Valve leaking hot water - advice needed

skerry

Need some emergency advice people.

House heating is a pressurised system and release valve in picture has been dripping water for the last week. I looked into the press tonight and the valve was pi$$ing out scalding hot water.

Had to run the hot water off to drain it and stop it leaking. System is completely empty now and I'm afraid to turn on the heating or anything incase it happens again as there are electrics in the same press.

Didn't have heating on any hotter than I've had it in the last week (only moved in to the house). There is a Honeywell motorised valve in the hotpress which I don't believe is working and is in the locked position and from a bit of research I understand the valve is unable to close off the water coming into the tank once it reaches the stat temp.

System is completely drained now and afraid to refill/ put heat on incase valve pours water again.

Absolute disaster as I have a baby in the house and now have no heat and supposed to be cooking Christmas dinner for the family Monday.

Can anyone advise on what I can do to have heat on and not have this happen again or at least minimise it until I get it fixed.

Also, is this a major job to get fixed. I can't imagine it'll be easy to get a plumber to sort this on Christmas Eve ...disaster:(

Wearb

What is your heat source?

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

What is your heat source?

Oil system, boiler in in an Aga range in kitchen. Valve is in press in room behind the range

Wearb

Minimum needed probably (now that it is drained down) is to check vessel pressure change that valve and refill and then check that circulation pump is working.
I don’t know if you can manage that before Christmas, but you might know a plumber who would have a spare valve in the van.

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

Minimum needed probably (now that it is drained down) is to check vessel pressure change that valve and refill and then check that circulation pump is working.
I don’t know if you can manage that before Christmas, but you might know a plumber who would have a spare valve in the van.

Know a plumber who said call him tomorrow but not sure if he can fix it or will have spare valve in the van.

Absolute disaster. Only moved in last week. No heating now and little one in the house. Timing couldn't be worse

Wearb

Most plumbers and boiler men will have them as part of their regular stock.

There is no guarantee that these steps alone will sort the problem. There could be other things at play, such as a faulty thermostat, ruptured vessel diaphragm, or something else entirely.

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

Most plumbers and boiler men will have them as part of their regular stock.

There is no guarantee that these steps alone will sort the problem. There could be other things at play, such as a faulty thermostat, ruptured vessel diaphragm, or something else entirely.

From what I can see the Honeywell motorised valve in hotpress isn't working so its open the whole time so once water reaches stat temp its not shutting off and I guess its just building up the whole time it we're not using copious amounts of hot water. Not sure if that's sole source of problem though

Wearb

If you can contact previous occupants they may have had similar problems in past and give you pointers

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

If you can contact previous occupants they may have had similar problems in past and give you pointers

I've a feeling previous occupants knew exactly what was wrong with system but kept it to themselves. We've come across a few issues since we got the keys that couldn't have been unknown to them.

Went to get boiler serviced a month ago and a quick look into the range and there was oil everywhere. They definitely knew about that anyway as you couldn't miss it (even though our surveyor completely missed it but thats another story)

RebelButtMunch

If the area is dry now how about wrapping it in loads of cling film and then about 2 rolls of duct tape. Just to get you through the next few days.

skerry

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

If the area is dry now how about wrapping it in loads of cling film and then about 2 rolls of duct tape. Just to get you through the next few days.

Could be an option. Need someway of heating the house over the Christmas and concerned also as there are electrics in the press underneath the leaking valve so worried about safety aspect of that as little on in the house.

Wearb

skerry wrote: »

Could be an option. Need someway of heating the house over the Christmas and concerned also as there are electrics in the press underneath the leaking valve so worried about safety aspect of that as little on in the house.

It’s not any sort of option That valve is a safety device. Do not do anything to block it off.

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

It’s not any sort of option That valve is a safety device. Do not do anything to block it off.

Hoping I can get a plumber to sort it tomorrow or at least tell me if there's a way to have the heating operate over Christmas without it happening as bad as it did tonight

Paullimerick

What area are you in

skerry

Paullimerick wrote: »

What area are you in

I'm out Quin direction in Clare.

skerry

Got sorted. Plumber I know managed to take a couple of hours out from Christmas Eve family duties and help me out. Had to drain system and replace the valve. Christmas is back on

Wearb

skerry wrote: »

Got sorted. Plumber I know managed to take a couple of hours out from Christmas Eve family duties and help me out. Had to drain system and replace the valve. Christmas is back on

Great. I hope you looked after him well.

Btw I thought you already had drained it?

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

Great. I hope you looked after him well.

Btw I thought you already had drained it?

I did indeed.

Sorry my plumbing terminology was probably off, what I meant was there was no pressure in the heating system.

Wearb

skerry wrote: »

I did indeed.

Sorry my plumbing terminology was probably off, what I meant was there was no pressure in the heating system.

Great to have it running and thanks for letting us know the outcome.
Happy and warm Christmas

Tom44

Plumbers are nice people.

skerry

Wearb wrote: »

Great to have it running and thanks for letting us know the outcome.
Happy and warm Christmas

Cheers dude

skerry

Tom44 wrote: »

Plumbers are nice people.

Father Plumbsmas saved Christmas