In the last test, water from the extension pipe on the side of the boiler dripped down the floor. This tube is connected to a leaking pressure dampener or safety valve. This relatively common problem is a relatively good thing and will protect you and your family from any failure of the boiler. Before installing these devices, it was not uncommon to hear about the boiler explosions that damaged the place of residence.
But why are you leaking now? It is important to understand the operation of the heating system to answer the question. The heating system is distributed in warm water with warm water. As water warms up and cools the boiler, the water increases and the pressure increases. In order to limit the heating system pressure, the DHW heating system contains various safety devices to keep your home safe.
The first and most important tool for the boiler is the Pressure Reduction or Safety Valve. The operating pressure of the domestic boiler system is 12 psi. If for any reason the boiler pressure is increased at safe operating pressure (the default pressure control valve), the valve opens. This overpressure condition is probably caused by a defective expansion vessel. If the boiler system does not allow adequate water expansion in the system, the system pressure will rise above the pressure relief valve setpoint. The leakage of the pressure relief valve due to this condition is generally cyclical as the boiler temperature is warmed up and cooled. There are two possible reasons for this:
The typical reason is that the boiler water system's cold pressure is higher than the default value of the expansion tank typically produced by a 12-psi reference. However, if the feed valve in the boiler system is higher than this set value, the expander tank hose compresses before the boiler starts. After the boiler is switched on and the water is warmed up, subsequent thermal expansion can not be inserted into the compressed bladder. The internal pressure of the expansion tank and / or the reduction of the setpoint of the pressure relief valve may be required.
The second potential cause is the actual leakage or breakdown of the expansion vessel. In this scenario, the expansion tank no longer provides thermal expansion in the system because the entire tank is filled with water.
Other Causes of Leakage The pressure relief valve can be the consequence of age and damage as the valve itself. In this case it is recommended to replace the valve. Work should always be done by a qualified plumber contractor.