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jaydebruyne

Plumbers Arms member
Plumber
Gas Engineer
Apr 6, 2014
2,718
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London, UK
Member Type
Heating Engineer (Has GSR)
So I went to a property yesterday, woman complaining the dhw smelt like oil :/ smelt it, tasted it and it seemed fine to me.

Anyhoo, she said a previous contractor had fixed the boiler which was losing pressure. I couldn't see exactly what he'd done but...

There was a hose pipe attached to the reduced pressure zone valve (see pic)

a) what is a reduced pressure zone valve on a combi?
b) why would someone attach a hose to it and put it through the wall along side the prv pipework - I'm assuming it was leaking (which is why the boiler was probably losing pressure). Surely you would replace the part if it's leaking and not just attach a piece of hose to it???

Anyway, it's bugging me so any answers would be grand! 😉

Cheers

Screenshot 2016-02-25 20.28.52.png

Also, when I tried to top up the pressure, the filling loop attachment pictured below wasn't there, it was just a little blue cap that didn't turn????

Screenshot 2016-02-25 20.33.58.png
 
Last edited:
Ok, so I've answered my own question, or rather google has - it's a backflow prevention valve - like a NRV no?

And this would sit between the cold mains and the return? Which would explain, if it is leaking/defective, why the dhw might at times smell like oil...

Sorry, I'm just thinking aloud!!
 
Filling point IS the blue plastic cap, Known for snapping off inside, the other bit that is leaking usely drip just after topping up pressure , all this comes as a complete filling assembly , takes about 5min to replace.
 
Filling point IS the blue plastic cap, Known for snapping off inside, the other bit that is leaking usely drip just after topping up pressure , all this comes as a complete filling assembly , takes about 5min to replace.

so if the cap doesn't turn it's likely it's snapped inside?

And the dhw smelling like oil? I'm a bit stumped. Can't be because of the zone valve as the filling loop is closed so can't get into cold mains :/
 
You can try turning the blue cap, may be jammed cos someone has over tightened it, cant think what problem is with hot water unless somehow its mixing with heating water faulty Plate HX ?? maybe ?
 
You can try turning the blue cap, may be jammed cos someone has over tightened it, cant think what problem is with hot water unless somehow its mixing with heating water faulty Plate HX ?? maybe ?

Don't think so, otherwise the boiler would be continuously over pressurised - she said its sporadic also, so it's an intermittent problem which makes it even harder
 
Don't think so, otherwise the boiler would be continuously over pressurised - she said its sporadic also, so it's an intermittent problem which makes it even harder

It was just a maybe, how long has she had this oil smell ? if you cant find anything may need to get water tested !
 

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