Water leaking from gas boiler

MNFreeze

Hello, I'm hoping someone can help me out here. While trying to figure out why my just one of my 2 upper level radiators is cold, I went downstairs to check the gas fired hot water boiler. I noticed a leak coming from a pipe and dripping right onto the pressure valve below it. The first picture below is a wider shot of the pipe and the ones that follow show it closer. I ended up slowly turning on the knob up and to the left of where the leak was (water intake, I imagine) and it sounded like I was turning the water on. At that point the leaking suddenly stopped. The line seems to go down to the furnace and up to a tank in the ceiling.

I just had someone out for the tune up last week and he said while the boiler is old, it was fine. I called them and they said they can't get out until mid next week. Do I need to worry about this? Sorry if this is confusing, this is definitely not an area I'm familiar with. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MNFreeze

Sorry, here are the pics.

Steamhead

The leaking device is a backflow preventer, which is supposed to keep water from flowing out of the boiler and into the house water piping. It will need to be replaced. The new one should have the outlet piped down to maybe six inches above the floor.

MNFreeze

Thank you for the reply, Steamhead, much apreciated. I will make an appointment for a professional to come out and replace it.

unclejohn

What was the pressure on the boiler before you open the valve. If the answer is I don't know what, is it now with valve open. Do the two rads now heat.