Help - what is causing this intermittent leak

Colm R

Hi there

I want help trying to diagnose what is causing this leak and what the name of fitting is that is leaking so I can tell the plumber before he comes.

I have three images and in one of them I have described what it is - to summarize.

1. The feed is coming from a storage tank in the attic and going through a pump.

2. After it goes through the pump it comes to here through this fitting that is leaking.

3. Attached to this fitting seems to be some sort of pressure vessel but I don't have that in picture.

4. However I am absoltely certain the water is coming from a closed outlet thats just below the red valve in picuture. I know this because its wet if I stick my finger in there.

5. The white valve and the red valve all seem to be part of the same fitting.

Then from this fitting, the pipe feeds into the cyclinder just nearby. This is all in my attic.

What makes this weird is that I cannot predict when it will leak.

Sometimes I might go up and there will be no water in the bowl and this might be the same for a day or two. Then other days I would go up and find the bowl is full like today.

There seems to be no difference between the days that it might leak and the days it does not - a bath for the baby, showers etc.

Any help would be appreciated. Or even if you could put a name on the fitting would be great.

Sleeper12

Not sure if it's just me but I can only see one photo

Wearb

Probably depleted or busted expansion vessel, causing the pressure relief valve to leak.

btw I can see all 3 images.

Sleeper12

Wearb wrote:

btw I can see all 3 images.

I'm using the boards app. I think that could be my problem

K.Flyer

From the image it looks like a Caleffi Multi-bloc inlet valve...

(Newer Model)


The red valve is a safety Pressure Relief Valve (P.R.V.) and is intended for releasing water when the system is over - pressurised.
There should be a pipe connected to the outlet of the P.R.V. to safely carry the water away so as not to cause any harm or damage to property.

There are a few reasons that can cause the system to over pressurise, faulty thermostats, faulty expansion vessel, faulty inlet pressure reducing valve or a combination of any.

You really need to have someone who is very familiar with unvented cylinders, and their associated components, to take a look at it for you and determine where the faults lie. Also get them to fit a discharge pipe to the outlet of the p.r.v.

Colm R

K.Flyer wrote: »

From the image it looks like a Caleffi Multi-bloc inlet valve...

(Newer Model)


The red valve is a safety Pressure Relief Valve (P.R.V.) and is intended for releasing water when the system is over - pressurised.
There should be a pipe connected to the outlet of the P.R.V. to safely carry the water away so as not to cause any harm or damage to property.

There are a few reasons that can cause the system to over pressurise, faulty thermostats, faulty expansion vessel, faulty inlet pressure reducing valve or a combination of any.

You really need to have someone who is very familiar with unvented cylinders, and their associated components, to take a look at it for you and determine where the faults lie. Also get them to fit a discharge pipe to the outlet of the p.r.v.

That's it

I will do some checks tomorrow. Such as tap the side of the pressure vessel. Ultimately though it will be a call to the plumber on Tuesday

I could probably connect a pipe myself but not sure where to run it to, possibly just back into the storage tank.

Anyway for now just check it every day, which is a pain in this weather. It is hot up there

K.Flyer

Colm R wrote: »

That's it

I will do some checks tomorrow. Such as tap the side of the pressure vessel. Ultimately though it will be a call to the plumber on Tuesday

I could probably connect a pipe myself but not sure where to run it to, possibly just back into the storage tank.

Anyway for now just check it every day, which is a pain in this weather. It is hot up there

Tapping the expansion vessel will not tell you very much, the pre-charge pressure needs to be checked correctly.
The discharge pipe should not be returned back into the storage tank. It needs to be piped to outside in a similar way to your storage tank overflow warning pipe. Usually it is plumbed via a tundish, but judging from the pictures that may not be practical.

jca

Press the schrader valve in the expansion vessel briefly, if water comes out you need a new vessel. If air comes out you need to get the system partially drained down and the vessel repressurised.

Dtp1979

And most importantly don't blank the valve!

Colm R

jca wrote: »

Press the schrader valve in the expansion vessel briefly, if water comes out you need a new vessel. If air comes out you need to get the system partially drained down and the vessel repressurised.

Did this yesterday. Neither air nor water came out - so that leads me to think the vessel has lost all its air pressure but that water is not leaking into the air side of the vessel.

Anyway, will need to get a plumber involved tomorrow. I'm hoping its not a big job to sort aside from the awkward spot its in and the heat in the attic in this weather.

Colm R

Guys - one more question - I am waiting on the plumber to get back to me but in the meantime, is there a potential that I have done damage to anything else in my system - such as the pump or any other fittings?

Or is this the fail safe doing its job?

K.Flyer

Colm R wrote: »

Guys - one more question - I am waiting on the plumber to get back to me but in the meantime, is there a potential that I have done damage to anything else in my system - such as the pump or any other fittings?

Or is this the fail safe doing its job?

Its just doing its job. Just ensure that whoever looks at it knows theirs

Colm R

Just to update on this. Very disappointed I paid a plumber for such an easy job. But better safe than sorry.

1. Turned off the feed coming from the pump.

2. Opened a tap downstairs and let it drain out. It took about 4 seconds before water stopped pouring.

3. Took off flex pipe connecting to the pressure vessel - this is the part I was nervous about - I thought water was going to go everywhere. It didn't.

4. Took out tank of its mounting - it was completely full of water.

5. Attached flex pipe to new tank - and your done and place in mounting.

And it was done - really easy. So far so good, but I will be keep a close eye on it to see if there is any leak from the pressure release valve. So far so good though, I have not heard the pump trip on since the job was done, which it would do normally.

Thanks everyone for helping me solve this.

jca

By the tank do you mean the pressure vessel was full of water? Is there a gauge on the system?

Dtp1979

Colm R wrote: »

Just to update on this. Very disappointed I paid a plumber for such an easy job.

It's easy when you know how...

Colm R

jca wrote: »

By the tank do you mean the pressure vessel was full of water? Is there a gauge on the system?

Yes - I mean pressure vessel. I don't have a gauge here on this system, I probably should put one on it. I assume to the pump is set to trip off at some pre-determined pressure.

The bladder was ruptured inside it, however clearly water is not able to leak from the air valve.