Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Damp spot under boiler. What is leaking?

JH3550
JH3550 Member Posts: 25
I found this damp spot under the spigot on the bottom corner of my boiler. It looks like it is very slowly leaking. I'm wondering, What exactly is leaking and what do I need to have replaced?

Weill McLain steam boiler. One pipe steam. Boiler was installed in 2002, but I just moved into the house last year  

thank you!

Mad Dog_2

Comments

  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 504
    Looks to me like the boiler drain itself is leaking, in the second photo I think I see a bead of water and it looks like it's covered in mineral deposits.

    I would replace it with a ball valve style boiler drain.
    JH3550Mad Dog_2STEAM DOCTORSuperTech
  • PRR
    PRR Member Posts: 219
    edited April 15
    It's just the factory valve to drain or blow-down the mud out of the boiler. Has someone been blowing it down monthly? (LWCO too.) If not, you probably want an experienced tech to do it (including unjamming and re-washering/replacing) while you watch.
    The drip is not a huge problem but if "mud" (iron oxide and other crud) builds up in the boiler the bottom sheet will melt, which is dangerous and expensive and bad.
    There's a burner-service company sticker. I'd call them first.
    Mad Dog_2JH3550
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,406
    You lucked out...easy one. Mad Dog 
    mattmia2JH3550
  • JH3550
    JH3550 Member Posts: 25
    PRR said:
    Has someone been blowing it down monthly? (LWCO too.)
    I blow down the LWCO once per week. I’ve never touched the drain valve. No idea if the previous owners did. 

    thank you all for the advice!
  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 504
    A quick fix is to put a cap over the drain, like this:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085ZR3J47

    I put those caps on anything with hose thread as a matter of course, make it a two-step process for anyone to accidentally flood the house.

    You do want to replace that valve eventually. Usually what happens is once they start leaking if you ever have to open it the leaking gets much worse when you close it.
    JH3550
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578

    It looks like the threads of the valve body may be leaking, judging by the green sheen covering the outside of the valve. Replacing the valve with a full port ball valve may fix that for good.—NBC

    JH3550