Discharge line drip

Steamhead (in transit)

rather than a steam system?

If so, your expansion tank is probably waterlogged, and with no place to go the expanding water raises the pressure, causing the safety valve to drip.

The cure depends on the type of tank you have. Maybe it's time to call a pro.

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MM

Should I worry?

Full disclosure: I know nothing about boilers, and hope I don't sound like too much of an idiot here.
We have an H.B. Smith Co. G-12 gas boiler at least 30 yrs old. This week the discharge line has been dripping quite a bit (I estimated a quart an hour today.) The end of the pipe (looks like copper) is corroded.
The boiler heats our two-story four-zone home in South Jersey. The dripping slowed down very dramatically when the temperature of one of the zones was turned down to 60-ish. Could that be significant?
I just read a tiny manufacturer's notice on the valve that connects the line to the boiler, and it said to open the valve every three years. Don't think we've ever done it in the 13 we've lived here. Would that stop the leak? Do I have to worry that the thing might explode?
Thank you--I appreciate anyone's input--will check for replies tomorrow if we don't blow up during the night.

MM

Thank you, Steamhead. How do I tell if this is a hot-water or a steam system? We have old-fashioned radiators, baseboards, and in one zone, radiant heat under the floor--does any of that help? There's a pilot light and a stack leading to the chimney, along with pipes to the zones, but I haven't seen an expansion tank. (I really don't know what I'm looking at.) A pro definitely sounds as if it's in my future.

Steamhead (in transit)

Well

it's probably hot-water. Try the Find a Professional page of this site, under Resources at the top of the page. A good pro will go over the system with you and tell you what to watch out for.

"Steamhead"

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MM

Thanks again. I'll check out that section of this site.

Bruce M

Picture

Can you post a picture of the piping near the boiler and the boiler itself?

MM

Photos stuck

Bruce M~

Apparently not. I have bitmap files (.bmp) to upload but the system tells me the name of my file is not approved. Does it have to be a certain format? Am I permitted to send them to you directly?