A quick plumbing question
- Thread starter kPATm
- Start date
you need http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p71816
but probably not in that size
but probably not in that size
Soldato
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- 1 Jan 2003
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- Derbyshire
You need to take your boiler book to parts center and ask them for the valve you need, then swap the plastic lever.
Mick
Mick
Thanks people. Another question if you dont mind. OK so the handle has snapped of the pipe that lets water into the boiler. Now there is a light on the boiler that goes red if the boiler is empty so I then have to turn said handle to allow water to fill the boiler but it doesnt seem to last for very long at all. Should this isolation valve handle be turned on constantly to allow a constant flow of water into the boiler? My fear here is that the boiler will just get to much water and do something not very plesant?
I think the valve will be topping up the heating system only, ie radiators. Best not to leave it open. Hot water is fine, that's different.
Can't you use a set of pliers or an adjustable spanner to turn the valve open/closed ?
Can't you use a set of pliers or an adjustable spanner to turn the valve open/closed ?
First off i am not a plumber so don't take this advice as gospel.
The central heating circuit on most boilers is sealed and should run between certain operating pressures depending on your particular boiler (on mine its between 1 and 2.5 bar).
If you find you are constantly having to top the boiler up it would indicate that you have a leak as the water / pressure has to be escaping somewhere.
Best advice is get it looked at by a professional as its a gas appliance and if you don't know what you are doing there could be potential dangers.
Continual topping up isn't a good sign, occasional splashes are not an issue but if it is every week or more then you should definitely investigate further. 9 times out of ten it will be a radiator valve which are cheap and easy to replace.
I cant see water escaping from anywhere?
Could be under the floor?
May not be a big leak but enough to cause damping problem in the long run.
Whether you can see it or not is irrelevant if you are topping the boiler up it is losing water.
Its simply a case that you don't know where its losing it from and its more than likely a radiator valve as has been already posted. Have a look at all the radiators yourself to see if you can see a small leak failing that if you are not sure what you are doing call a plumber
If it's the valve for topping up the water pressure, definately don't leave it filling all the time.
The pressure release/relief valve will release and vent water to outside at ~3 bar.
The valve is probably/often specific to the boiler model.
I've never seen the handles sold seperatly, so you may need to change the whole valve.
Do you have a picture of of the actual valve and make/model of the boiler (looks like it could be a Vokera at a guess)
The yellow handled valve you pictured BTW is the gas valve and not water.
The pressure release/relief valve will release and vent water to outside at ~3 bar.
The valve is probably/often specific to the boiler model.
I've never seen the handles sold seperatly, so you may need to change the whole valve.
Do you have a picture of of the actual valve and make/model of the boiler (looks like it could be a Vokera at a guess)
The yellow handled valve you pictured BTW is the gas valve and not water.
Could be at any point in the hot water system, at the boiler, under the floor boards, or more commonly at the radiator valves. If you have the heating on, the water from a small leak will probably evaporate before you even notice it.
This, plus if you have got gunge in the system which happens over time, it can stop the ball float closing properly on the automatic air vent (built into the boiler) and the water be lost there.
Last edited:
Soldato
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- 10 Apr 2004
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I have the problem of water being lost from the heating system in this flat.
I've worked it out to be that this valve lets water out when the system is on and hot (i.e. system pressure > water pressure @ inlet).
Then when the boiler is off, the system is cold and the pressure < inlet pressure then it lets water in.
I can't do the thing up enough to stop the problem, so I leave it and check every so often.
I've worked it out to be that this valve lets water out when the system is on and hot (i.e. system pressure > water pressure @ inlet).
Then when the boiler is off, the system is cold and the pressure < inlet pressure then it lets water in.
I can't do the thing up enough to stop the problem, so I leave it and check every so often.
When this was happening to my boiler it turned out to be the 'system drain' which is just a bit of pipe coming out the wall. It was right over a drain and had a bench blocking the view so I hadn't noticed the water dripping out. Was an easy fix just needed a couple of turns to tighten it.