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antipode12
Oct 4, 2009, 04:18 PM
Thanks everyone for the help hooking up the circulator pumps: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/heating-air-conditioning/how-do-turn-heat-401723.html

The boiler and the pumps are all working nicely. All zones work, and everything turns on and off as it should.

But now that everything is working, the overflow pipe has begun to drip water.
This pipe is located just below a relief valve.

I have NOOOOO idea if it is the problem is with the valve, with my electrical work on the circulators, or something else. This is the first time the boiler has been on this season. It has never dripped water before.

Below is a pic of the two relief valves -- the overflow pipe is below the near valve.

medic-dan
Oct 4, 2009, 05:05 PM
What does the pressure gauge read? It should be around 12 or so cold, 15 to maybe a little higher when hot for a typical residence.

mygirlsdad77
Oct 4, 2009, 06:43 PM
Yep, need to know what the pressure reading on the boiler is. This is the pressure relief valve that is leaking. Common causes of this,, pressure reducing valve is bad, allowing too much pressure into the system,, or, expansion tank is full of water(if bladder tank, then you need a new tank, if resivior tank, you can drain the tank and repressure the system, send us a pic of your expansion tank please). And finally, it may just be a fualty pressure relief valve, in which case you need to replace it. Lee.

antipode12
Oct 4, 2009, 06:48 PM
Thanks.

I checked the gauge. Boiler has been off for 12 hours.

Gauge read 25. I then released the valve a little and let some water dump out, and it went down to 20.

Any ideas?

mygirlsdad77
Oct 4, 2009, 06:57 PM
Release pressure from the system until it gets down to around five psi,, then the system should repressurize itself through the pressure reducing valve, it should fill to roughly 12psi and stay there until system is turned on, and water is heated... if it goes above 12 to fifteen psi, then you need to adjust or replace the pressure reducing valve(the valve that feeds water to the system).

antipode12
Oct 4, 2009, 07:00 PM
Genius!!

I'll give it a whirl and let you know.

mygirlsdad77
Oct 4, 2009, 07:04 PM
Wish you the best, Ive got to go tuck my girls in, and I'm off to bed, should be around tomorrow afternoon. Have a good night. Lee.

tickle
Oct 5, 2009, 05:06 AM
Thanks.

I checked the gauge. Boiler has been off for 12 hours.

Gauge read 25. I then released the valve a little and let some water dump out, and it went down to 20.

Any ideas?

I only wish I could give you a medal for your effort with your heating system, antipode ! When do you get your certification !

Tick

antipode12
Oct 5, 2009, 05:56 PM
Drained the boiler to 5 psi, and it rose back up to 25 in about 15 minutes.

The heat is not on today.

BTW, expansion tank is a bladder type.

Relief valve needs to be replaced? Anything else?

mygirlsdad77
Oct 5, 2009, 06:22 PM
Sounds more like the pressure REDUCING VALVE needs to be replaced, if boiler was not fired,Meaning, water in system is cold, then water pressure should not have risen above 12 to 15 psi.. Since it rose to 25, it means the reducing valve is fualty, or needs adjustment. However, I do agree that you should also replace the pressure RELIEF valve, just to cure this problem once and for all.
Now, once you get a new pressure reducing valve, and pressure relief valve, if pressure rises above 25psi when water is at 180 to 190 degrees, you may still need a new expansion tank... strange how many items on a hot water heating system will be bad at the same time, but it is very, very common. Lee.

antipode12
Oct 13, 2009, 11:45 AM
Just a follow-up: after a week of the flu, I finally got to replacing the valves.

Actually, it was only the one valve -- the fill (pressure reducing) valve. After replacing it, everything is working fine.

Thanks for everyone's guidance.

mygirlsdad77
Oct 13, 2009, 03:24 PM
Glad to hear it. Good job. Lee.