Gas boiler problem

d3481553

I have a gas boiler and last year water started dripping from an overflow valve. I had it serviced and the plumber said that the expansion vessel may need replacing but that its a big job and I'd be better off putting up with the little bit of dripping.

But now I have a tenant in the apartment and the leaking has got worse - the jug underneath the overflow valve fills in a matter of hours. An error code pops up on the boiler, which the manual says corresponds to 'pressure too high'. The solution it gives is one of the following:

- check the system
- check the safety valve
- check the expansion tank
- check the sensor

Sounds like I'll have to stump up the cash and get it fixed as it should not be leaking at all. Can anyone give me a ballpark figure on what this repair might cost? and in terms of getting some one out to fix it, will a garden variety plumber be able to do it or should I be looking for someone who specialises in gas boilers? Its in Portlaoise btw

DGOBS

If the expansion vessel had fail, the boiler should have been shut off for safety!

Jug under the pressure release pipe? Is it indoors? As should be piped to outside!

In the vast majority of cases, the expansion vessel needs to be recharged and not replaced, only needs replacing when the air valve is pressed and water comes out (easy to check)

If its a recharge, then a standard service should do you. But the valve that is dripping may now also need replacing (not expensive)

Leaving any boiler with water dripping, would mean that fresh water must be entering the system to keep it going, this will very quickly destroy the boiler!

d3481553

thanks for that - im pretty p1ssed off now, its sounds like the Bord Gais guy that serviced it only a few months ago shouldn't have advised to just let it drip. and yes, it is indoors, its an apartment. The pipe thats its dripping from is underneath the boiler where the rest of the pipes n that are

Thanks for the advise, Ill get someone out asap

anuprising

vokera boiler ?

gdavis

theres a surprise!!! a bord gais fella dodging work and leaving a boiler "dripping"! seriously,how do they get away with it?

d3481553

...and I was charged 90 euro for him leaving the boiler in exactly the same state it was in when he got there.

Its a Ferroli boiler. Unfortunately I don't know any other information about it because the apartment is rented out and I live in Dublin. I checked the Ferroli website, but my boilers not on there. I've had a look on Google images and it looks like it might be a 'Ferroli New Elite'.

I just spoke to a RGI guy on the phone and he said the same thing - that the service engineer shouldn't have left it dripping.

Any idea of cost? either for the expansion vession recharging or expansion vessel replacement?

aujopimur

It sound like you have an auto fill valve thats been left open,this is causing over pressure in the heating system and is being discharged thru' the safety valve.

gdavis

what pressure is on the gauge at boiler

slavetothegrind

Give Dan a ring at Donoghue's Heating & Plumbing
Centre. 107 Lr Main st, Portlaoise. Tel (057) 8661039

he will put you on to a local decent qualified rgi who will fix the problem for you

d3481553

@gdavis - I don't know what the pressure is as I didn't check exactly what it was, I just know its too high because of the error code

@slavetothegrind - thanks for the contact, Ill give him a call in the morning, much appreciated

DGOBS

Seems to be free for all adverts in the forum today!!!

If a recharge, should be a general service and no harm to have a service check as seems you didn't really have one! the PRV valve (safety valve) thats dripping around 15-25 depending where bought from, if the air valve on the vessel is gone €1 max!

Ask the RGI who comes out to see where is best to plumb the discharge pipe to also, in the event of a 'rapid blow off' you would be looking at 3bar pressure at a possible 80degs coming out of that pipe! ouch!

DGOBS

Could you explain to me how limescale has caused the safety valve to lift and drip?

