Which pipe might this be? (Coming from hot water cylinder)

podgeandrodge

Hi all

I have a tiny leak (just dripping, but would fill a cup after a few hours), coming from a pipe from the hot water cylinder. Underneath the red tap in the bottom of the picture (with cup underneath). Think it's the pipe or the valve rather than the tap mechanism. (But I am clueless!).

Any ideas? I am trying to get a plumber out (difficult these days), but someone might be arriving later and said, based on picture, it could be a simple job or huge job depending on ....(no idea) and whether it was a pressure valve or something.

Appreciate any views on what this is, and whether it is a pipe just feeding hot or cold water to a tap/bath etc., or whether this pipe leak could be something telling me I have a cylinder about to explode :)

Sorry, no idea why pic sideways, but it's the bottom pipe with cup underneath. Thanks!

Pataman

That red valve is called a gate valve. Its the cold feed to your cylinder. Its normally fed from the tank in the attic. replacing the valve involves blocking the supply from the attic( there are special bungs which are put in the attic tank to save it being emptied first) and emptying the cylinder. When both are done, swapping the valve is 2 mins work.

Sometimes you can put a new core in the valve, which is a quick job.

podgeandrodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118140403#Comment_118140403

Thank you Pataman. I closed this red tap - does that mean no more water will enter the cylinder?

sully123

Sorry, but is that not the heating system pipe?

podgeandrodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118140789#Comment_118140789

I have zero ideas, and afraid to put heating on! It's cold I know that, even when heating was on and the tap was open yesterday...

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118140789#Comment_118140789

Yep, looks like the coil input to me. Used to "turn off" the hot water cylinder while the heating is on (or more frequently used to stop the cylinder coil from short circuiting the boiler)

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118140671#Comment_118140671

Means no more hot water generated by your boiler, immersion will still work.

podgeandrodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118140834#Comment_118140834

Thanks GreeBo, can you explain that to a thick like me?! If I turn on the central heating would it cause a problem?

podgeandrodge

Ok, so listening to what Sully and Greebo said, that pipe was freezing cold with tap off (and no more drip), and I turned on the central heating and opened the tap and the pipe feeding into the cylinder got hot. So I am guessing that proves the fact that the central heating was feeding hot water to the cylinder. I've turned it off again now, as it started to drip again.

So on basis that this is it, is the refitting of a new gate valve a big job or a simple one, do you know (i.e. does it involve emptying cold water tank, etc. etc. ) - if someone opens this pipe is water not going to come streaming out from the central heating pipe?

sully123

Yeah, it's probably a bigger job. The plumber may have to drain the heating system (or at least partially) if they can't isolate that part of the system. Although perhaps a pipe freezing kit would make it an easier job. I don't know if they use them much.

Afaik, leaving that valve closed and running the heating system is not a problem.

Wearb

There is a small nut beneath that red valve wheel. See if tightening that a little fixes the problem.

podgeandrodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118141839#Comment_118141839

Thanks, looked at that, very dry, but will find something to try and see. If that is the problem it would be wet no?

The water is all under one side of the pipe - you can see an actual drip forming in pic below.

PilotHole

Have you tried tightening it ?

GreeBo

If its just dripping where you last image shows then you most likely just need to tighten that joint (it compresses an olive against the pipe to form a seal)

If that doesnt fix it you need a plumber to drain the system enough so that there is no water in that section of pipe (and relieve the pressure) but since that in the hot press i.e. upstairs, you dont need to fully drain the system...

but I would 100% start by tightening that joint, an adjustable spanner will do the job just fine or even a vice grips if you are stuck.

podgeandrodge

Thanks!

edit: was asking stupid question