Help, need to know what this is

[ColinClamp]

Hi,

Please see the link for picture.

http://media.diynot.com/205000_204804_62621_52929303_thumb.jpg

This fitting is on the return pipe of my central heating system which is fired by a back boiler. It is on the return pipe just above the back boiler.

The fitting has a slow drip & I can't work out what it is for. It seams to be a hollow tube with some kind of blank in it but I'm not sure what/why it is leaking.

I realize I will probably need to drain down the system to replace it but not sure what to replace it with? I can't find anything similar in the B&Q but haven't been to the plumbers merchants etc. Is it some kind of pressure relief? or would replacing it with a blank be fine??

Any ideas/advice appreciated.

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[twgas]

Its a safety valve, they are, generally, not used any more. They were mainly fitted on flow pipes and its ok to plug it, cant tell from pic if its 1/2 or 3/4.

 

[45yearsagasman]

Small pic, but it's an old safety valve. They cannot be repaired easily and is best replaced. Depending on system type it can be removed altogether and plugged off, but that requires a bit of work.

 

[ColinClamp]

Thanks for the help!

 

[Agile]

They are still available but are not normally fitted on gas appliances.

My grandmother had one on the pipework on her coke boiler and that dripped a little!

Tony