Baxi solo HE boiler dripped water - do I still have a problem?

GillyLucy

I noticed yesterday morning the hot water was not as hot as usual - I tried the boost function but nothing happened .

 I opened the flap on the boiler and the Lockout red light was on so I pressed the reset button & the boiler fired up. I then noticed at the bottom of the cupboard where the  boiler is located a pool of water. I checked underneath the cupboard and again more water. I dried both area  but still could see some drips.

As I have  British Gas Home care cover I went on line & booked  an appointment for 6/1/23 .

 I left a large dish under the boiler and having checked this morning the dish is dry , both the heating & hot water have been on.

Therefore I am unsure as to whether to keep the BG appointment ( I have a £60 excess) or to cancel as resetting the boiler has resolved the issue & wonder if the dripping water seen for a while afterwards was  merely residual laying  in the boiler cover from whatever the original issue causing the lockout was and I would welcome any thoughts on this,

 

By way of background the boiler is 9 years old and serviced annually as part of the BG home care cover. I have only had 1 previous problem with it when a new heat exchanger was fitted about 4 years ago. Also this is the first time I have had to reset the boiler .

Many thanks for any advice please 

macman

It's a sealed system, so no, it shouldn't be leaking water anywhere inside the casing. If it's a condensing boiler, the only discharge points should be outside, from the condensate drain and the PVR overflow.
Resetting it has only cured the symptom, not the problem\; so you need to know why it locked out in the first place. Any error codes or lights? What pressure is it showing?

GillyLucy

No error codes - I cannot  remove the cover to check the pressure ( I tried to follow the video on the BG site but could not see the items shown on my boiler) I could ask someone to help me remove it  if required 
 I remember the guy who installed it told me other than resetting the lockout light any issue would need an engineer ( maybe would say that anyway!!)
It is a condensing boiler but NOT a combi.

ThisIsWeird

Do you know if you have a small tank in the loft - an F&E tank? If so, you won't have a pressure gauge, and a lack of pressure wouldn't have been the issue.

Tbh, any pressurised ('system') boiler will have a very obvious gauge on it, either a round dial with a needle, or a digital readout - both should be seeable at a glance. (I don't car - I like that word)

A possible cause of the leak might have been a blocked condensate trap, which tends to fill up with grit and sediment from the combustion chamber - I recall mine 'overflowed' out the (supposedly) tight cap when it got blocked, tho' it should really do this.

Anyhoo, you do have an issue - a lockout coupled with a leak, so I would continue with the appointment. If it had only been a 'lockout', then I'd just monitor the situation, and only call them out if it happened again; 'lockouts' can sometimes just be a one-ofish issue that doesn't necessarily indicate something amiss, but a leak has a 'cause', and it won't have gone away by itself.

There is definitely no round gauge? Does it have a digital display?

ThisIsWeird

Looks like the Baxi solo HE is a 'heat only' boiler, so is not pressurised or sealed, and does have a wee tank in the loft. Ie, no gauge.

So, it's not a loss of 'pressure'.

GillyLucy

ThisIsWeird said:

Looks like the Baxi solo HE is a 'heat only' boiler, so is not pressurised or sealed, and does have a wee tank in the loft. Ie, no gauge.

So, it's not a loss of 'pressure'.

Deffo have a tank in the loft - I have taken a pic of the display (sorry about the size!!) So I guess it would be best that I keep the appointment on Friday . Thank you both for your help .
display 

ThisIsWeird

No pressure gauge = not a sealed, pressurised system, so you cannot tell if that is where the leak came from. Yes, I think a visit is justified.

Any chance they can bring a replacement knob as well?!

GillyLucy

ThisIsWeird said:

Any chance they can bring a replacement knob as well?!

Goodness - thought that was how it should be! - I assumed it should be turned with a screwdriver , did not realise there should be a knob too!!!!!!!! 

ThisIsWeird

Tee-hee