Help please, boiler leaking

KaratePigeon

Hello,
Just come back from a weekend away and noticed a wet patch on the kitchen ceiling It's immediately below the cupboard in the bathroom where the boiler is so I've just been to have a look. Seems we have some sort of scale inhibitor, and there is water dripping out of it (quite a fast drip!) and all this white goo with it (is this some sort of salt?)

I didn't know we had a scale inhibitor or if it needs any kind of maintenance - it has a replace date of Jul 12?

I've put a container under it for now. Is this something I can fix myself or do I need to call out a plumber? Really skint at the moment so worried about how much that would cost (guess we will need new carpet and possibly floorboards in the bathroom too ) The water pressure gauge on the boiler seems to have dropped quite low, is that bad?

Have taken a photo but don't know how to put it on.

Any help appreciated.

keystone

Seeing as how its now nearly October 2012 it seems like you are 2 to 3 months late replacing it!

The pressure has dropped because of the leak but you need to stop the leak before repressurising.

Upload your pic to imageshack or similar. When you are given the forum code for the image copy and past that into a new post. You have a high enough post count that the forum software will allow you to post the link. Alternatively just remove the http bit before you hit submit and just leave the link as text. One of us can put it back for you then we can all see the pic.

Cheers

KaratePigeon

ok thanks,
not sure if it'll help but should be a pic here:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/jo_c_smith/IMG_4689_zps47f89577.jpg

yeah I guess I'm late replacing it but didn't even know it was there - only lived here about 6 months and my last house didn't have one. Do I really need one, can I just take it out??

How hard is it to re-pressurise? How much would a plumber cost if this is going to be too complicated for me?

southcoastrgi

you already have the plastic key located under the boiler there will be a grey kno b next to it turn this anti-clock wise to re-fill the boiler to 1 bar turn it back off & then remove the key this should all be done without the boiler working (turn it slightly & it should come out), which part on your scale inhibitor is leaking ?

KaratePigeon

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. it's leaking out of the side of the canister itself, seems to made a bubble just on the flat surface and that has split.

When you say do it with the boiler not working, do you mean no hot water/heating running or do I need to turn it off somehow?

We've had pretty bad water pressure since we've been here (the upstairs taps are very slow and go off completely if someone is running water downstairs) could it be related to this?

keystone

Replace the canister. Its a DIY job. Then repressurise as above.

Cheers

gas4you

Turn the cold mains off, then undo the large metal nut that holds the canister assembly to the pipe work connector.

You may find that it is better to replace the whole unit on these, as the 'o' rings in the 'nut' can perish and get covered in the white stuff, then never seal again.

The canisters on these are a right PITA to get off sometimes, hence why I recommend removing them from the large nut. You have to carefully prise them off with a flat bladed screwdriver.

When fitting the new canister, lubricate the new 'o' rings with fairy liquid.

These are supposed to be replaced every 12 months with a family of 4 usage, hence the date.

southcoastrgi

& don't do what it says on the fitting instructions with regard to letting the air out by loosening the little screw if you aren't really careful the o ring will split & it will leak, yes re-pressurise the boiler with it not working either turned off on the boiler or the programmer, if the boiler is running it will give you a false reading on the pressure gauge.