Vaillant EcoTEC Sustain Boiler; water leaking from bottom - better to use Vallaint's Repair Service?

theonenonly

This is only a 3 year old boiler. Unfortunate for me, I didn't register within the 30 days from installation for warranty, nor pay for any annual service plan.

Whilst it could be a small issue for a local tradesmen to fix, I'm wondering if it's just worth going with Vaillant's One-Off Fixed Price Repair Service at £399 which includes parts and labour, with repairs under warranty for a year (no repairs if the boiler is deemed beyond economical repair, or if it is the Heat Exchanger and Expansion Vessel).

Has anyone used this service?

WIAWSNB

A toughie.
A FPR is often good value on older boilers, as they usually replace any dodgy part they find, and not just the one that's faulty. However, on a three year old boiler, I can't see any part needing replacing other than the actual faulty one. So, the value will come down to the actual part that is leaking.
Any idea? Is it a combi boiler? Does the pressure fall to zero as it leaks?
Have you tried looking up underneath the boiler to see the source of the water?
Even tho' you haven't enacted the warranty, the CRA should still offer some protection, I think. You are entitled to expect satisfactory quality. If a  main exchanger fails in three years, it can be pretty much concluded it had an inherent fault, unless it can be demonstrated that the lack of servicing contributed to the fault.
If you have Legal Protection included in your house insurance, I'd call them up for advice. I'd also try to ID the source of the leak. Ask the LP how best to tackle the issue - eg to contact Vaillant first to explain it should be covered under the CRA and get their agreement or else, or to have it fixed by them, pay 'under protest', and then Money claim.org it.
Try and ID the leak source tho'.

theonenonly

WIAWSNB said:

A toughie.
A FPR is often good value on older boilers, as they usually replace any dodgy part they find, and not just the one that's faulty. However, on a three year old boiler, I can't see any part needing replacing other than the actual faulty one. So, the value will come down to the actual part that is leaking.
Any idea? Is it a combi boiler? Does the pressure fall to zero as it leaks?
Have you tried looking up underneath the boiler to see the source of the water?
Even tho' you haven't enacted the warranty, the CRA should still offer some protection, I think. You are entitled to expect satisfactory quality. If a  main exchanger fails in three years, it can be pretty much concluded it had an inherent fault, unless it can be demonstrated that the lack of servicing contributed to the fault.
If you have Legal Protection included in your house insurance, I'd call them up for advice. I'd also try to ID the source of the leak. Ask the LP how best to tackle the issue - eg to contact Vaillant first to explain it should be covered under the CRA and get their agreement or else, or to have it fixed by them, pay 'under protest', and then Money claim.org it.
Try and ID the leak source tho'.

Yep it's a combi boiler. Vaillant EcoTec Sustain. No home insurance unfortunately, it lapsed last month and the other half hadn't renewed.

So the water leaks from the bottom of the boiler- I think the water is pooling at the bottom of the boiler inside, and then dripping out near the first and fourth pipes that are going up through the bottom of the boiler. 

Pressure is definitely dropping, have had to top up twice in two days.

WIAWSNB

It's going to be impossible to diagnose from this side of the screen, but if the pressure drop is connected to the water loss, then you are seeing 'system' water and not clean 'mains'.
Does the water form a scale as it dries? Is it less than clear clean water?
I just don't know what to suggest. A friendly local GS might be happy to come out and diagnose the issue and give a quote, and give you the option of going FPR with one of the providers if he reckons it's worth it?
I had that happen once - the local guy didn't want to do the job (a split hydrobloc) not because it was costly or expensive, but because of the age of my boiler and the concern a new fault would be triggered as soon as he started taking it apart! He suggested a GlowWorm FPR instead.
For a three year old boiler, I'd imagine only one part has failed, and everything else is ticketyboo. And I'd imagine that replacing that one part is most likely to be cheaper than £399. 
But it's still a gamble.

(I'd recommend adding LP to your house policy when you renew.) 

plumb1_2

My guess is that it’s the diverter valve leaking , common on eco tec boilers £60 part, or £20 for a service kit.

WIAWSNB

That would be a good result, Plumb.

OP, I presume a magnetic filter is fitted? Do you know how to check it? If so, I'd recommend doing so - please report back with what you find. 

If you don't know how, then Google is yer friend.

sheenas

Valiant are great and often come out same day.
they have a maximum fix charge of around £200 from memory. 

Ayr_Rage

sheenas said:

Valiant are great and often come out same day.
they have a maximum fix charge of around £200 from memory. 

Who are Valiant ?

WIAWSNB

I think Sheenas was referring to valiant Vaillant. 

theonenonly

WIAWSNB said:

That would be a good result, Plumb.

OP, I presume a magnetic filter is fitted? Do you know how to check it? If so, I'd recommend doing so - please report back with what you find. 

If you don't know how, then Google is yer friend.

Yep a magnetic filter is fitted.

theonenonly

WIAWSNB said:

It's going to be impossible to diagnose from this side of the screen, but if the pressure drop is connected to the water loss, then you are seeing 'system' water and not clean 'mains'.
Does the water form a scale as it dries? Is it less than clear clean water?
I just don't know what to suggest. A friendly local GS might be happy to come out and diagnose the issue and give a quote, and give you the option of going FPR with one of the providers if he reckons it's worth it?
I had that happen once - the local guy didn't want to do the job (a split hydrobloc) not because it was costly or expensive, but because of the age of my boiler and the concern a new fault would be triggered as soon as he started taking it apart! He suggested a GlowWorm FPR instead.
For a three year old boiler, I'd imagine only one part has failed, and everything else is ticketyboo. And I'd imagine that replacing that one part is most likely to be cheaper than £399. 
But it's still a gamble.

(I'd recommend adding LP to your house policy when you renew.) 

I haven't let it dry yet (just been tipping the water out of the bowl and putting back) but from what I can see the water is as clear as tap water.