Boiler losing pressure

Bendy_House

You could try a system sealer? No idea how well they might work on that part.

You could - cough - try taking out a service contract, but I'm not sure that MainXs are covered, and in any case it would technically be fraud. And they'd likely deem a 13-year old boiler beyond economic whatsit.

flannel2

Update to my earlier post.

I contacted Worcester but they didn't want to touch it - they did give me a list of firms to try.

However, I thought I'd try the sealant and it only went and worked!

I used Fernox F4 in the pressurised can (there are cheaper ones but this seems to be what most plumbers use). Here's the method I used to add it:

1) Let the pressure out of the system by opening an upstairs radiator air vent and catching it in a jug.

2) When that had stopped, I used the same method to drain out 500ml (bit more than the size of the can) from a downstairs radiator.

3) I then added the sealant to the upstairs rad (it was still squirting out when I removed it so had to refit the radiator plug quick).

4) Re-pressurised the system at the boiler to the bottom of the green (to help the sealant at the leak).

5) Ran the central heating on low temp for 24 hours (again to help the sealant) - to do this, I set the thermostat to high and reduced the radiator temp on the boiler to low.

6) During the above, I kept checking if the upstairs rad needed bleeding but it didn't. (Air in the system could make it set where it's not wanted).

It's been a couple of weeks now with no loss of pressure.

Hope this helps somebody and thanks for the replies Bendy.

Bendy_House

Excellent guide - thank you.

Fingers crossed it gives you some decent extra time. No harm in trying a second dose either if/when needed

[Deleted User]

I have the exact same issue funny enough. Nothing to add really. 

Bendy_House

Deleted_User said:

I have the exact same issue funny enough. Nothing to add really. 

Did you manage to have it fixed? If so, how?

flannel2

Update to the post above.

There was hardly any loss of pressure during the summer months but it picked up again when the heating was needed. I got through another couple of Fernox F4 cans but it got worse and worse and needed filling 3 times per day. I had a local firm who do boiler repairs come to look at it but all he did was take the cover off the heat exchanger and felt wet inside which he considered to be too much for condensation.

Anyway, he suggested that I try Worcester again as it would be much cheaper than him trying to purchase the parts. He knew the local rep. who confirmed that they had started doing repairs again. I booked them online, saying that I wanted a fixed price repair. This costs £355 and includes VAT, labour and up to 3 major parts. You don't need any boiler cover plan or anything to get this (mine is 17 years old).

The chap came round, spent about half a day on it and replaced the heat exchanger (which was cracked), the pump, quite a few other parts and serviced it. It's strange in that if I hadn't asked for the pump to be replaced, he might not have done. I asked because occasionally, the boiler would be going but not heating the radiators (apart from the one directly above it as heat rises). The chap knew that they wouldn't be making any money on the job but said his bosses wouldn't listen.

I'm very happy as I thought I'd be splashing out a few grand on a new boiler. Based on this experience, if you're in the market for a boiler, I'd recommend getting a Worcester. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether it is £355 no matter how small the job.

ThisIsWeird

Thanks for the update Flannel. The whole idea of 'fixed price repairs' is that they win some and they lose some - but overall they 'win'!

Well done for getting some major parts replaced :-)

JeepCreep and Bendy are also pleased and say 'Hi'.