Condensing combi boiler losing pressure (Saunier Duvall Semia Condens F24E)

Francis63

Oh thanks. I did feel quite proud of myself 

This has thrown me though "you can get 'injections' via bleed screws". What does it mean? 

Is the inhibitor a fluid like Fernox? To get rid of sludge/grit?

The plan for the boiler is to keep it going as long as possible. I am post-redundancy and pre-pension so currently have taken a very low wage part-time job and can barely make ends meet.

Francis63

Will it be ok without inhibitor for 2/3 weeks? (Not planning on going back there til last week of March).

Bendy_House

Yes, it'll be fine. Nothing will happen in a couple more weeks. It's just general system maintenance. And it should mean your system is still ok whenever you do replace the boiler.
Ha-ha, by injection I mean you can get it in a small dosing cartridge designed for injection through a wee rad bleed screws.
Inhibitor doesn't remove sludge - it tries to stop it forming in the first place.

Francis63

Thank you so much. I will look out for the injection cartridge thing. 

I did see some youtube videos of how to drain down one radiator and get the inhibitor in (sideways) by making your own 'blue peter' stylee contraption to get the stuff in using a hose pipe and makeshift funnel / plastic carton with some sticky-back plastic and old eggboxes (exagerating ) .

So it's great to know there's a better way!

Bendy_House

And, since you are now a bona-fide plumber, give some thought to fitting a magnetic filter on the return pipe to your boiler

Darn - I've just gorn tooo far, haven't I :-(

Francis63

Hahaha...I really hope this magnetic filter is a simple clip on thing available in the pound shop 

Seriously though I am in a hard water area and have a magnetic ball thing in the washing machine and in the loo cistern so hopefully one on the boiler return pipe will help give it a bit longer to live. Phew. 

Thanks again Bendy - you're an absolute star. Proud to be your apprentice!

Bendy_House

You're welcome.
A magnetic filter is a tad more involved - it needs fitting in to the pipe.
What it does, tho', is catch most of the sludge which is likely to be flying around your system, keeping it from affecting the boiler, rads and pipes.
One will be fitted whenever you have a new boiler installed anyway, so...