Leaking Boiler

[EricG]

I noticed a puddle under my boiler today

It was installed about 2.5 years ago by a local contractor - one of the bigger ones in town, and well regarded from what I understand. However, I had 4 separate leaks at compression fittings at the baseboard radiators that I've had to call them back for ... and now this.

It looks to me like galvanic corrosion. There should be a dielectric union here where the copper connects to the stainless steel of the boiler, right? Does it look to you guys like there is one?

 

[EricG]

The puddle - about half of this is is from water that collected inside the insulated box that you see the back of in the previous pic.

 

[pillguy]

Have you done a google search http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/lite...ion-Tips/Jointing-to-dissimilar-materials.pdf

 

[Koffer]

looks like the cold water side compression fitting is leaking . poss just a little loose and from the pump running it maybe vibrated some to loosen it up

 

[cruiser88]

koffer is right. Being its still 2 dissimilar metals and its still npt it should not have leaked unless it was not quite from the start or it got viberated loose some how. Wonder what type of pipe sealant was used? It looks sloppy.

 

[Toyo FJ40]

Those look like o-ring seal unions not dielectric unions. Dielectric would have a plastic bushing between the union nut and the pipe the nut is around. Have you tried tightening the union? Why is he using compression fittings in your baseboard? With the expantion of the fittings with the system heating compression fittings will tend to fail.

 

[EricG]

Those look like o-ring seal unions not dielectric unions. Dielectric would have a plastic bushing between the union nut and the pipe the nut is around.

Yea, that's what I thought - I should see the edge of a plastic bushing in there somewhere.

Have you tried tightening the union?

Not yet - trying to get a read on the dieletric fitting bit before I mess with it.

Why is he using compression fittings in your baseboard? With the expantion of the fittings with the system heating compression fittings will tend to fail.

It's plumbed with pex out to the baseboards.

Thanks for the feedback guys - trying to get them out to look at it, but it's busy as hell at work right now and haven't been able to make it work. Have a pan under it for now.

I'm pretty pissed if there isn't a dielectric union in there - no way that should have failed in less then 3 years.

 

[Chloe Taylor]

Try contacting a plumber as fast as possible, before the problem exceeds the level from where the boiler cant be repaired any more.....