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 Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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,

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
Author: packy (MA)

answering your question with a question..

do you have an expansion tank for the hot water system?

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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.

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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.

[Stongue sticking out smileyaid: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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 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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?

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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.

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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?

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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:





Edited 1 times.

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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.

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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?

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
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]

Post Reply

 Re: Burnham Alliance SL TPI Leak
Author: bernabeu (SC)

??? is it not fun chasing the wild geese ???

Post Reply





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