Leaking joint tonight, advice please!

fullerand

Hi there,

Just moved into a new house. Came home tonight to find a slow leak from a joint at the pump which drives the water for our central heating - see attached pic.

The leaking part seems to be the bell-shaped part just above the pump in the photo. Any advice as to how to proceed? I'm not sure if I should tighten the whole bell-shaped part, or the screw that's at the front of it - afraid of making things worse if I get it wrong.

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Bof No1

If the leak is from the lower nut, ie. the large one closest to the pump, turn the slotted screw in the 'bell' until it's east-west, and not north-south, this will stop the water leak. There is another one on the other side of the pump you'll have to do as well. If you do this, DO NOT TURN ON THE HEATING, until you have the problem sorted in the morning. If you need the heating, put a pot under the leak and get it sorted in the morning, it seems to be a drip in the photo, no big deal. Cheers, Pat.

corkgsxr

Might be late but do not take the above advice.

It's from the screw, if you touch on it it will most likely get alot worse.
There murder for it

Bof No1

Hi, the screw is actually a valve for turning on and off the water if the pump has to be changed, it saves you having to drain down the system completely to do this. As such, they will seldom be operated so I fail to see how if you touch it, it will only get worse?

corkgsxr

Bof No1 wrote: »

Hi, the screw is actually a valve for turning on and off the water if the pump has to be changed, it saves you having to drain down the system completely to do this. As such, they will seldom be operated so I fail to see how if you touch it, it will only get worse?

Then you obviously haven't much experience with them. In ten or so years Iv once gotten away with not changing them once. There a disaster of a valve, they start leaking without ever being touched. Like the op.

Bof No1

I've had no problem with them, but maybe I've been lucky? :-)

Wearb

They almost always give trouble. I have sorted them out in the short term with a piece of rubber and a hose clip.

fullerand

Thanks. I'll call a plumber in the morning to take a look. You were right BTW, I turned the screw on the same joint on the other pump, and now it's leaking too

What is the name for this joint BTW? It seems to join the 3/4 inch pipe to a 1 inch feed for the pump.

Not sure what you meant by murder below, hoping a typo... :pac:

corkgsxr wrote: »

Might be late but do not take the above advice.

It's from the screw, if you touch on it it will most likely get alot worse.
There murder for it

corkgsxr

fullerand wrote: »

Thanks. I'll call a plumber in the morning to take a look. You were right BTW, I turned the screw on the same joint on the other pump, and now it's leaking too

What is the name for this joint BTW? It seems to join the 3/4 inch pipe to a 1 inch feed for the pump.

Not sure what you meant by murder below, hoping a typo... :pac:

Just called pump valves. Get the gate valve type. Same price but they actually work as a valve.

They leak all the time. I don't know why but they always leak

jimf

if you had beans for tea don't go too close to those valves if you follow my drift

Wearb

jimf wrote: »

if you had beans for tea don't go too close to those valves if you follow my drift

Huh?

jimf

why huh surely you remember blazing saddles

Wearb

jimf wrote: »

why huh surely you remember blazing saddles

Heard my great grandfather talking about it

Outkast_IRE

corkgsxr wrote: »

Just called pump valves. Get the gate valve type. Same price but they actually work as a valve.

They leak all the time. I don't know why but they always leak

I have the same experience with them, if i go to a job and see them, and need to work at the pump i pretty much assume they are going to leak

jimf

Wearb wrote: »

Heard my great grandfather talking about it

wexford 1 limerick 0

but you know me and my memory

Wearb

jimf wrote: »

wexford 1 limerick 0

but you know me and my memory

I think I will have to change my handle to avoid retribution.

corkgsxr

Ironic thing is my first job this morning is changing a set of them that started leaking of there own accord

fullerand

corkgsxr wrote: »

Ironic thing is my first job this morning is changing a set of them that started leaking of there own accord

Presumably someone farted near them

K.Flyer

Years ago I fitted a brand new set of those valves with a new pump above a baxi solo. Within a week both of them leaked through the stem and soaked the boiler and ruined the pcb.
Never used that type ever again, I always used the gate valve version now and no problems.

corkgsxr

K.Flyer wrote: »

Years ago I fitted a brand new set of those valves with a new pump above a baxi solo. Within a week both of them leaked through the stem and soaked the boiler and ruined the pcb.
Never used that type ever again, I always used the gate valve version now and no problems.

Lovely. That was a happy day I'd say.
Can be hard to get the extra 15mm when retrofitting them

K.Flyer

corkgsxr wrote: »

Lovely. That was a happy day I'd say.
Can be hard to get the extra 15mm when retrofitting them

It all ended well. Because I had bought them at the same time as the pump, I put in a claim with the supplier (who I had been dealing with for over 15 years at the time) and they covered all my costs.
Retrofitting can be a pain sometimes, but always worth the effort for piece of mind.

corkgsxr

K.Flyer wrote: »

It all ended well. Because I had bought them at the same time as the pump, I put in a claim with the supplier (who I had been dealing with for over 15 years at the time) and they covered all my costs.
Retrofitting can be a pain sometimes, but always worth the effort for piece of mind.

Ah handy. Minute I discovered the gate valve ones I never again bought those crap

Dtp1979

corkgsxr wrote: »

Ah handy. Minute I discovered the gate valve ones I never again bought those crap

Me too