Help - water coming through ceiling

[vetinry]

I've just got back from a business trip and when I came into the hall, there was a puddle of water on the floor and a steady drip coming from the ceiling.

I went straight upstairs and found a lot of water in the airing cupboard directly under the cylinder and have quickly traced the source as some sort of vent valve on the top pipe of the water heating coil.

I have been doing some plumbing recently but not on the hot water circuit.

But I have had to drain down the central heating circuit a couple of times and indeed at the weekend, after refilling, I've not got heat from one of the downstairs radiators.

So, all in all, very confused. Has the vent valve (not sure what it's called) simply failed, or have I caused a different problem which has caused pressure build up in the hot water heating coil circuit.

The water heating control was off when I got in but the CH was on and most of radiators are warm.

Any help very much appreciated

Steve

 

[Axel]

Post a photo of the leaking part.

 

[kevplumb]

aav

 

[vetinry]

I don't have my camera at home with me. I think it looks like an auto air vent if that helps

 

[Axel]

Replace the aav.

 

[vetinry]

Do they just fail then?

Or have I caused this by draining down the system and then not bleeding it properly when I refil it.

So, is this as simple as draining down the system again, removing the faulty part and replacing with a new one.

And exactly how should these be used.

Should the cap be open closed etc

Thanks

Steve

Ps Would this really have leaked this much, this quickly for water to be leaking down through the ceiling and into the hall below - if so, not great design.

PPS any recommendations for a good make of one

 

[seco services]

PPS any recommendations for a good make of one

remove it and fit a thumb screw one.
you only really need to vent it if the systems been drained .

 

[vetinry]

I can do that - do I then just need to periodically open to release air and then fully close again?

On a related matter, as I said in my original post, I've drained the system down 3 times in the last month. First time, the water was filthy but this last time it was pretty clean.

I didn't put any inhibitor in because I knew I was going to be draining again.

So, should I just use inhibitor after my next drain down, or is this a good opportunity to use a cleaner as well.

House was built in 1987 and I doubt very much it's had anything like this done before now.

Cheers

Steve

 

[seco services]

I can do that - do I then just need to periodically open to release air and then fully close again?

as i said useally only need to bleed the hw primaries if the systems been drained and bleed once after filling.

So, should I just use inhibitor after my next drain down, or is this a good opportunity to use a cleaner as well.
Steve

if the systems not been any agro ie rads failing, blockages, sludge etc then i wouldn't put a cleaner in only an inhibitor when you refill again.

 

[vetinry]

Thanks a lot

Help much appreciated

Steve