keep having to Top up Pressure (Boiler issue)

The Kurgan

Hi,

Just wondering if someone can help me as I'm not great when it comes to plumbing/heating ...

Over the last few monthes I have had to keep topping up the pressure in my heating systems as the gauge drops to zero after heating being turned on say every two three days. (think it's what's called a sealed system... as i only have a water tank in the attic ...)

When I turn the valve under the hotpress it top us the valve down at the boiler , and I keep it at one.. two days later I'm back up again , ..

is more of an issue now as I want to have the heating on the timer , but wont do that til I know the heating is sound

Cannot find any leaks in the house from rads or anywhere else..

Is this a job for a plumber or something I could fix myself..
Hope someone can help...

thanks a mill in advance

kscobie

Yes, you need a plumber, because you have a leak somewhere. The longer you leave this, the more chance the steel will corrode and the boiler will leak

Buford T Justice

Sounds like a definite leak in the heating system somewhere.

ssl

Same prob with me. Ive an old house with a new pressurized gas boiler installed. The pressure is causing several old joints to leak. when the pressure drops the boiler cuts out. sealing the leaks could cause more problems as the joints are so old.
can i get a automated unit that will top up the system? as the leaks themselves aren't causing a problem.
or do i revert to a unpressurized oil/gas boiler?

all help welcome

Buford T Justice

You can get an auto filling loop, but they are generally a bad idea as they have a nasty tendency to mask leaks within the system, as you are trying to do.

Sparkpea

I hate the autofillers, infact I was speaking to a client of mine last week who has one and was suggesting he gets it taken out maybe. It was in the house when he bought it and he likes less hassle type of things like these but as I explained his house would be flooded if a radiator sprung a leak while he was on holiday and the stopcock was left on, much like an open vented system. I like sealed systems for the fact the pressure drops and the water stops.

Yes you have a leak. Fixing a leak is not the problem, finding it is often the problem!

Buford T Justice

Sparkpea wrote: »

I explained his house would be flooded if a radiator sprung a leak while he was on holiday and the stopcock was left on, much like an open vented system.

Guess where I was today....... Empty property with a burst pipe on the mains between the two water tanks...... Was like that for at least a week

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=69840956

donutheadhomer

The Kurgan wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering if someone can help me as I'm not great when it comes to plumbing/heating ...

Over the last few monthes I have had to keep topping up the pressure in my heating systems as the gauge drops to zero after heating being turned on say every two three days. (think it's what's called a sealed system... as i only have a water tank in the attic ...)

When I turn the valve under the hotpress it top us the valve down at the boiler , and I keep it at one.. two days later I'm back up again , ..

is more of an issue now as I want to have the heating on the timer , but wont do that til I know the heating is sound

Cannot find any leaks in the house from rads or anywhere else..

Is this a job for a plumber or something I could fix myself..
Hope someone can help...

thanks a mill in advance

how you get on with this. we have hte same issue at home.

reilig

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Guess where I was today....... Empty property with a burst pipe on the mains between the two water tanks...... Was like that for at least a week

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=69840956

Neighbour's house had the same problem. They were on holidays. House is 3000 sq ft with very poor insulation. Fully fitted with large antique cast iron radiators. On Dec 22th, they ran out of heating oil. On Christmas eve when they came home, they found that every radiator (21 of them) had burst and sprayed up black water onto the white walls. They just kept spraying as they were on an auto fill valve. Pipes in the attic burst and all ceilings have come down. All carpets and wooden floors are destroyed along with all appliances. They got a quote for repairs last friday for €80k and are unsure if their insurance policy will cover it as there is small print in their insurance which states that the heating system should be drained if they are going away for a period of more than 3 nights. There waqs thick ice on the floors of the house up until last friday morning.

The Kurgan

nearly had a full week without having to "top up" and then yesterday evening noticed the gauge wasnt going past 0 bar after 25 mins.Have checked everywhere and there is not of drop of water insight..( and not seen a drop for as long as this has been going on for over 3 months)
I've been advised that I shoul dget a " header tank installed in the attic and Not to go down the automatic filling loop route as adsvised above ..

