What type of brass cap is this?

[SukoiMedic]

Two different plumbers did not know what type of cap this is. There is a hole in the middle that I am guessing allows the cap to breathe.

What type of cap is it?

It is leaking as you can see. It was corroded due to the very high iron content of my water.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

Looks like some kind of bleeder cap, but I've only seen bleeder caps with ports on the side, not the top. Bleeder caps are pretty easy to find, so just replace it? I assume you do not want it leaking there.

Would be helpful if you told us what kind of assembly this is; what its attached to, and the cap size.

 

[SukoiMedic]

It was dripping until yesterday when it took to shooting water out. I.e. the wet floor.

I don't know a bunch about plumbing systems. So ask for clarification if what I say does not make sense.

I have a well system with a water softener and iron removal system.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

So, you had TWO plumbers look at it, they didn't know what it was, and left it like that? Time to find new plumbers. Anyone leaving a leaking system shouldn't be in the business. There's also a compression fitting at the top that doesn't have any tubing in it. A bit puzzling. That should be leaking too.

Since it appears to be part of your well/softener/iron filter, call the firm that put them in. If you don't know, look up the manufacturers of any of them, and call them to find a local rep.

 

[SukoiMedic]

So, you had TWO plumbers look at it, they didn't know what it was, and left it like that? Time to find new plumbers. Anyone leaving a leaking system shouldn't be in the business. There's also a compression fitting at the top that doesn't have any tubing in it. A bit puzzling. That should be leaking too.

Since it appears to be part of your well/softener/iron filter, call the firm that put them in. If you don't know, look up the manufacturers of any of them, and call them to find a local rep.

It was two different plumbing companies. One wanted me to just replace the system at the tune of 3700$ after telling me the system had 3-5 years left before needing to be replaced.

The other thought it introduced air into the system for the iron removal system. But, he could not explain why....

 

[frodo]

turn the water off. remove it, clean any sand/dirt then put it back

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

The other thought it introduced air into the system for the iron removal system. But, he could not explain why....

Again, contact the manufacturer of the filter and softener systems and get their rep in. There are chemical free iron filters out there--I had a MacClean model--and they do indeed induce air in order to turn dissolved iron into undissolved (um, we call that rust) iron that then can be filtered. The piece is called an air charger, but they are generally made of brass, not plastic, and they generally are right on top of the filter assembly.

 

[Matt30]

The other thought it introduced air into the system for the iron removal system. But, he could not explain why....

it looks like a microniser, but not a brand I’ve ever seen. It draws air into the system when water is flowing. Oxygen crystallizes iron so it can be caught in the iron filter

 

[SukoiMedic]

turn the water off. remove it, clean any sand/dirt then put it back

I would love to shut the water off. Unfortunately, the person who designed it did not put the shut-off valve until after the water treatment system.

I am going to hire a plumber to put one on the intake line right as it comes into the house.

 

[SukoiMedic]

it looks like a microniser, but not a brand I’ve ever seen. It draws air into the system when water is flowing. Oxygen crystallizes iron so it can be caught in the iron filter

With the leak I have there should be more than enough O2 getting into the system now

 

[Matt30]

I would love to shut the water off. Unfortunately, the person who designed it did not put the shut-off valve until after the water treatment system.

I am going to hire a plumber to put one on the intake line right as it comes into the house.

Turn the power off to the pump, take pressure off the system, shut the main valve. Now you can service the cap with minimal water to deal with.
It’s bad practice to have a valve on the well line before the pressure tank unless the well is higher than the house. Less risk of someone dead heading the pump by accident

 

[SukoiMedic]

Again, contact the manufacturer of the filter and softener systems and get their rep in. There are chemical free iron filters out there--I had a MacClean model--and they do indeed induce air in order to turn dissolved iron into undissolved (um, we call that rust) iron that then can be filtered. The piece is called an air charger, but they are generally made of brass, not plastic, and they generally are right on top of the filter assembly.

I have an e-mail out to 3M. I called there parts line and there was a long wait time. I will be calling first thing Monday hopefully.

 

[SukoiMedic]

Turn the power off to the pump, take pressure off the system, shut the main valve. Now you can service the cap with minimal water to deal with.
It’s bad practice to have a valve on the well line before the pressure tank unless the well is higher than the house. Less risk of someone dead heading the pump by accident

This is my first house with a well. So I apologize if I ask stupid questions! Won't taking the pressure off the well cause problems with the well?

 

[Matt30]

Sometimes you may stir up dirty water in the pressure tank. But simply taking pressure off the system for service will not hurt the well.