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Water dripping from something

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BenjBump
BenjBump Member Posts: 3
edited November 2021 in Gas Heating
Not sure how to describe where the water is dripping from. It looks like a valve of some type, that is right above the, but not inline with the pressure relief valve. I can’t afford to bring in a plumber to look at it and was hoping someone might be able to help with some advice.

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  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,062
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    Pictures??
  • BenjBump
    BenjBump Member Posts: 3
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  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,062
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    That is a back flow preventer to keep your boiler water from going back into your house water supply.

    It looks to be leaking from the connector fitting.
    Or is it dripping out of the bottom center port?

    In either case it will most likely need to be replaced.

    Just so it does not drip on to the boiler or controls, could be a bucket catch situation until fixed.

    It is cold water from your house water supply.

    HomerJSmith
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,844
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    You could clean up the corrosion with a wire brush and then better see where the leak is actually dripping from. I use talcum powder or baby powder to locate slow leaks. It may be as simple as tightening the nut on the union. There are gaskets in those unions on either side of the backflow preventer.

    If the leak is coming from the vent opening at the bottom, then you will probably need to replace it. And that vent opening should be piped to within 6 inches from the floor or a floor drain, just like the relief valve. not exactly like the relief valve. you should not use plastic piping on the relief valve safety tube. It should be some kind of metal.
    Edward F Young. Retired HVAC ContractorSpecialized in Residential Oil Burner and Hydronics
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,841
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    Where is it not leaking?
    And thank you for editing your post. It was a little juvenile. 
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,536
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    @BenjBump

    If your handy you could pick up a new one (big box may have them) and change it yourself. It's not hard but you have to know what to shut off.
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,441
    edited November 2021
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    Clean it up with steel wool. There should be a tag on it that state the manufacturer and model #. Try and replace it with the same model as is on there now. That would allow it to just slip in when the old one is removed.

    It's been leaking a long time. It can be dismantled and fixed, but it is more economical to just replace it.

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Cash-Acme-21574-0000LF-1-2-IPS-BFP-Backflow-Preventer-Lead-Free
  • BenjBump
    BenjBump Member Posts: 3
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    Thanks all for the advice. Before changing it, sage to assume I have to empty the water from the furnace first?
  • psb75
    psb75 Member Posts: 834
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    All you need to do at the boiler is to take out enough water (at boiler drain) to lower the pressure to zero. The expansion tank might continue to "push" some water out but if you get the same model of backflow preventer, you should be able to work fairly expeditiously and avoid excessive "wetness."
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,441
    edited November 2021
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    Look, that Caleffi pressure reducing valve, the one with a white knob on the bottom in your picture, should be between the "double check with atmospheric vent" backflow preventer and the boiler. If that is so, just turn the white knob clockwise to shut the water to the boiler off, then you don't have to drain any water out of the boiler. Then shut off the cold water supply to the backflow preventer. Then remove the backflow preventer and put in a new one. Simple!

    The backflow preventer and the caleffi pressure reducing valve may have been sold as one unit for convenience, but is separable. The picture give you some idea of the setup.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,844
    edited November 2021
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    This looks like the one you have.


    and you can use the existing unions. you can get it delivered from here: https://www.supplyhouse.com/Caleffi-573409A-1-2-Sweat-Dual-Check-Backflow-Preventer-w-Atmospheric-Vent
    Edward F Young. Retired HVAC ContractorSpecialized in Residential Oil Burner and Hydronics

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