Expansion Vessel Dripping - temporary fix?

[Chucklehead]

The expansion vessel here has developed a drip.. coming out of a small (manufactured) hole circled. I only realised something was happening when it started dripping into the living room below.

Is there something I can do to stop this tonight until I get someone out to look at it tomorrow?

[finlo]

Chucklehead said:

The expansion vessel here has developed a drip.. coming out of a small (manufactured) hole circled. I only realised something was happening when it started dripping into the living room below.

Is there something I can do to stop this tonight until I get someone out to look at it tomorrow?

Some sort of container to catch the drip?

[Chucklehead]

I've got something for now, but unfortunately it drips on top of another pipe underneath that makes it difficult to get something of a reasonable size.

I was thinking more along the lines of reducing pressure or something that might still allow me a hot shower in the morning!

[Chucklehead]

I've turned off the supply to the tank and opened an upstairs tap for 20 seconds until it started to slow. Looks like that has been enough for now. I'll check the bucket again shortly.

I can turn it back on for my morning shower.

Any other ideas, let me know!

[Dave_V6]

We appear to have the same vessel! (only replaced last week!) The bolts on the bottom make me think this may be serviceable, my old one was welded shut! My reason for posting is to advise you fit an isolation valve when getting this fixed, that way you don't need to drain the tank for any future repairs.

[finlo]

Handy but no doubt frowned upon as it could be inadvertently left closed!

[tux850]

finlo said:

Handy but no doubt frowned upon as it could be inadvertently left closed!

Quite the opposite - generally held in high regard and an advised fitting by good installers. Not only do they ease servicing (testing and recharging without pressure release from the main system in particular) but also serve to allow air from dead legs to be released so as to minimise the risk of legionella.

Note that it is no ordinary isolation valve - its built-in locking mechanism prevents inadvertent operation.

[Chucklehead]

Thanks for the suggestion.. someone will be out to look at it shortly, so I'll mention it.

[Dave_V6]

finlo said:

Handy but no doubt frowned upon as it could be inadvertently left closed!

As already mentioned they are designed for this application. They have a lock with a wire too which you can see in my picture.

[Chucklehead]

Unfortunately my setup is a bit of a faff, and he's going to have to remove most of the pipework underneath to be able to remove the tank. There's not a lot of space above either, so it needs to be a like for like replacement.

As it's a bit undersized (28l Vs 24l), I suggested taking it straight up through the ceiling and into the loft and fitting a bigger unit (today!), but that's probably also too much faff.

[Dave_V6]

Hmm, how big is you tank? Mine is 300l and a 24l expansion vessel is correct. Is the vessel tight against the ceiling or something? I can't see what is so hard TBH, drain system, cut the long pipe you have, fit the isolation valve, reconnect tank.

Edited as can see your tank is 250l, a 24l tank is 100% fine for that.

[Dave_V6]

Cut pipe where red line is, remove expansion vessel, fit valve, reconnect vessel. If there isn't the clearance you can get a flexi hose from the valve to the tank so you can move the vessel a little.....

[Chucklehead]

Sorry, typo above. I have 18 and it should be 24, so slightly undersized. There's not really anywhere for it to go, but they're not charging crazy rates for the work, so they can do whatever they need to for it to work.. we just can't go bigger

[Dave_V6]

Does look tight in there, personally I'd tell them to cut the pipe below the old vessel, fit the valve then pipe up to the loft & fit a 24l. I honestly would fit the valve though, cost less than £20 and will save time & money in the future. If you need to pump it up you can't do that now. I think your old vessel is the correct size, check an online size chart. If it is then you could swap like for like and still get the valve in there...but you would still have to remove it if you ever need to pump it up, but at least you could then just drain the vessel!!

[Chucklehead]

I agree with you, but without the support of my wife or the guy doing the work, I just accepted to be back in the same situation I was in before, minus £214 and a call-out fee!

I'll file it under "I told you so" for the next time.

[Dave_V6]

£214! Was that just for fitting a like for like vessel?

[Chucklehead]

and associated pissing about with the pipes, yeah

[Cats_pyjamas]

Crikey £214. I replaced the vessel on the CH loop in the week, £28 delivered for a replacement, plus 30 mins of messing around draining the system and remove and replacing the vessel. Granted there was a bit more to yours and was on the potable water side.

[Chucklehead]

I'd have paid double if he could have done it the same day! I don't have the time to be messing about with that sort of thing just now.