Boiler pressure dropping again! Insurance query...

Proudarse

Hi All,

Last November I noticed my 8 month old Bosch boiler making a grinding noise so I opened the flap and found the pressure needle on 0, well into reds yet the boiler was still working for hot water and heating. I topped it up and didn't think anything of it.

Next day 0 again! I knew straight away that i must have a leak somewhere and started inspecting, and immediately discovered a wet patch across the skirting board behind my dining table in the kitchen corner! I have no idea how long the boiler was running on 0 pressure but it must have been months as the water had pretty much penetrated the kitchen, living room and the corridor.

Called a plumber and he took off the skirting and a few laminates and repaired the leak. I paid him £200 for his troubles as it took him 4 hours due to the awkward access and the pipes were too close to each other.

First question: Should the insurance company reimburse me this amount?

I then called my insurance company, Budget Insurance, and they agreed to deal with the damage and restore everything as it was. It took a whole month for the floors and walls to dry.

It's been three weeks since the contractors finished their job and we're only just settling back in again untill last weekend when I noticed the pressure on the boiler was quite low! I topped it up and by morning it had lost quite a bit. I bled all the radiators and then topped it up again, but the next day noticed that it's still dropping although not as quickly as it did in November.

Second question: My cover includes trace and access of leaks. If I call Budget and make another claim, should they send a specialist around who can detect the leak and fix, and then send decorators around to repair any flooring, plastering painting etc?

I did call them but they told me I'd need to call my owner plumber and once he's fixed the leak, I should call them back.

I'm not sure what to do here, all the plumbers I called on Checkatrade have told me that unless there's visible signs of wet patches, there's not a lot they can do.

I'm stressing out here as my family have only just moved back in with me after two months as the place was drying up and the delay in getting the decorators in due to Christmas and New year and now this happens again!

I can't find the leak and fear it might be under the floor again.

Please kindly advise.

Thank you.

southcoastrgi

First see if the copper pipe that!!!8217;s outside from your boiler is wet, tie a freezer bag or similar over it & see if it gets water in it

Proudarse

Hi southcoastrgi,

Thanks very much for the advice, I have been checking the prv outside a few times a day and it always seems dry but just to be sure I have just now sellotaped a small food bag around it so let's see what happens in the morning.

I'd still appreciate some advice regarding the insurance query.

Thank you.

J_B

Proudarse wrote: »

Called a plumber and he took off the skirting and a few laminates and repaired the leak. I paid him £200 for his troubles...........

First question: Should the insurance company reimburse me this amount?

Presume you mean household insurance?

With our policy, if there is a problem like this, you call the insurers and ask advice first.
They would possibly ask for a couple of quotes or if it's urgent, tell me to get an emergency plumber.

Not sue how your policy/company works ...

Proudarse

J_B wrote: »

Presume you mean household insurance?

With our policy, if there is a problem like this, you call the insurers and ask advice first.
They would possibly ask for a couple of quotes or if it's urgent, tell me to get an emergency plumber.

Not sue how your policy/company works ...

Thanks JB, yes I'm talking about household insurance. I'll have to call BISL again in the morning and see what they say.

So far no water in the bag that I wrapped around the prv earlier. I have finally managed to isolate the flow so no heating for tonight but the hot water is still working.

I will check the pressure in the morning, if it drops then it'll be an issue with the boiler, if not then there's definitely a leak in the pipework somewhere although I'm quite sure it's definitely a leak but at least I'll know for sure.

Still no visible signs of the leak, but if it is under the kitchen laminates as I suspect it is then I guess it'll be quite some time before the water soaks up the wall and becomes visible.

I regret having the pipes downstairs buried in the cement, if this continues to be an issue going forward then I may have the pipes redone so they're above the floors along the skirting boards. I wonder how much this is likely to cost, I believe all the pipes downstairs are in the kitchen only.

I'll update this thread tomorrow.

Thanks for your help guys.

Proudarse

Just to give you an update, the plumber who did the initial work of laying down the pipes in the first place came around this morning and spent 5 hours draining the whole system, cutting out the leaking t-joint and soldered a new one and everything now seems to be working OK.

He said if it leaks again then he will abandon the pipes in the cement and reroute new flexible plastic pipes behind the skirting boards in the kitchen all for 300 pounds which seems reasonable to me.

He did not charge me anything today so I treated him and his colleague to a very decent cod and chips for 20 pounds

He doesn't think it will leak again but I'm still thinking it might be best to just reroute the pipes above ground behind the skirting board while he is around. I'm sure another plumber would charge double and another added benefit is that this plumber understands my entire system and knows where every pipe is as he and his colleague designed/fitted all the pipes.

What do you guys think?