Will definatley Not be going down the auto filling loop route, but just wondering whether getting a header tank installed will fix the issue or as fingers says I'll just be masking the problem.

thanks for all the responses, ...

Buford T Justice

reilig wrote: »

Neighbour's house had the same problem. They were on holidays. House is 3000 sq ft with very poor insulation. Fully fitted with large antique cast iron radiators. On Dec 22th, they ran out of heating oil. On Christmas eve when they came home, they found that every radiator (21 of them) had burst and sprayed up black water onto the white walls. They just kept spraying as they were on an auto fill valve. Pipes in the attic burst and all ceilings have come down. All carpets and wooden floors are destroyed along with all appliances. They got a quote for repairs last friday for €80k and are unsure if their insurance policy will cover it as there is small print in their insurance which states that the heating system should be drained if they are going away for a period of more than 3 nights. There waqs thick ice on the floors of the house up until last friday morning.

:eek:Yowser!!!:eek:

donutheadhomer

The Kurgan wrote: »

nearly had a full week without having to "top up" and then yesterday evening noticed the gauge wasnt going past 0 bar after 25 mins.Have checked everywhere and there is not of drop of water insight..( and not seen a drop for as long as this has been going on for over 3 months)
I've been advised that I shoul dget a " header tank installed in the attic and Not to go down the automatic filling loop route as adsvised above ..

Will definatley Not be going down the auto filling loop route, but just wondering whether getting a header tank installed will fix the issue or as fingers says I'll just be masking the problem.

thanks for all the responses, ...

I have one of thois pressure regulators things, basically a copper thingy with a screw/bolt at thetop to adjust the pressure it is to be maintained at. The decive makes no difference whether it is fully open or closed, the pressure seems to just go up to 4 and maintain there. the boiler then spils the water out the pipe into the back yard until the pressure comes back to 2.5bar ish - which it never does unless I close the valve that feeds the tank/pressure regulator. Then the pressure drops very low, maintains at about .4bar and then below that the boiler mynute 16e stops firing until i repeat the process. There is no obvious leak anywhere

Buford T Justice

EurasianBadger wrote: »

I have one of thois pressure regulators things, basically a copper thingy with a screw/bolt at thetop to adjust the pressure it is to be maintained at. The decive makes no difference whether it is fully open or closed, the pressure seems to just go up to 4 and maintain there. the boiler then spils the water out the pipe into the back yard until the pressure comes back to 2.5bar ish - which it never does unless I close the valve that feeds the tank/pressure regulator. Then the pressure drops very low, maintains at about .4bar and then below that the boiler mynute 16e stops firing until i repeat the process. There is no obvious leak anywhere

If the filling valve is left open and the mains pressure drops then you could be back filling into the mains causing the pressure drop. This is dangerous and contaminates the water supply.

donutheadhomer

Fingers McGee wrote: »

If the filling valve is left open and the mains pressure drops then you could be back filling into the mains causing the pressure drop. This is dangerous and contaminates the water supply.

what u think is wrong. noticed the pressure releif valve pip on the boiler mynute 16e is dripping too. suppopse this is causing the drop in pressure. is it easy to fix?

Buford T Justice

EurasianBadger wrote: »

what u think is wrong. noticed the pressure releif valve pip on the boiler mynute 16e is dripping too. suppopse this is causing the drop in pressure. is it easy to fix?

I don't do gas, sorry so I can't help. In regards to the pressure though, a slight drip wouldn't cause a massive pressure loss like what you are having.

Post a pic of the filling valve you have....

Plombier

The expansion vessel might be gone.

You cannot compress water so without an expanded gas volume in the system a very slight leak the pressure will drop very quickly.

With an expanded gas in the system the volume of the gas could leak before a notable drop in pressure shows.

donutheadhomer

somwone having a look today guys thanks