We recently moved into a new flat and discovered that the copper expansion tank for the heating system has a slow, steady drip (one drip every few seconds). The drips seem to occur whether or not the system is running. The tank is surrounded by styrofoam insulation and a steel casing, so it is hard to tell exactly where the drips are coming from.
The heating system is probably about 15 years old. It's possible that the tank has been dripping for some time without being noticed, because it is in a dark corner of a closet, near the hot water storage tank, and it may usually be warm enough to evaporate all the drips.
I looked inside the tank, and the water level seems to be about 3 inches above the outlet pipe and about 2 inches below the overflow pipe, which makes me think the ballcock valve is working correctly.
Does this mean we will need to replace the tank? Any advice on where we would buy a new one or how much they usually cost? The current one is from Harton Heating Appliances in Kent. We are in Oxford.
The heating system is probably about 15 years old. It's possible that the tank has been dripping for some time without being noticed, because it is in a dark corner of a closet, near the hot water storage tank, and it may usually be warm enough to evaporate all the drips.
I looked inside the tank, and the water level seems to be about 3 inches above the outlet pipe and about 2 inches below the overflow pipe, which makes me think the ballcock valve is working correctly.
Does this mean we will need to replace the tank? Any advice on where we would buy a new one or how much they usually cost? The current one is from Harton Heating Appliances in Kent. We are in Oxford.