a pickle or two in his life
I`ll get my coat.

 

[Best]

I`m pretty sure Best has been in a pickle or two in his life
I`ll get my coat.

Yes, I have!
Big relief when she said test was negative though.

 

[N parker]

Thank you very much. There doesnt seem to be any sign of leaking water. What would the indicators be? Could it be fixed by ourselves or should we get a professional in?

 

[Best]

Thank you very much. There doesnt seem to be any sign of leaking water. What would the indicators be? Could it be fixed by ourselves or should we get a professional in?

Can be difficult to find a slight weep.
Best to check for a leak when system is cold and therefore not evaporating any dampness.
Check around all the connections at valves and at any air vent and plug at top of towel rail.
Problem is, if there is a joint below the floor/in wall that has been disturbed.
I have come across some rads leaking that pong like a sick smell, if you know what I mean.
Dead mice would make a terrible smell all the time, but worse while heating on.

 

[rpm]

Tissue paper rubbed around any joint can show a slight weep better than the eye.

 

[Chuck]

But definetly smells of metal type or pickles.

Is the radiator plastic coated? Does the coating look discoloured or feel slightly sticky to the touch?

Your description is consistent with the smell of acetic acid. Some plastics evolve this when they deteriorate or are not stabilised properly during manufacture. It's possible that if the radiator is plastic coated with a bad batch of coating that's what you're smelling. I'm not sure how likely this is, I've never come across a radiator with this problem myself, but it is a theoretical possibility.

Flue gas can smell slightly metallic/acid but you said the smell was present when the boiler was off. If you suspect this is the cause you need to stop using the boiler until a qualified installer has checked the installation.