Pressurised steam coming from hot taps

[Teggs]

Guys,

I have a house that I let out. The tenants in the house have said that they are having problems with the hot water. Every time they turn on a hot tap it runs cold water for a small while then a bolt of steam fires through the taps violently. This then calms down and hot water then runs until the tap is turned off.

The water is heated by a Mersey instantaneous hot water heater. I have had an engineer around who said that it would be cheaper to get a new boiler fitted then repair it. He didn't seem to be able to confirm what they problem was. Can you confirm whether or not this is the case?

 

[Slugbabydotcom]

Any amount of steam is dangerous! Tell them to stop using it.

I have known the pressure and heat of steam actually melt the solder and blow the pipework on a french water heater similar to this. That was due to the gas valve sticking in the on position in that case

There is a modern version of this water heater which will go straight on to the existing flue but the pipework does need to be altered.

Do you live in a hard water area? It's possible that the heat exchanger is limed up.

 

[Teggs]

Thanks for the reply.

As it happens the house is in a soft water area.It suddenly seems to have started doing it. I was slighlty concerned that I needed a new heater because I had been led to believe that spares were still available.

I now just how important it is to deal with cos of the safety issues!! I didn't know if the problem could be due to a blockage? I'd hate to get rid of it all together cos it's given good service over the years.

Terry

 

[Trevor1957]

These units have a pressure relief valve fitted, could be stickin, could also be that the gas valve is stickin, wether it is or not it shouldn't be producing steam, scrap it and get a new one.

 

[Teggs]

Once again thanks for the advice.

Looks like I'll have to consider scrapping the unit. I've got another engineer coming around tomorrow to have a look at it, whetyher or not he'll entertain changing the gas valve I'm not sure.

I promise to keep you posted though.

Terry