What is this and Can it be replaced? It's Leaking!

[markymarkuk]

Hi
I have a leak by my old boiler (the 1st photo is a long shot so you get an idea of its position, the 2nd photo is a close up view.)
Not sure what this does, but it looks like a cap put on end of pipe, but when I look close, there appears to be holes drilled around it???? This is where the water is trickling from. Is it possible to replace this or is it something more complicated than a stop cap?
thanks

Untitled

• markymarkuk
• 24 Jan 2015
• 1

Untitled

• markymarkuk
• 24 Jan 2015
• 1

 

[stardanny]

Safety valve. Designed to release overheated and overpressured water incase of blocked or frozen feed and expansion tank or pipes.

I haven't seen those for a while.

Depend of what boiler you have, it can be remove and cap off.

Daniel.

 

[markymarkuk]

Thanks.

Then maybe I don't have a leak, maybe it's squeezing water out due to a problem with my Potterton Open Vent system???

I'll have another closer look.

 

[footprints]

Common fault (often leading to bad corrosion if it is fitted to the back plate of a room sealed boiler like a potterton neataheat )

Looks like a 3/4" one.

http://www.bes.co.uk/product/98~PL~1731~-Spring-Safety-Valves.html

It is there on old boilers that do not have overheat stats as a back up in case the open vent became blocked.

As I recall they are supposed to be adjusted by unscrewing the top till it leaks and then tightening a quarter turn, but in fact the springs are so heavy that with a normal domestic system the top is almost off before it leaks leaving it just holding on by a whisker of thread! So often they are in fact tightened down a turn or two and left to chance!

Be interested to hear how others set them up.