What is this part?

[amazin6]

Hello all, this part just began to drip. It is under the well water tank where the well water main comes in. It has an open faucet like bottom and a plug type cap thing in front. It looks to be screwed into the main. Can I stop this leak or do I have to replace the part. How to do both would be welcomed. Thanks so much!

Edit...see better photo below, thanks.

 

[johnjh2o]

From your picture I can't make out what is leaking. Resizing it smaller may help.

John

 

[Mr_David]

looks to me like a pressure relief valve
here's one I got off google images.

need to back up a little with the camera and what is this on.
I'm curious about the fitting that it is attached to

 

[havasu]

I believe Mr. David is our winner.

 

[amazin6]

Thank you for your answers. Here is a better picture. It is the part on the left of the blue handle as you look at photo. There is no plug in the bottom of mine so it is similar to the one shown by Mr_David. Should this have some type of plug? I wonder why it began to leak and should I just replace the entire valve? Best part/place/method to do so. Thanks again for your knowledge and willingness to share.

 

[phishfood]

Yes, it appears to be a thermal expansion valve. These are often adjustable, you might be able to tighten the "plug" to raise the pressure release threshold. However, you should check the pressure on your system to be sure that there is not an excess pressure problem.

 

[amazin6]

Thank you to johnjh2o, Mr_David, havasu, phishfood for all your valuable help. I did try to tighten the plug and it helped. Even better, I found the correct part and replaced it today. NO LEAKS YAY!!! Best to all.

 

[phishfood]

Great!

Thanks for checking back in, and we are all glad we could be of help.

 

[amazin6]

Hello all, the pressure relief valve does not leak. Unfortunately, the brass fitting on the left of it has started to leak slightly at the union closest to the PRV from my working on the pipes. I do not know what to hold onto when and if I try to remove, tape/silicone? and replace this fitting. There is black plastic pipe coming from the well on the left. So my guess would be to:
1-shut off water drain well tank
2- work from left and try to get black plastic pipe off clamps first and then just strength?
3-take off brass fitting at leaky joint so hold fitting with the only big pipe wrench I own. What do I do to secure hold all the other pipes on right? I thought to put blocking under it to help.
4-If successful, what do I use Teflon tape or silicone or both on brass?
5- Do I use WD40 to lube plastic back onto brass fitting and wrench it on or rubber hammer?

Thanks again and so sorry to have to ask you all again.

 

[phishfood]

It sounds as though you have the general idea.

The black plastic can be a real problem to get off of the barbed fitting. Try working it back and forth, kind of like you were trying to break the plastic pipe at the end of the fitting.

If you have a large adjustable wrench, you could use that on the flats of the check valve.

 

[amazin6]

Thank you phishfood. By flats of the check valve, do you mean at the shut off fitting at the right in picture but on left side of this fixture where it has flat sections? Would you use tape or silicone to seal when pipes are apart? Also, what exactly does "lube" mean? Is it putty, silicone or something else? Thanks again.

 

[speedbump]

That check valve really shouldn't be there. Your pump has a check valve built in that will do the job. The check valve at your tank can mask problems with your drop pipe and horizontal run to the house.

When you put a check valve in the house or near the tank instead of having only one at the submersible pump or footvalve in a jet pump installation; you open yourself up for the possibility of contamination. Using a check valve at the tank leaves the entire distribution line under a vacuum once the pump shuts off. If there were a leak in your horizontal pipe and the check valve at the pump failed or the footvalve; any water in the ground possibly polluted with feces or any other unsavory nasties can be drawn into that pipe and fed to the house in the next pump cycle. Having that check valve at the tank/pump can also mask a problem in the distribution piping.