Combi-boiler filling loop question

[eidolon42]

Hello,

I've recently moved in to a house with an Ariston MicroCombi boiler. The pressure gauge is indicating a little under 1, and there's a slow leak from a radiator so I know I'm going to have to re-fill the system at some point, once I've repaired the radiator (everything is working fine at present though).

Problem is, what I assume is the filling loop doesn't look right at all. It's a thin plastic hose attached between the cold water and heating pipes by a flimsy plastic mount with a screw valve. Unfortunately, it has at some point broken off at one end though. I'd expect it to be a much more bulky braided metal pipe that I've been used to in previous houses.

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[GasManMike]

Can you take a pic?

 

[eidolon42]

Some pics here: gallery.eidolon.co.uk/House/June%202013/

While taking the pictures, I noticed the tap down below (see the last picture). I'm guessing this will work as a filling loop as it also bridges the cold water inlet and heating outlet. Terrified to turn it though as knowing old corroded taps it'll be impossible to fully turn off again after...

 

[hammers4spanner]

need to upload your pics again

 

[eidolon42]

Sorry, I couldn't post direct links as I'm too new to the forum. Copy the line starting "gallery" into a browser and it should work fine.

 

[hammers4spanner]

looking at that i would buy a new one

bulldog filling loop only ten quid or there abouts

 

[eidolon42]

Fair enough. Thanks for your time! 🙂

 

[hammers4spanner]

probably wouldnt hurt to drain down and add some inhibitor if you put new filling loop in

 

[snowhead]

Photo link

The clear plastic pipe is fixed to a drain off cock, probably to drain off the excess when it's overfilled!!
The other fitting looks like an air bleed, I don't beleive the 2 were ever intended to be connected together.
The valve at the bottom looks like a permanent filling point, this needs sorting out and a flexible removable filling loop fitting in it's place.