Weeping “thingy”

Chloe_G

We have York stone cladding on the inside - we're waiting for the '70s to come back into fashion!

WIAWSNB

Reg1988 said:

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

You're welcome.
I see no risk from this at all.
I presume the drips are coming from the holes? Just one slightly-stretched wrap of amalg tape - or even stretchy insulating tape - should stop it as it isn't under any great pressure.
If it's ever 'needed' as a pressure release valve, which is infinitesimally unlikely, it'll blow away the tape.
(I'm assuming it's a safety valve, as everything else is even less likely... )

Eldi_Dos

A pure guess this but with it being a oil feed system could that part be a form of sprinkler, cannot say I have seen anything like it on a plumbing system before.

plumb1_2

I think it’s a old spring loaded prv, why it’s on there anyone’s guess 

WIAWSNB

plumb1_2 said:

I think it’s a old spring loaded prv, why it’s on there anyone’s guess 

The only conclusion I can come to too. 

Perhaps these old boilers - oil-fired? - were kept at kettling point, and were prone to overheating and sometimes literally boiling?! 

But if so, what a location to have superheated water all over you! 

plumb1_2

WIAWSNB said:

plumb1_2 said:

I think it’s a old spring loaded prv, why it’s on there anyone’s guess 

The only conclusion I can come to too. 

Perhaps these old boilers - oil-fired? - were kept at kettling point, and were prone to overheating and sometimes literally boiling?! 

But if so, what a location to have superheated water all over you! 

Looks like it’s on the boiler return pipe 

EssexExile

WIAWSNB said:

plumb1_2 said:

I think it’s a old spring loaded prv, why it’s on there anyone’s guess 

The only conclusion I can come to too. 

Perhaps these old boilers - oil-fired? - were kept at kettling point, and were prone to overheating and sometimes literally boiling?! 

But if so, what a location to have superheated water all over you! 

And all over the electrics box just below it.

Lorian

Looks like a PRV.

Is it dripping all the time or just when boiler is on?

Is there a large expansion vessel somewhere near it?

WIAWSNB

Lorian said:

Looks like a PRV.

Is it dripping all the time or just when boiler is on?

Is there a large expansion vessel somewhere near it?

Releasing or Reducing?! 

Section62

plumb1_2 said:

WIAWSNB said:

plumb1_2 said:

I think it’s a old spring loaded prv, why it’s on there anyone’s guess 

The only conclusion I can come to too. 

Perhaps these old boilers - oil-fired? - were kept at kettling point, and were prone to overheating and sometimes literally boiling?! 

But if so, what a location to have superheated water all over you! 

Looks like it’s on the boiler return pipe 

I've seen something similar, which was a 'vacuum breaker'. The valve held shut by spring pressure, but can open to allow air in if the pressure drops too much.  That might make sense if this one is on the suction side of the pump - where pressure reduction/relief wouldn't serve much purpose.

If the valve has opened at some point and crud has got onto the seat then it is possible the spring pressure wouldn't be enough to achieve a perfect seal again.

If it is a vacuum breaker then blocking the holes with anything would be unwise.