Thermal Store - Odd dripping from F/E Tank Ballcock

Hi,

I have a Thermal Storage system, not exactly sure what the make is (Its around 12 years old). Its driven by a Ideal Elan 2 Boiler.

The past two days I have noticed when I use hotwater the boiler comes on as normal to re-heat as is should.

However, for the past two days when this happens the ballcock in the F/E tank will drip for a few minutes while the boiler is cycling and about 5-10 minutes after the boiler has finished its cycle. Its about 1 drip every 10 seconds when the boiler is running, decreasing to about every 30-60 seconds and then stops once the system has settled. So not a lot of water.

Nothing has changed recently, and I can't see any visible leaks from any of the rads, exposed boiler piping, or tanks. It strikes me as very odd its only doing it while the boiler is cycling and for a few moments after.

Would it be something to do with water expansion, it can't be normal I am sure as its going to be injecting new water into my system.

I flushed, sludge removed and dosed up with inhibitor about 3 months ago, everything has been fine since then until the past couple of days.

I checked to see if the F/E tank was overflowing and its not, I will reading some other posts on here check to see the level of the water in the F/E tank.

Any advice is greatfully appreciated, I am very nervous about this system because only been moved in 6 months I have heard lots of horror stories from other people on the estate about problems with corrosion, burst cylinders, badly corroded radiators etc.

So I tend to be keeping a very close eye on it.

Mike

Is the store direct, in that there is no coil between the boiler and the cylinder? Does it supply the CH?

The drip is that the level of the tank is being sucked down by the pump. Press the ball valve a little to add more water and it should go away.

Regards problems on your estate. If enough inhibitor is installed they should be fine. This will be about 3 to 4 can of the stuff. If CH is taken directly from it install a Magnaclean filter on the CH return to the thermal store. This is essential, as it will prevent sludge build up.

If they are installed properly and inhibitor replaced when it should then they are brilliant. Also if the CH is off the cylinder a Grundfos Alpha auto variable speed pump can be installed and TRVs on all rads. And then no wall stat is required.

You mention sludge. Where was the sludge? You mention boiler cycling. Ad another cylinder stat to prevent this. The boiler must be on maximum.