I have a leaking expansion tank - should I call plumber or heating?

[Tab]

I just went into the basement for something and noticed water all over the floor - my expansion tank (on my heater/boiler) is leaking (dripping, but making a mess). Since it's dripping, and given the amount of water, I'm guessing it's been that way for a couple of days. It seems to be dripping out of the connector/valve/thingie at the bottom.

1) Water damage aside, can this hold for a day or so, or is it an emergency call to someone?

2) Should I call my heating company, or should I call a plumber? I have an oil delivery that fixes oil burners, but it's a forced hot water heat system, so I'm thinking this is a plumbing problem.

Thanks

[NMDemDist2]

1. if it's a faulty valve a plumber should be able to handle it, as for the

"is it an emergency" question, I don't have a clue. I'd be a bit alarmed though to have a boiler (which suggests steam under pressure) leaking. If it blew it would be a hell of a mess and may do major damage to the unit

:shrug:

Good luck!

[Stinky The Clown]

2. I assume you mean the unit that provides the hot water to your house

It sounds like it could be a leak in the pipe at a joint .... maybe the pop-off valve is stuck slightly open .......

I don't think its a 9-11 emergency, but you obviously need to get it looked at pretty damned soon. I'm sure it'll last through the night, though.

Either a plumber or your furnace guy can do the work. Call the furnace guy if you have a maintenance contract. Call the cheaper of the two if you don't. :)

[Longhorn]

3. My husband's initial thoughts, also. n/t

[Tab]

4. I've already decided to call a plumber

I can ask my oil company, but I suspect it's a plumbing thing. My rule of thumb is water=plumber.

No, I'm not asking for an emergency call, but I'm not going to sit on it for weeks either (if only because it's making a mess). Anything that is pressurized and leaks seems to me ought to get fixed sooner rather than later.

It's only a small expansion tank (probably just over a gallon) so if it blew, although it'd make a mess, and water'd probably be pouring through the pipe, I don't think it'd trash the whole system. I'm going to make a point to go down a couple of times a day and check on it, just in case. That said, I'm going to try to get someone here within the next 48 hours if possible.

Thanks, all! I usually hang out in the cooking forum, and didn't even realize we had a home repair forum, but I think I'll be back more and more. If I still had my previous house (a huge and very interesting 6000 sq ft 200-yr-old brick home) I'd be here constantly. My current house is much smaller and much less maintenance intensive, but occasionally things still happen.

- Tab

[NMDemDist2]

5. welcome aboard Tab, lots of us foodies over here too

H2S is as amazing here as there too :rofl:

we do all kinds of fun stuff from DIY to crafts and anything "handy"

you'll like it :hi:

i think your plan on the tank is a good one, don't let it go too long, but don't pay the doubletime rates either.