Plumbing Question (central heating)

cooper_d

I had to access some unseen parts of pure oil fired central heating system today to replace a motorised valve.

While I was at it, I noticed a small seep around the pump (see picture). Itt is the smallest of seeps and doesn't even drip on to the floor. It just dampens the hot pipework before evaporating causing a buildup of a powdery deposit.

I can't decide whether to :

a l Ignore it, it's obviously been like this for ages and it's doing no harm.

b. Put a wrench to the nut and try and tighten it up (worried about causing a gush!)

c. Call a plumber before something catastrophic happens. But Christmas is coming and I'm broke.

See photo.

All educated suggestions welcome!

magn8p

Calling a plumber is ideal but I get your point.

From what I see it's definitely not going to lead to a catastrophic failure, so you can ignore it for the timebeing.

But when it's time to service your boiler (I know that my combi needs annual servicing but I am not sure how often the oil fired ones need), show it to the gas engineer and he will fix it for you. This will definitely save the call out charges for you.

All the best.

Alex1983

I wouldn’t tighten it, leave it alone or rewasher it.

Mutton_Geoff

I'd be more worried about those exposed live terminals in the junction box with a missing lid.

Rolandtheroadie

Ours was similar, but it was the pump that was leaking, not the pipework.
Never noticed until the pump activating started tripping the breaker, the leak had found its way into the wiring box.
If you isolate the pump top and bottom, you could see if you can get a little turn on the nut, or put some ptfe on the threads, with no fear of flood.

gingernut352000

I would not ignore winter is here plus the live electrics looks poor

Wookey

Whilst it may only be a weep when the heating is on it could get worse once the pipe and joints start to cool when the heating goes of, a slight tighten of the pump nut may cure it, failing that then it will be a matter of turning of both pump valves, slacken the leaking nut and replace the pump washer before tightening it back up and turning both valves back on.