Reasons why valves on boilers are leaking

Boilers provide independence from public utilities, supplying people with water around the clock and at any time of the year. If a safety valve is dripping in the water heater, this circumstance should be considered objectively, without nerves and emotions. First of all, you need to understand that the faucet is intended for this, so that water drips from it. The only question is how often this happens and what volumes of liquid leave the tank per unit of time. Calm analysis of this phenomenon will allow you to understand the nature of its origin, to take effective measures to eliminate the malfunction.

The main functions of the safety valve

The first water heaters went on sale without accessories; modern products always have a safety valve in their packaging. The instructions for the installation and operation of the tank state that the operation of the boiler without this part is strictly prohibited. The manufacturer indicates the place and method of valve mounting. This recommendation is justified by the fact that the tanks have a limited margin of safety, and excessive internal pressure can simply rupture them. Such a situation is extremely dangerous for the life and health of people, it can cause large-scale flooding of several apartments in a multi-storey building.

The main functions of the check valve:

• The discharge of water from the tank, when, when heated, it expands and begins to press on its walls with a force greater than that provided by the calculated data. Depending on the pressure level, water can run or drip at different rates.
• Compensation of water hammer. During such phenomena, the water pressure rises to values ​​that are critical for domestic boilers. Thanks to a well thought out emergency mechanism, the faucet reduces the pressure by ejecting liquid through a special pipe.

Most often, water drips from the boiler through the valve at night, when the volume of its consumption decreases several times, and the pressure remains the same. The sound of falling drops can annoy household members, but this is not the worst thing. The main thing is that the emergency fittings are working properly, people are not in danger. You can easily get rid of noise - just tie a bandage, rope or long piece of cloth to the nozzle and take it out into the bathtub, sink or toilet. Subsequently, the fabric should be changed to an elastic drainage tube.

Principle of operation

The check valve is a direct-acting safety pipeline valve designed to protect water heating equipment from mechanical destruction under the influence of critical pressure. The principle of operation consists in automatic regulation of the water pressure inside the boiler. When it reaches the limit values, water is discharged. The release is carried out until the pressure reaches the operating parameters.

The accuracy and functionality of the safety valve is determined by the parameters and settings of the internal parts.

Types and arrangement of valves

By their design, the products are divided into monolithic and collapsible. The first is a monoblock, inside of which parts are pressed. The second version is equipped with a hole through which, after unscrewing the cover, access to the inside of the product is possible.Also, the valves differ in the way the drainage is diverted. In some, drops fall from a protruding branch pipe, while others are equipped with a closed pipeline system with an outlet to the sewer.

General arrangement of safety valves:

• Housing. Has an internal, external fastening thread and a side branch pipe. Made of steel or brass. Can be nickel, chrome or zinc plated.
• Large cylinder. Located at the bottom of the case. Opens when opening the mixer and for filling the tank. It closes after the pressure inside the tank and in the water supply system is equalized. Prevents water from flowing back into the supply pipe.
• Small cylinder. Located in the middle of the product, it is equipped with a more powerful spring. It shrinks when the water pressure in the boiler or water supply exceeds the set rate. There is a release of the drainage hole through which fluid flows out.

Quality products from leading manufacturers are clearly marked using the molding process. There are no visible seams or other defects. A certificate of conformity is included with branded parts. The price of such a product can go up to 1000 rubles, but the safety is worth it.

Valve installation and adjustment

The non-return valve is attached to the cold water pipe. For the convenience of work, manufacturers mark it in blue. The crane can be screwed on at any stage of the installation, but it is more expedient to do this before the tank is suspended on hooks. When the heater is on the floor, it is much easier, more convenient and safer to work with it.

Installation should be done in the following sequence:

1. Unscrew the fixing screws and remove the plastic cover. So that it does not interfere with work, you do not need to remove the light bulb from it, and then put it in a safe place.
2. Inspect the thread on the tank inlet pipe, visually check its integrity. Clean the coils with a brush, remove the shipping grease with a dry cloth.
   
3. Carry out a similar procedure with the upper union nut of the valve. If there are burrs, they must be carefully removed with a knife or file.
4. Wrap tape on the FUM branch pipe. This should be done clockwise, shifting the thickening to the side. The layer thickness should be 1 mm at the cut and 3 mm at the start of the thread.
5. Take the valve, catch the edge of the thread and start screwing it on. The product must go tight and with effort. It is important that at the end of rotation the nut does not come into contact with the collar. This will mean that not enough FUM tape has been wound. The procedure will have to be repeated.

