sonour
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« on: January 24, 2020, 10:57:00 PM » |
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Hi all,
I had a new combi boiler fitted 2 or 3 years ago. After about a year, the boiler lost pressure and I repressirised it and rang the plumber and he said
‘ well let’s see if it happens again ‘
Well it did happen again about six months later. I rang him again and said I would really like this sorted please. He said well there is a water leak somewhere, most likely underground under the house and the only way you can find it is to dig up the ground floor !
I have solid oak flooring throughout the ground floor except for tiles in the kitchen.
I asked the plumber if there was not some piece of equipment that could find the leak ? He said there was, but it was expensive, not very effective, and that he didn’t have one.
My boiler lost pressure on 17th January and again today, which means that once a week I either come home to, or wake up to a cold house.
Any help would be much appreciated. xx
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mikeymike2
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« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2020, 11:11:16 PM » |
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1. Do you have underfloor heating if so both up and downstairs or downstairs only. 2. On the boiler is there a sticker that says it has had inhibitor in. 3. Have you had the boiler serviced. 4. When the boiler was installed was it onto old pipe work. 5. If you have rads are they fitted with TRV,s
It could be as simple as the pressure relief valve on the boiler is opening is there water outside you will see the copper pipe bent over on the outside wall if this is dripping then that.s your problem
It could be a lack of inhibitor in the system
And yes it is simple to tell if it is a leak on the pipework simply drain down the system attach gauge fill with air and leave if the pressure drops you have a leak, competent plumber would take 1hr to do this.
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sonour
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« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2020, 01:02:49 AM » |
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Thank you Mike. That certainly gives me plenty to go at.
1. No underfloor heating 2. No inhibitor sticker. 3. No. I asked the plumber to service it last time he was here. He said it really doesn’t need it yet. It has a Magnaclean, and I asked him to clean that, again he said doesn’t need it yet. 4. Yes, onto old pipe work although I had a couple of new radiators put in and obviously a bit of new pipe work in the boiler cupboard. 5. Yes
I’ll take a look outside in the morning. It would be great if it was this.
I don’t remember the plumber putting inhibitor in the system, I’ll ask him.
I’ll get him to do that leak test.
Thank you very much, you’ve been incredibly helpful.
I’ll report back shortly.
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sonour
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« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2020, 01:18:48 AM » |
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Sorry, meant to post this in The Lounge.
If any mods wish to move it, that would be great
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mikeymike2
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« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2020, 05:23:52 PM » |
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two things if the boiler is the problem and its a valiant or worcs bosch then they have at least 5 year warranties so your covered.
Just so you know what the plumber should do reference finding the leak
Drain down system Disconnect flow and return pipes on the boiler Cap off the return and apply pressure gauge to flow pipe Fill with air to 2bar leave for 2 hours and see if pressure has dropped if not you know its a boiler problem
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sonour
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« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2020, 09:54:27 PM » |
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I can see a large plastic pipe on the outside wall, but I can’t see the copper pipe. I’ll get up on th flat roof tomorrow.
It’s an Ideal Vogue C40 but I think it does have a 5 year guarantee.
I’ll try to post pictures later, or WhatsApp them to Tom.
I won’t leave the plumbers side when he comes out, so I’ll see exactly what he does. That explanation of the pressure check will be very useful, thank you.
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mikeymike2
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« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2020, 11:18:45 AM » |
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The white plastic pipe carries the condensing water away from inside the boiler, there will be a 15mm copper pipe which allows the water in the radiators and pipework to vent out should the pressure build up which normally occurs from people who keep filling the system.
Once a system is filled it rarely needs topping up.
The reason to have the boiler serviced is so that the condensing water chamber is emptied as if it gets blocked the boiler will stop working.
Any gas boiler made in the last 10 years takes about 10 minutes to service as they are so well built and condensers are cleaner unfortunately most service engineers faff about for 30 minutes as to justify the servicing price
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Ironside
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« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2020, 01:06:39 PM » |
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anyone seen Sark?
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lend me a beer and I'll lend you my ear
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nirvana
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« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2020, 01:33:07 PM » |
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I had a similar problem recently and turned out the condensing chamber ha d a very tiny leak. It was an ideal boiler and around 9 years old and wa s fixed on warranty with no fuss. Only reason for mentioning it is that if it is boiler related then the warranties are long and very non quibble if its clear the boiler has an issue
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sola virtus nobilitat
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sonour
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« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2020, 07:31:34 PM » |
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I had a similar problem recently and turned out the condensing chamber ha d a very tiny leak. It was an ideal boiler and around 9 years old and wa s fixed on warranty with no fuss. Only reason for mentioning it is that if it is boiler related then the warranties are long and very non quibble if its clear the boiler has an issue
Thank you, Sir.
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sonour
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« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2020, 07:37:43 PM » |
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I checked the copper pipe outside the house, both when the heating was off and when it was on, and unfortunately it wasn’t dripping.
So is the next move is the pressure test ?
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RED-DOG
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« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2020, 08:27:31 PM » |
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Pics of Lisa's set up. Click to see full-size image. | Click to see full-size image. |
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The older I get, the better I was.
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sonour
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« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2020, 08:42:48 PM » |
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Thank you Tom.
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cish n fhips
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« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2020, 05:02:59 PM » |
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Had same problem myself not long ago.
I was trying to remedy myself as i like a challenge.
I rebalanced the heating and its worked so far not 100% its solved but not had a problem so far.Touch wood.
I just followed a youtube video loads about.
Good luck
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sonour
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« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2020, 08:31:18 PM » |
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Thank you. That looks like something I could do. I’ll give it a try in the morning.
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