Boiler Problem

[Deleted User]

Hi

My boiler has two problems:

1. Dripping water from overflow down the side of the house
2. Hot water running luke warm and cold every few seconds.

Plumber been out and a repair will be £700 or need to consider a new boiler.

Don't think I can afford a new boiler - can't really afford £700 for the repair.

There don't seem to be any boiler grants around.

It's a Valiant boiler combi and here when I moved in - 2010.

Anyone know what my options are for getting the boiler replaced?

Heating still working, thank God.

We are a single parent family with low income.

Alex1983

A fixed price repair from someone like BG or SSE, dont know if Vaillant do 1 off repairs, have a look on there website.

sevenhills

Beremy wrote: »

Hi

My boiler has two problems:

1. Dripping water from overflow down the side of the house
2. Hot water running luke warm and cold every few seconds.

Plumber been out and a repair will be £700 or need to consider a new boiler.

Some people are complaining about the condensate pipe being frozen, causing their boiler to stop working.

If you are on tax credits earning less than £16k there may be free boilers. Search, its on this site.

[Deleted User]

Hi

Thank you Sevenhills. It seems there aren't any grants at the moment as tried that first. The dripping started before the worst of the weather. Plumber tried a couple of patch ups but not worked unfortunately.

bertiewhite

Beremy wrote: »

Hi

My boiler has two problems:

1. Dripping water from overflow down the side of the house
2. Hot water running luke warm and cold every few seconds.

1. Could be a full condensation trap, although I'm not sure how this affects the boiler operation.

2. I had this a few years back and it turned out to be the diverter valve (that switches between heating and hot water). These can be refurbished using a kit for a lot less than £700.

Does it happen all the time (regardless of heating) or only when you have both heating & hot water?

[Deleted User]

Hi

All the time Bertie

Box28

Did he specify what this £700 entailed? Water dripping from the discharge pipe is not an expensive repair.

The tap water going luke warm to cold is also not a big repair.

Hear too many times boilers being condemned for next to nothing.

PC1985

You should also check whether you have home emergency cover on your home insurance as sometimes it comes included as standard (normally they cover costs up to £500)

bertiewhite

Beremy wrote: »

Hi

All the time Bertie

Do your radiators warm up with the heating turned off when you run a hot tap?

malky39

Beremy wrote: »

Hi

My boiler has two problems:

1. Dripping water from overflow down the side of the house
2. Hot water running luke warm and cold every few seconds.

1. Could be the expansion vessel needs pumped up/replaced. Pressure relief valve could be faulty. What the pressure on the boiler when its cold and what is it when the heating is on. The pressure relieft valve will only open and drip from the overflow above 3bar pressure.
2. Could be the already mentioned diverter valve if it is your radiators will heat up when your running a hot tap or it could be a faulty water temperature sensor.