Once the safety valve is secured, the ball valve can be immediately attached to it. The procedure is similar.

Causes of safety valve breakage

If the valve on the boiler is constantly dripping, regardless of the time of day and the intensity of water use in the house, there is a high probability that the product is faulty. There may be many prerequisites for this.

• Manufacturing defects. As a rule, these are weak springs and leaking cylinders. Such products will work even with a working head. Faced with such a nuisance is the fact that he seeks to save money and buys cheap Chinese fakes.
• Blockage. Occurs when the tank is not cleaned correctly or due to poor water quality. The essence of the breakdown is that after compression, the spring cannot be released, since an obstacle from solid particles forms on its way. With such a malfunction, the product will leak even when the device is turned off and the tap is closed.
• High system pressure. This is not uncommon on the last floors of high-rise buildings with an upper water supply. Since the head is kept at a constantly high level, the valve will flow continuously, regardless of the time of day.
  
• Mechanical damage. Occurs during transport or during installation. You can also damage the internal parts during cleaning - deformation of the spring, rupture of the gaskets.When falling, a gap appears at the entry point of the branch pipe into the boiler body.
• Leaking storage tank. In such cases, water is observed outside the product, but it may seem that a valve on the water heater is leaking. Leakage is caused by corrosion or a loose weld.
• The upper part is leaking. There is a loose connection. This is one of the most common causes of dripping on the valve. In most cases, this is due to a hardened gasket under the nut or an insufficient amount of FUM tape.
• Spring wear. Over time, they lose their elasticity and begin to shrink even with a slight pressure. Nothing will help here. All that remains is to put on a temporary drain and go to the store for a new valve.

If a leak has formed, it will not disappear by itself. The situation will only get worse until it reaches a critical state. Therefore, if a safety valve is leaking on the boiler, it is necessary to take urgent measures to find out the reasons for this phenomenon and restore the operation of the water heater.

Breakdown elimination work

To diagnose and fix the breakdown, you will need to stock up on a set of tools and some consumables.

For work you will need:

• adjustable wrench, pliers, screwdriver;
• scissors;
• awl;
• indicator;
• FUM tape or tow;
• flexible hoses for easy drainage of water from the tank;
• lemon acid;
• small parts collection box;
• rags.

Measures should be taken to protect the limbs and organs of vision. Repairs are best done with goggles and gloves.

First you need to make sure that the non-return valve is the cause of the leakage. It is enough to check whether its case is dry or not. If there is no moisture on it, then you need to start disassembling. This event can be timed to clean the TENA and the tank from scale. In any case, efforts will not be wasted.

Dismantling should be carried out in the following sequence:

1. Shut off the water. If a straight-through tap is installed in front of the mixer, it is better to turn it so as not to turn off the entire apartment.
2. Disconnect the device from electricity. Remove the cover, disconnect the wires from the terminals.
3. Unscrew the underwater pipes from the boiler. Remove the ball valve and safety valve.
4. Screw flexible hoses to the nozzles, the water will flow in the right direction.
5. If equipped with a pressure gauge, check the working water pressure. Ideally, it should be 1.5-2 atm.
6. While the liquid is draining, remove the remaining FUM tape and inspect the parts for cracks and dents.
7. Clean the tank and TENA from limescale and scale. Rinse the inside of the container with a shower head.

The removed check valve must first be rinsed under running water to remove scaly fragments. After that, the product should be immersed in a container with a solution prepared from water and citric acid in a 10: 1 ratio. You can speed up the cleaning process by boiling. It takes 10-15 minutes for the valve to become like new. It remains to treat it with silicone grease and you can put it back.

Extending the life of the boiler

The main enemies of the boiler and the check valve are impurities in the water and increased pressure in the pipeline. These problems are solved by installing an inlet main magnesium filter and a special gearbox. If this does not work out, it is necessary, depending on the degree of water hardness, to carry out preventive cleaning of the boiler and its servicing fittings every 3-9 months every 3-9 months.

In order to prevent strong expansion of water in the tank, it is recommended to heat it up to a temperature not higher than + 55 ° C.