Merch

sorry to hijack, if this is, just thought put this here instead of starting anew.
having similar problem, overflow outside still drips slightly, one of the rads (bathroom) sprung a leak, a rust spot developed and it started weeping,then spraying water, I closed down both lockshield valves which sorted that for now, other rads are still open, the pressure gauge is weeping water also, I need to get the problems sorted but planned not to get it looked at till it was warmer, some of the evenings are still fairly cold and i dont want the heating out of action, more as she will be complaining, Id stick on a fleece and wooly hat and use the electric shower.
The heating system fills off the main attic tank and not a seperate header tank, Id have preferred a seperate header so a rust inhibitors/sludge cleaning chemicals could be added through there, there is no drain valve in the system either, I'd think it is a good idea to have the drain valve and maybe a seperate header tank? I just guessed the builders left certain things out to save time and cost when this place was built as they are things I have seen elsewhere, I was thinking of getting the drain at the kitchen rad? opposed to near the boiler as thats over a worktop.
Needs a service too.

Any ideas how much I might be looking at for labour costs (per hr) for few things mentioned above

RGI website for plumbers? or goldenpages and ask for RGI ID??

@DGOBS or anyone that knows, you mentioned that fresh water entering a system will destroy the boiler? I assume by corrosion? how long might that take? is it because any corrosion inhibitor is diluted? just wondering as mine has been dripping away a while.
Thinking of getting it flushed out also, do they just put sludge remover in pump it around and drain it out

DGOBS

Afraid, yours will not be an easy one to answer, how long as it been dripping?
Fact that your rad leaked suggests your system maybe heavily corroded, and will need to be looked at to see the extent of the damage

As regards to low-pressure 'semi-sealed' systems connected to the main cold water storage in the attic. It should never have been done (yes lots are done this way) nearly sure it's the water by-laws that forbid it, and for good reason, as there is only one non-return valve between the ch system water and the water storage, if it fails (and they do!) you will be bathing in, and brushing your teeth with water from your central heating!

gdavis

fresh water contains oxygen which reacts with metal and starts corroding it.have someone come look at the boiler and give u a quote then.if he comes and has look and knows whats needed then u should only be without boiler for few hours til sorted

Merch

DGOBS wrote: »

Afraid, yours will not be an easy one to answer, how long as it been dripping?
Fact that your rad leaked suggests your system maybe heavily corroded, and will need to be looked at to see the extent of the damage

As regards to low-pressure 'semi-sealed' systems connected to the main cold water storage in the attic. It should never have been done (yes lots are done this way) nearly sure it's the water by-laws that forbid it, and for good reason, as there is only one non-return valve between the ch system water and the water storage, if it fails (and they do!) you will be bathing in, and brushing your teeth with water from your central heating!

Its been leaking a while, mostly small drips, about a year, as it has been functional and because of cold weather(plus being busy with other stuff) I never got around to sorting it. I think the rad in the bathroom might have started rusting from the outside from condensation and where some damage at the time of installation where it might have started as it started rusting from early on, on the external surface (think it started near the earth clip and worked its way along the base of the rad).
I'd planned on replacing it with a high towel rail/dryer this year, think it could do with a flush/powerflush also as I never saw that being done on a service, how much for a flush? (3 bed semi), I think I will get a separate header tank and a drain valve fitted, Im assuming you think that is a good idea/necessary, any ideas on that price roughly?

I was also thinking of getting some heating controls this year, currently the boiler thermostat and tank valve is all there is, its manageable but it means monitoring room temp, rad valves from time to time and tank valve when hot water is only needed. Id rather set the temp and hot water tank requirements and leave it, any ideas how much to upgrade that? roughly, I know, I'll have to call 3 to get quotes, just want to get ideas in my head as it will be summer before I am free as in college and consequently not much money to spend, I'd planned on upgrading the boiler but think I am really going to have to keep the current boiler as long as it can last.

JohnnieK

d3481553 wrote: »

I have a gas boiler and last year water started dripping from an overflow valve. I had it serviced and the plumber said that the expansion vessel may need replacing but that its a big job and I'd be better off putting up with the little bit of dripping.

I'm absolutely amazed that a "professional" said this to you. :mad:

I bet he never said anything about your radiators rotting due to the fresh water coming into the system to replace the water that's leaving through the safety valve :mad: