water leaking from presure relese valve?

jack_16

I have a gibraltar gas boiler that is about 35 years old. Water has been coming out of the presure realse valve for as long as i can rembember. Now I am gettin alot of water. What can be the cause of this?

ScottMP

Lack of maintenance

This boiler needed work for as long as you can remember and is in an unsafe condition.

Please have a proffesional service the boiler before you have a real problem. A relief valve blowing off can be a sign of high preasure building up in the boiler and can be putting you and your family at risk.

Scott

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Eli

Is this a hot-water system? Your description could be a water-logged expansion tank which is pretty easy to fix. Turn off the system. Close the valve that connects the system to the expansion tank (big metal tank strapped up to the ceiling). Open one or both bibs on the tank (make sure you have trashcans to catch the water. Let all the water drain out. Close the bibs. Now open the valve that connects the system to the expansion tank. Some water needs to go back in as the tank gets pressurized. Look at the pressure gauge on the furnace. If you have an autofeeder for makeup water, it should take care of itself. If you don't, add water until the gauge reads 20 psi. Go bleed all your rads, adding water as nec. to keep the pressure at 20 psi.
Eli

Dale

Pressure

Eli's comment is a good place to start, a water logged expansion tank is a common problem, if you pay a pro to do the draining ask him to install a B&G air separator at the ceiling hung tank. Unless your house is more than 2 stories I would have a 12 pound cold fill and watch it go to 18 or so when the system is on. I would also put in a new 30 pound relief valve. The labor is the main cost, parts are really pretty inexpensive.