Weeping “thingy”

Reg1988

Hi plumbing wizards! I have just moved to a rural cottage which has oil for both heating and for hot water. I have attached photos as I have a “thing” that is leaking and 1) not sure what it is and 2) how to stop it weeping. Any help much appreciated (by the way in the photos the boiler is on the left). Thank you in advance. Reggie

dreaming

It looks like an old water pipe (possibly for washing machine, or if they removed a run of piping?) that has been capped. It has obviously been leaking for a while so probably needs recapping. As a bodge you could try wrapping it well in thin plastic with duct tape round it.

WIAWSNB

Hi Reg.
The holes in the side suggests it's designed to release summat, either water or air - ie it's either an air vent (to release trapped air) or a pressure release valve (to pop open if there's a dangerous pressure increase).
But, neither actually makes sense
An air vent would be positioned at the top of a pipe run, as that where air would gather. And a safety valve wouldn't - shouldn't - be in a position to potentially spray superheated water over folk.
Is your system 'sealed', unvented, pressurised? Does it have a pressure gauge? 
If you are DIYish, it looks as tho' it can be dismantled and cleaned, but you'd need to know what you are doing. 
I presume it just slowly drips? Wrap a cloth around it, and wring it out every few days until you get a plumber in.
Someone on here will know
Have you tried a Google image search?

twopenny

Where does that pipe go to?

Is it cold or hot? 

WIAWSNB

twopenny said:

Where does that pipe go to?

Is it cold or hot? 

Good Q.
It's a 15mm pipe, so I wonder if it's on the mains going up to supply the CWS or F&E tank? In which case, could it be a mini shock arrestor?
Is it a very cold pipe, Reg?

FrugaiMacDugal

You could clean the verdigris off with an old toothbrush and lemon juice, help you see any drip easier.

Baldytyke88

FrugaiMacDugal said:

You could clean the verdigris off with an old toothbrush and lemon juice, help you see any drip easier.

I cannot see any drips, does the OP mean the green discolouration?

diveunderthebonnet

It looks dry ,i would wire brush it and keep an eye on it ,looks like an air vent but only the person who fitted it would know for certain.

Reg1988

Thank you everyone (hopefully I have thanked you all). So to answer a few questions:
it is a cold pipe
it is not pressurised (very old system)
I have attached some photos that show it dripping and also the wider set up with the oil boiler on the left (big white thing). As you can I have a container underneath it.

more thoughts always very welcome and thank you again. Reggie

WIAWSNB

That's some system!
You are sure it isn't pressurised? There is a small F&E tank in the loft?
The pump splits to two 15mm pipes, I presume one to the hot cylinder and one to the rads? But even that is bonkers.
And the weird thing is also on a 15mm pipe, so presumably a 'return' from whatevs.
But that's bonkers too
If that pipe is cold cold, then perhaps it's a 'Feed' - top-up - pipe for the boiler?
Guess what - I haven't a bludy clue.
What are your plans for this system? I presume it'll need major updating before too long? You just want a temporary solution to stop the dripping? 
Phew. Ok, get a roll of self-amalgamating tape - eg £4 from Screwfix - and wrap it a few times around that jobbie. 
Or, if you are up for a challenge, drain the system, remove that item, and dismantle it - put us all out of our misery.

Reg1988

Haha thank you WIAWSNB. I am pulling everything out once funds are available again after the move so yes I will be popping to Screwfix thank you.

Living here is like living in an onion as ever day you just peel back another layer. I kid you not, I have stone cladding in the lounge in the INSIDE.

thanks again for your help