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Author:
ftres (NY)
I have a Burnham Alliance SL 50 gallon indirect hot water tank.
I've recently been noticing water that seems to be dripping out from where the TPI is.
I can't say if this is going on for a long time and I just never noticed it, or if it's something new.
Does anybody know what may be going on and what the possible fix is?
Thanks,
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Author:
packy (MA)
answering your question with a question..
do you have an expansion tank for the hot water system?
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Author:
ftres (NY)
No. I have one expansion tank for the boiler. I have this boiler and hot water tank for about 11 years now. Boiler is a Burnham ES25.
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Author:
packy (MA)
next step is to test the hot water pressure.
buy a hose pressure gauge, screw it right onto the tank drain threads and open the drain.
check for spikes in the pressure. they could make the relief drip.
if the pressure remains in a nice zone ( 50-70 PSI) then the relief is probably bad and needs to be changed. its an easy fix.
[S aid:GGL:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2t8JXIIwyUR0yDGd0qUir38bRX6p91ds6lLsmS9cfG2Ia1T3IpqGGEaAjY5EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.grainger.com]
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
ftres (NY)
If the relief was bad, wouldn't I see water coming out of it? Or would water NOT come out like it's supposed to if it was bad?
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
TPI = temperature / pressure indicator ??!! [th.bing.com]
TPRV = temperature / pressure (safety) relief valve [th.bing.com]
@OP: post a picture or explain issue better
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
ftres (NY)
So what you're getting at is that a bad TPI could result in too much pressure, which would cause water leaking out when the pressure builds? And the fix would be to replace the TPI.
Correct?
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
no
a TPI is merely a GAGE which reads temperature and pressure on the same 'face'
a TPRV is a required safety device which opens to relieve EXCESS pressure OR temperature
we need to know what EXACTLY is leaking (or actually relieving) and from WHERE
TPI:
TPRV:

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Author:
ftres (NY)
Sorry. I have a picture but don't think I can add it.
I have this (https://www.@#$%&/Burnham-101379-01-TPI-Immersion-Control-for-Alliance-SL-Indirect-Water-Heater) on the tank, with a spigot right below. I see evidence that water has been leaking out from behind that control, and I see water collected in the plastic pan under the tank (along the edge - the water seem to drip down the side and then collect in there). I never saw any water on the floor so I guess whatever isn't evaporating just into that pan.
Also, when I pull the cover off the control, it's kind of damp inside there. I see a bit of condensation inside the cover.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
aaaaah ha .......................
you have a LEAK possibly from a threaded control, possibly elsewhere
you need to either:
find the EXACT source of the leak yourself
OR
hire in a pro for an on site evaluation
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Author:
ftres (NY)
OK. Do you think the tank may be bad, or is it more likely that a part went bad than can be replaced?
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
i have no way of even guessing
you need to find the leak
start really looking with a good spotlight and inspection mirror removing insulation if need be
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Author:
packy (MA)
from what i can see, your control is secured to the tank by a screw, the control has a probe that sticks into a thermometer well. the type well is threaded on one end and screws into a tapping on the tank. 99% of the time the leak is from the well itself not the tank.
the control has to be removed and the probe pulled out of the well. most of the time the probe will survive and the the control can be reused, you simply unscrew the well and replace it.
once again...
giving advice over the internet is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. my advice comes from having replaced some thermometer wells.
i'm guessing yours looks like this...
[www.afsupply.com]
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
??? is it not fun chasing the wild geese ???
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