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.

If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

Pressure testing and leak help

Options

chippy2 Member Posts: 26

12:01PM edited 12:30PM in Radiant Heating

hi.
I just added 3 radiant zones w/manifold and pressure tested that section with 40psi overnight and all good.

Separately I had to replumb and create a primary/secondary loop for baseboard zones. I pressure tested that section separately with 25psi incl boiler and it didn’t hold over night. I used soapy water every joint and nothing! Wondering if relief valve or air escape valve (closed) could be the culprit?

Also did find/fix one threaded leak at the new 3 way mixing valve I added and retested. Do you usually pressure test older systems after adding plumbing upgrades?

Any ideas on locating air loss/leak before I fill it?

0

Comments

PC7060 Member Posts: 1,901

1:05PM

assume you have the boiler air vent and other vents capped?
How fast does the pressure drop? Are the expansion tanks isolated from system during the test?

0
pecmsg Member Posts: 7,442

1:06PM

can you isolate the boiler from the systems

1
hot_rod Member Posts: 28,078

1:15PM

the gauge block is always a suspect. The Schrader valve, and sometimes up inside the gauge itself
Inert gas is another option, or a water test

Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream
0
EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,834

5:36PM

If you can isolate the boiler it will probably be easier to just fill it with water if you can drain it easily if need be.

0
chippy2 Member Posts: 26

5:39PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1902478#Comment_1902478

I did not isolate the expansion tank. I left it pressurized with 20 psi for 8 hrs and it dropped to zero

1
chippy2 Member Posts: 26

5:40PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1902478#Comment_1902478

boiler air vent has a shutoff valve below it which I had off also

1
chippy2 Member Posts: 26

6:05PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1902479#Comment_1902479

unfortunately I cannot isolate the boiler

0
pecmsg Member Posts: 7,442

6:12PM

so no shuttle valves on the inlet and outlet of that boiler

0
mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,906

9:20PM

if you use water it may be easier to see water coming out somewhere.

1
chippy2 Member Posts: 26

9:45PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1902502#Comment_1902502

unfortunately when I moved the circulator to after the boiler to “pump away” , I replaced the flange valves with straight pipe on the inlet side 😱

0