Plumbing: Honeywell auto air vent

David Cawkwell

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Dec 16, 2002, 4:50:54 PM12/16/02

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I've just placed a Honeywell auto air vent my hot water piping.

I find that with the vent in the open position it leaks water from
around the little red cap at the top of the canister.

Should this happen? I was under the assumption it would allow
air out but not water.

Could anyone offer advice on this using one of these.
Should the canister be left in the open or closed position?

My only need for using it is that there is a high point in my plumbing
system which will trap a pocket of air.

Thanks

Andy Hall

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Dec 16, 2002, 6:54:58 PM12/16/02

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You should be able to leave it turned to the open position and with
the red cap loose and not have leaks.

If you do and can't fix it by cleaning the canister and float then it
is faulty and you need a replacement.

Andy Hall

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Rob Whitton

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Dec 17, 2002, 2:49:42 AM12/17/02

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I have two of these in my system and I've never been able to leave them open
during normal use - they are great for getting the air out after a drain
down however. In practise even if you clean them then because the water in
the system isn't completely clean you tend to get small bits of crud on the
seat of the valve which then causes it to weep. I have this problem even
with the vents correctly instaled on the end of a vertical section of pipe.
You can clean it up and it will work for a while but it won't be long before
it starts to weep (in my case it can weep at quite a rate).

Cheers

Rob

Alan James

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Dec 17, 2002, 5:21:27 AM12/17/02

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"Andy Hall" <an...@hall.gl.stopjunkmail> wrote in message
news:lrpsvuke4s05pd93h...@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 16 Dec 2002 21:50:54 -0000, "David Cawkwell"
> <da...@dcawkwell.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >I've just placed a Honeywell auto air vent my hot water piping.
> >
> >I find that with the vent in the open position it leaks water from
> >around the little red cap at the top of the canister.
> >
> >Should this happen? I was under the assumption it would allow
> >air out but not water.
> >

> You should be able to leave it turned to the open position and with
> the red cap loose and not have leaks.
>
> If you do and can't fix it by cleaning the canister and float then it
> is faulty and you need a replacement.
>

Also had a problem with the same device. Mine started leaking after about 5
years. Even after the valve seat was cleaned it still leaked. I think the
valve mechanism had somehow lost its "spring". Fortunately the valve was
superfluous as there is another in the boiler and it was replaced with a
stop-end. If you need air release in that position consider a manual air
release valve.

Alan

Chris Kaley

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Dec 17, 2002, 6:16:58 AM12/17/02

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Personally, I have yet to find an auto-air release valve that does what it
says on the tin. I think they all leak water, so I use mine manually - it's
safer.

Chris
"Alan James" <alanREMOVE...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3dfe...@212.67.96.135...

Andy Hall

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Dec 17, 2002, 8:33:28 AM12/17/02

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On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 11:16:58 +0000 (UTC), "Chris Kaley"
<C.H.M...@BTInternet.com> wrote:

>Personally, I have yet to find an auto-air release valve that does what it
>says on the tin. I think they all leak water, so I use mine manually - it's
>safer.
>
>Chris

Do you have hard water by any chance?

I'm wondering whether this could be a scale deposit issue.

I've had no problems at all with either the Honeywell AAV (made by
Brauckmann) or with an all brass type from Reliance, or with an air
separator also from Reliance, which works on the same principle but
with a taller chamber.

http://www.rwc.co.uk/rwc/hoprofs.htm

Carl

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Dec 17, 2002, 11:18:45 AM12/17/02

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"David Cawkwell" <da...@dcawkwell.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:atli45$v2f$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...

> I've just placed a Honeywell auto air vent my hot water piping.
>
> I find that with the vent in the open position it leaks water from
> around the little red cap at the top of the canister.

According to the instructions I have, the little red cap is meant to be
screwed tight after
initial venting. Is your little red cap loose?

>
> Could anyone offer advice on this using one of these.
> Should the canister be left in the open or closed position?
>

The main body of the device should be in the open position.

Also in the manual:
NOTE. Automatic air vents should only

be fitted to the positive pressure side

of the system.