Help boiler won't repressurise

travel_freak

Hope someone can offer some tips! We have a Potterton Performa 28 combination gas fired boiler. It's working perfectly fine but the water pressure (as shown on the guage on the front) is getting lower and lower. I think there must be a leak somewhere but can't afford to get this checked into at the moment. Anyway, I was told by Potterton that I need to repressurise the system if the pressure gets too low (I know this because last time it packed up completely I called them out assuming the boiler had broken down - ouch!). I was told how to do this - just by turning a tap under the boiler. I've tried and tried - and even spent about an hour on the phone to Potterton about this - but try as I might the system won't repressurise. It seems I am turning the right tap, attached to a flexible type of pipe.

I'm worried the pressure will go completely soon and I'll be left without hot water and heating over Xmas.

Has anyone experienced the same problem and managed to solve it without calling out an Engineer?

Just a thought, after I put down the phone to Potterton I read the leaflet about the filling loop. It comes from the "cold water inlet" and loops into the "central heating return". There are two taps or valves on this bit of filling loop. Could it be that BOTH taps have to be turned at the same time to let the water in? Sorry if this is a stupid question but Potterton said I only needed to turn one tap. I don't trust myself fiddling around too much where gas and electricity are concerned but if anyone has a simple answer I'd be eternally grateful - not to mention clean and warm over Xmas...!

derrick

Yes turn on both taps,and don`t pressurise above 1bar
(14.5 p.p.i.)

travel_freak

Hi Derrick,
Thanks for your reply. I've tried both taps together and still nothing happens! Any suggestions for what else I could try / what might be wrong with it?

Thanks for your help.

f107btx

Try turning main Stop Tap off uncouple flexi hose and see if it is clear. One valve is none return ,open other blow through it and see if it is clear.The ball in the none return could also be stuck .Hope this makes sense.

derrick

How old is the boiler?
It could be that the expansion vessel bag has failed,but you should still be able to get some pressure,has the gauge packed up?
Try opening a bleed valve on your highest radiator until there is no pressure (keeping both valves on the boiler closed) then close the bleed valve, open both water valves for about 20 seconds,then close and recheck that you have pressure when opening the bleed valve on the radiator you just tried,if there is pressure it suggests the system is pressurising and you gauge is faulty

StephenB_2

Hang on: what pressure is the gauge reading?

SJB