Boiler losing pressure

Hi all, tried searching but go tg back so much results I said I'd just go and ask!

My condensing boiler is losing pressure regularly. I put it up to 1.5 Bar at normal and then when the downstairs or upstairs circuit comes on it goes to about 2.5/3 Bar.

Once it cold down again it will be around 1.1 Bar and will hold around there.

Can't see any visible leaks so hopefully not an underground one.

The boiler is a heatline sargon which i know is a terrible boiler!

sullzz

EvilWonka wrote: »

Hi all, tried searching but go tg back so much results I said I'd just go and ask!

My condensing boiler is losing pressure regularly. I put it up to 1.5 Bar at normal and then when the downstairs or upstairs circuit comes on it goes to about 2.5/3 Bar.

Once it cold down again it will be around 1.1 Bar and will hold around there.

Can't see any visible leaks so hopefully not an underground one.

The boiler is a heatline sargon which i know is a terrible boiler!

Easy fix..... close all valves under the boiler, shut the gas off at the meter, remove the flue pipe, disconnect the pipework to the boiler, isolate the electrical supply, snip the cable, loft boiler off the wall and dump it in the bin.

sullzz

But sounds like the expansion vessel needs to be either recharged or replaced if burst, if pressure is getting to 3bar the safety valve is lifting letting excess pressure out.

After getting the run around from a few "busy" plumbers I finally got someone out to look at it and the expansion vessel is goosed so need a new boiler!

I have turned down the boiler thermostat to try and stop the pressure rising too high.

The plumber said that topping up the boiler can cause aluminium rads to leak at the welds and need replacing.

I'm paranoid to turn on the heating now, is this true? Not sure when I can book someone in to do the work so hard me writing about the whole breathing system failing!!

sullzz

EvilWonka wrote: »

After getting the run around from a few "busy" plumbers I finally got someone out to look at it and the expansion vessel is goosed so need a new boiler!

I have turned down the boiler thermostat to try and stop the pressure rising too high.

The plumber said that topping up the boiler can cause aluminium rads to leak at the welds and need replacing.

I'm paranoid to turn on the heating now, is this true? Not sure when I can book someone in to do the work so hard me writing about the whole breathing system failing!!

Why not just replace the vesseĺl?

sullzz

sullzz wrote: »

Why not just replace the vesseĺl?

He said the vessel is about €300-€400 plus labour and that it's such a terrible boiler it's probably not worth doing that in the long run.

He won't fit boilers so he not trying to make work for himself!

sullzz

EvilWonka wrote: »

He said the vessel is about €300-€400 plus labour and that it's such a terrible boiler it's probably not worth doing that in the long run.

He won't fit boilers so he not trying to make work for himself!

Is the boiler a combi or system boiler, ie. Do you have a hot water cylinder in your hotpress?

sullzz

sullzz wrote: »

Is the boiler a combi or system boiler, ie. Do you have a hot water cylinder in your hotpress?

System boiler I think not a combi.

3 zoned system with upstairs, downstairs and hot water.

Hot water cylinder in the hot press

sullzz

EvilWonka wrote: »

System boiler I think not a combi.

3 zoned system with upstairs, downstairs and hot water.

Hot water cylinder in the hot press

Ok so you could relocate a vessell to the hotpress, this would reduce the cost dramatically.
The vessell for your existing boiler would be a couple of hundred euro compared to about 50euro for a replacement one for the hotpress, there will be labour cost involved but it will still be a huge amount less than replacing the vessell in the boiler.
Your boiler is a piece of crap but with the cost involved in replacing it this other option might get you by for a while.

sullzz

sullzz wrote: »

Ok so you could relocate a vessell to the hotpress, this would reduce the cost dramatically.
The vessell for your existing boiler would be a couple of hundred euro compared to about 50euro for a replacement one for the hotpress, there will be labour cost involved but it will still be a huge amount less than replacing the vessell in the boiler.
Your boiler is a piece of crap but with the cost involved in replacing it this other option might get you by for a while.

Thanks for the advice, didn't know that!!
One to mull over.

In the meantime, the thing about the aluminium rads leaking from topping up the boiler... is there truth to that?

sullzz

EvilWonka wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, didn't know that!!
One to mull over.

In the meantime, the thing about the aluminium rads leaking from topping up the boiler... is there truth to that?

Constantly topping up your heating system with fresh water does cause corrosion within your system and will eventually block your rads and pipework with "sludge" leading to cold spots in rads, blocked pipework, radiators and poor circulation.

sullzz

sullzz wrote: »

Constantly topping up your heating system with fresh water does cause corrosion within your system and will eventually block your rads and pipework with "sludge" leading to cold spots in rads, blocked pipework, radiators and poor circulation.

Thanks for the help, I'm let you know what I decide in the end... leaning towards just biting the bullet!!

sullzz

EvilWonka wrote: »

Thanks for the help, I'm let you know what I decide in the end... leaning towards just biting the bullet!!

You'll be looking at between 2 and 2 and a half grand.
Make sure a chemical powerflush is included.