Constant dripping from gas boiler overflow

shane6977

Hoping someone can help with this.

Have just started using our heating again and there is a constant drip from the boiler overflow which is staining the wall outside. I have read in another thread that the safety valve might have failed.

Is it easy to check / replace the safety valve myself instead of getting someone out? Also, could there be any other reasons for the leak?

aujopimur

Check your pressure gauge if you have a sealed system, it should read about 1 bar, if it's about 3 bar the system is over pressurised and needs to be reduced.
If it's the safety valve that's faulty it needs to be replaced, if it's installed externally to the boiler it's a DIY job, if it's intregal to the boiler you'll need a RGI installer.
I'm assuming you have a gas boiler.

creation mark

Your expansion vessel might need re-charging or replacing either.

DGOBS

Remember, the safety valve passing is a 'symptom' and indicates another issue, such as suggested above, a failed or under pressured expansion vessel, a passing or open filling valve, blocked pipework (to the expansion vessel).

Normally once the 'cause' is rectified, the safety valve will also require replacement. Most f these issues should be solved with a good service (only extra should be the valve cost or if the expansion vessel requires replacement)

sanbrafyffe

over a long period of time ive seen old ones eventually seep,,keep an eye on the pressure,,check ur expansion vessel by checking its operational,,,has a valve like a tyre so check theres air pressure insinde etc,,,if its the case its well old the blow off valve im talking bout,,,just get a new one on and the handiest way to do that is to by a new one and screw it into the old one with ptfe or flax and bosswhite:D

we presume its a gas boiler by the way

DGOBS

sanbrafyffe, are you for real?

NEVER screw a safety valve into a second safety valve, the will increase the safety blow off pressure to 5-6bar!!!
Pressing the schrader valve on the expansion vessel tell you NOTHING useful unless you have drained of the system pressure first (or the vessel is burst), and if your vessel is ok, then you have possibly just de-pressurized it!

I my 'limited' experience, I have yet to see a PRV leak or it's own accord, are you suggesting water corrodes the rubber seal?

donutheadhomer

I've a vokera 16e system boiler. The expansion pope has been dripping for past few days. The system is pressured to slightly ovr 1 bar but drops to half bar. I top up with the valve but back to half bar within few hours. Any ideas what it is. Not over pressured as never much over. 1 bar but still expansion flowing /dripping for no obvious reason.

DGOBS

MAy need a new safety valve assuming the gauge is correct
Assume is stays about 1 bar when fully hot too.

Egass13

donutheadhomer wrote: »

I've a vokera 16e system boiler. The expansion pope has been dripping for past few days. The system is pressured to slightly ovr 1 bar but drops to half bar. I top up with the valve but back to half bar within few hours. Any ideas what it is. Not over pressured as never much over. 1 bar but still expansion flowing /dripping for no obvious reason.[/quote

You will need safety valve replaced and expansion vessel recharged or replaced if diaphragm is split . Where are you based , someone here might help you out.

donutheadhomer

Is this an expensive psrt

donutheadhomer

Egass13 wrote: »

donutheadhomer wrote: »

I've a vokera 16e system boiler. The expansion pope has been dripping for past few days. The system is pressured to slightly ovr 1 bar but drops to half bar. I top up with the valve but back to half bar within few hours. Any ideas what it is. Not over pressured as never much over. 1 bar but still expansion flowing /dripping for no obvious reason.[/quote

You will need safety valve replaced and expansion vessel recharged or replaced if diaphragm is split . Where are you based , someone here might help you out.

I'm in limerick

DGOBS

About €15, combine it with a good service, if the expansion vessel is perished will cost about €100 more for external vessel fitted

donutheadhomer

Are these prices fixed by rgi?

Egass13

donutheadhomer wrote: »

Are these prices fixed by rgi?

No , but they are a good guide line when getting quotes

donutheadhomer

Egass13 wrote: »

No , but they are a good guide line when getting quotes

Thanks. I'll call a local rgi in Limerick.

donutheadhomer

I had an RGI out this morning and I have flat expansion tank. He told me it will be E125 for the expansion and E450 labour as very difficult to remove on mynute 16E model and needs to come off the wall. is this true?

gctest50

Diagram there on page 3 - conveniently located in behind the whole yoke

https://www.heatingspares247.com/download/Boiler_Manuals/Vokera/Mynute_12e_16e_20e_Installation_and_Servicing_Instructions.pdf

donutheadhomer

yeah they said it needs to come off the wall to get to it

Egass13

donutheadhomer wrote: »

I had an RGI out this morning and I have flat expansion tank. He told me it will be E125 for the expansion and E450 labour as very difficult to remove on mynute 16E model and needs to come off the wall. is this true?

Sometimes it has to come off the wall , but even still that's a ridiculous quote . An external vessel can be fitted in the hotpress , parts and labour in the region of 120-140 euro. I wouldn't be calling him back anyway. Get another rgi in.

Heroditas

Egass13 wrote: »

Sometimes it has to come off the wall , but even still that's a ridiculous quote . An external vessel can be fitted in the hotpress , parts and labour in the region of 120-140 euro. I wouldn't be calling him back anyway. Get another rgi in.

Yep, I have a Gloworm boiler and had an issue with the vessel last year. Instead of dismantling the whole boiler to fit a new vessel, the RGI man fitted an external vessel and put it on top of the kitchen units.
It's worked perfectly since then. IIRC, it cost €130 including labour.

donutheadhomer

Egass13 wrote: »

Sometimes it has to come off the wall , but even still that's a ridiculous quote . An external vessel can be fitted in the hotpress , parts and labour in the region of 120-140 euro. I wouldn't be calling him back anyway. Get another rgi in.

and can they just remove the existing expansion tank from the boiler or bypass it in favour of the one in the hotpress mentioned above? how big is this new this tank attic

Egass13

donutheadhomer wrote: »

and can they just remove the existing expansion tank from the boiler or bypass it in favour of the one in the hotpress mentioned above? how big is this new this tank attic

Providing it's not leaking then you just leave it there . The new one is about the size of a football , roughly

donutheadhomer

Egass13 wrote: »

Providing it's not leaking then you just leave it there . The new one is about the size of a football , roughly

calling another rgi guy then lads.....lol

shane0007

Vokera expansion vessel for that boiler is about €110 incl vat. Depending on how close the boiler is to the ceiling & whether a unit is built around it, the vessel can usually come out by removing the flue.
The downside of external ones in the hot press is they are harder to drain & check during the annual service. Generally, the system as to be drained to check & this can have its own issues with inhibitor levels & air locks refilling.

DGOBS

But he said it was flat, no perished, could he not just recharge it?

DGOBS

He said it was flat, not perished. If it's flat just get it pumped up and service boiler

donutheadhomer

new RGI - said the expansion vessel is 100% fine - said the pressure release valve/switch is shot - he gone to get one and unsure of price - said €50ish