Central heating losing pressure

icjzfmq7ewon1t

I have a sealed central heating system. All during last winter I had to top up the system daily. I didn't know at the time the problems this can cause but have a better idea now having read up on it.

Last night the pressure was at zero so I topped it up to one bar. I didn't turn the heating on and this morning the pressure is down to 0.5 bar

Does the fact the pressure is dropping without having the heating on help indicate where the problem is and also would a drop of 0.5 bar over twelve hours mean a big water loss.

All opinions appreciated thanks in advance.

Sparkpea

A system loosing pressure whether the heating is on or off normally means a leak. The fact that it's loosing pressure of .5bar overnight would likely mean if the leak was above the floor eg radiator, radiator valve weeping I would expect u to notice it by now. Is it solid floors or suspended wooden?

I gather at this time u r not bleeding the system and there's no automatic vents hissing while monitoring the pressure drop?

icjzfmq7ewon1t

Sparkpea wrote: »

A system loosing pressure whether the heating is on or off normally means a leak. The fact that it's loosing pressure of .5bar overnight would likely mean if the leak was above the floor eg radiator, radiator valve weeping I would expect u to notice it by now. Is it solid floors or suspended wooden?

I gather at this time u r not bleeding the system and there's no automatic vents hissing while monitoring the pressure drop?

Thanks for your reply. No not bleeding the system and no hissing that I'm aware of.

The system is retro fitted so a lot of the pipework is overground except the landing and the hallway downstairs.The boiler is a firebird silverpac cr20 located in the backyard. If the problem is upstairs i'd expect wet ceilings so that suggests its downstairs. I suppose digging up the floors is the only way to find out.

Sparkpea

how far away from the house is the boiler? could it be the pipework to the boiler underground outside?

ntpm

I agree with Sparkpea.. looks definetly like a leak.

If you had pipework modified the original plumber should be able to the trace pipework and find fittings that may not be known to you.
Also check inside the boiler casing. there may be a leak/ weeping on fittings there.
If not the leak may be in the ground (possibly on fitting).

icjzfmq7ewon1t

Sparkpea wrote: »

how far away from the house is the boiler? could it be the pipework to the boiler underground outside?

Roughly six feet from the back door

ntpm wrote: »

I agree with Sparkpea.. looks definetly like a leak.

If you had pipework modified the original plumber should be able to the trace pipework and find fittings that may not be known to you.
Also check inside the boiler casing. there may be a leak/ weeping on fittings there.
If not the leak may be in the ground (possibly on fitting).

I have been trying to contact the plumber who did the work. I have no expereince with boilers is there any thing in particular I should look for if I look inside the casing

roy rodgers

Sorry tippwarrior but that does sound like a leak for sure and you want to get it fixed as soon as, as the radiators will be starting to rust from the inside out..
Try and look out for water marks running up the wall or damp skirting, it might help you locate it in some way.