Leaking central heating system ?

keystone

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

BAG added !!!!!!

Oops. . It only needs to be a small bag.

Cheers

50Twuncle

keystone wrote: »

EV on these is internal hence DYN's comment about cost. IF its a dud EV then the simplest repair is to fit an external one on the system.

When you say the condensation pipe do you mean the condensate pipe which will be a white plastic pipe and is supposed to discharge or do you mean the short length of copper pipe that also comes out of your wall. The latter is the Pressure Release Valve outflow. If that is driping then the PRV has lifted at some stage due to excess presure in the system. They never reseat properly due to getting full of carp when they operate and so they pass, you lose water and the pressure drops. If you are not sure about that then tape a plastic over the end of the pipe. If it gets water in it then the PRV is passing and needs attention.

When was the beastie last serviced? If its due soon get your RGI to chack the PRV.

Cheers

Thanks - it was last serviced 3 months ago by a company who fitted it 5 years ago - they did not detect any problems at the time !!
I mean the short length of copper pipe that sticks out of the wall - it has always dripped water - there is always a pool of water on the ground under it...
So it is the PRV that needs looking at ?

C_Mababejive

The Worcs 28i has the expansion vessel fitted at the rear.

Heres something to test. From cold,bring the pressure up to 1 Bar.

Switch the heating on and let it run.

As the heating warms,do you feel that the guage rises rather quickly? What does it rise to? If it is over 2 Bar then its likely the pressure vessel is goosed.

How to check?

Well if you look over the top of the boiler you will see the EV at the back..a big red thing..There is a tyre type valve at the top.

Now im not advocating you do this..up to you..but if you press that needle valve in and water comes out,the EV is goosed.

Coincidentally, i have just repaired the very same thing on a friends boiler..

keystone

21Twinkle wrote: »

Thanks - it was last serviced 3 months ago by a company who fitted it 5 years ago - they did not detect any problems at the time !!
I mean the short length of copper pipe that sticks out of the wall - it has always dripped water - there is always a pool of water on the ground under it.

:eek: They aren't looking too closely then. Perhaps time for someone else?

So it is the PRV that needs looking at ?

Yes almost certainly..

Cheers

50Twuncle

keystone wrote: »

:eek: They aren't looking too closely then. Perhaps time for someone else?

Yes almost certainly..

Cheers

Thanks - what is a replacement / fix likely to cost ?
I assume (hope) that the parts are cheap - labour is going to cost - how long to fix it , is it a "take boiler apart" job ??

50Twuncle

C_Mababejive wrote: »

The Worcs 28i has the expansion vessel fitted at the rear.

Heres something to test. From cold,bring the pressure up to 1 Bar.

Switch the heating on and let it run.

As the heating warms,do you feel that the guage rises rather quickly? What does it rise to? If it is over 2 Bar then its likely the pressure vessel is goosed.

How to check?

Well if you look over the top of the boiler you will see the EV at the back..a big red thing..There is a tyre type valve at the top.

Now im not advocating you do this..up to you..but if you press that needle valve in and water comes out,the EV is goosed.

Coincidentally, i have just repaired the very same thing on a friends boiler..

No - it rises slowly to just under 2 - taking a good 30 mins to reach that level - that is with the starting pressure of 1 bar...
But, as I have already said - the Pressure Vessel DOES need repressurising annually (the HOT pressure DOES climb alarmingly high, when it loses pressure) - could these two problems be linked ?

keystone

Is it under contract with these guys and do the terms of the contract cover such replacement?

Yes the two problems can occur at the same time - they are not mutually exclusive. Starting to think that your existing guy is not on top of his game. Ask another independent to visit for an assessment.

Cheers

50Twuncle

keystone wrote: »

Is it under contract with these guys and do the terms of the contract cover such replacement?

Cheers

No - we had a 5 year warranty that ran out last autumn - and we just pay for servicing on a needs basis

C_Mababejive

21Twinkle wrote: »

No - it rises slowly to just under 2 - taking a good 30 mins to reach that level - that is with the starting pressure of 1 bar...
But, as I have already said - the Pressure Vessel DOES need repressurising annually (the HOT pressure DOES climb alarmingly high, when it loses pressure) - could these two problems be linked ?

Im not sure if we are getting our terminology mixed up here so...

PRV =pressure relief valve,the bit that leads to a pipe to outside

Expansion vessel (EV)..the big red thing hidden at the back of the boiler !

System pressure guage (SPG) the little round meter over on the bottom right on your boiler i think

Now then,if the EV needs repressuring annually then its likely to have a defect.I wonder if they are repressurising it correctly?

If the SPG rises fairly quickly on heating then the EV is probably at fault. Also a good trick is to tape a sealed clear plastic bag over the outlet pipe of the EV outside to see if any water collects in it.

Either way constantly topping up the water pressure via the filling loop is bad news as it will encourage internal system corrosion over a long period.

50Twuncle

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Im not sure if we are getting our terminology mixed up here so...

PRV =pressure relief valve,the bit that leads to a pipe to outside

Expansion vessel (EV)..the big red thing hidden at the back of the boiler !

System pressure guage (SPG) the little round meter over on the bottom right on your boiler i think

Now then,if the EV needs repressuring annually then its likely to have a defect.I wonder if they are repressurising it correctly?

If the SPG rises fairly quickly on heating then the EV is probably at fault. Also a good trick is to tape a sealed clear plastic bag over the outlet pipe of the EV outside to see if any water collects in it.

Either way constantly topping up the water pressure via the filling loop is bad news as it will encourage internal system corrosion over a long period.

Thanks - I am technical - but in IT !!
I don't want to touch anything that may break...
The problem is that - once pumped up (once a year - in January - at annual service) - it lasts the rest of the season - without any pressure problems - but come the start of next season (October) - the pressure will climb rapidly - and the cut off valve doesn't appear to cut in (worryingly - it has gone well into the red before I bottled it and switched it off !!
I am concerned about the fact that the water pressure drops (albeit slowly) and needs refilling roughly monthly - but once it drops to 1 bar - it appears to slow down (it has been at 1 bar for over a month now)
I will get the engineers back to have another look - what should I tell them ?
Water does drip from the copper outlet pipe - continually, when the heating is running......