Leaking pipes

LK_Dave

I have a leak in my central heating but I can’t find it. Is there any dye I can put into the header tank that I can use to track the leak? Or any other low tech method to find the leak or for that matter is there any hi-tech system I can hire at the plant hire? The pipes run under concrete but at two points also under grass. I was thinking if I used dye in the system an dug a few trial holes to see if I could find the leak.
It is an open system, boiler in an outside shed and open header tank in the attic. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the header tank was constantly filling when I was doing some pre winter checks. I believe the leak to be between the house and the boiler as the first radiator (the first one switched on) in the house needs to be bleed twice or three times a night – although it is a small rad servicing a WC.
I have tried Repa R 200 leak sealer but it did not work. Guess I got to start digging!!!

Sparkpea

Some leak finders charge £60-80 and can tell you where to dig within a 1 foot area for example, some also have a no find no fee type thing so if they are wrong you don't pay. Its worth it rather than having to dig up everything. I've used them a few times in commercial properties and also the odd domestic system with concrete floors. Each time they where 100% correct.

LK_Dave

would you have the name of some of these companies?

Sparkpea

I don't know of any in the south that I could recommend, perhaps someone else might be able to help.

LK_Dave

under what heading would they be listed in the yellow pages? Plumbing, I guess but just in case.

oleras

I feel your pain my friend !!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=286998

In the end, I changed plumbers...after i had dug up the concrete from the boiler house to the house, and dug explority holes all over the house ruining tiles and the wooden floors.

What the new plumber done was put an air compressor on the drain in the boiler house and pressurise the system, after thet refilled the system and we had a lake in the one room i didnt explore...:rolleyes:

When we took the floor up we found a damaged connection, it was going straight through the hardcore so acting like a french drain, what ever the compressor done, maybe blew the fitting completly made me aware what room it was in.

The only good news i can give you is there is a "search and trace" clause in most home insurance policies, 5-600 euro it was for a plumber to find the leak. Now, as far as i remember, when we found the lake in the room i contacted the insurance company BEFORE i dug it up, let them see there was a leak somewhere and get the go ahead to trace the leak with a plumber.

ingalway

I had leaks in the heating pipes here but they were inside the house. Pipes all under concrete. Hired someone with thermal camera to locate exactly where they were to save digging up all the floors. He was very accurate, found the leaks, dug up those areas only and fixed the leaks. Not sure if the camera would work outside as well but might be worth calling to find out. Can claim the cost against your insurance if you are making a claim for the work.