Is there any way I can stop the water flowing to the combi boiler?

niallpatrick

It's a worcestor bosch greenstar 28I junior MKIV in the flat I rent. The landlords usual plumber heating servicer gas safe registered isn't reliable, he's done no shows before and left me hanging when he had to get a new filter or something for the combi boiler when it was leaking 2 weeks ago. He's not answering my calls now. I'm emptying a full 25 litre bucket of water every 10-12 hours now. I knew something was up when he asked if I knew how to turn the mains water and gas off in an emergency before he 'went' to get the new filter.

The landlord knows the fault has been logged and I called the plumber/service engineer directly. I can't go without fresh running water, toilet and personal hygiene/ washing machine I need the water kept on but I'm getting desperate and will have to get a local reliable service engineer myself and probably pay them out of my own pocket. In the mean-time in the boiler cupboard theres an isolation valve running from the bath room top left hand side of the boiler and a gate valve to the far right of the boiler not to far from the pressure gauge. I just want to stop the flow of water to the boiler, is it safe to close the gate valve and would it stop the water dripping?

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058288879/is-there-any-way-i-can-stop-the-water-flowing-to-the-combi-boiler

Where on the boiler is it leaking from? Is the leak constant or only when the boiler is operating?

niallpatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378455#Comment_120378455

It's a combi Worcestor (spelling) greenstar 28I junior MK 4, theres a black plastic pipe about 1 1/2 inch diameter on the far left at the bottom directly in front of it is what I think is the water condensing unit? It's a bit like a radiator top up container on a car. The water is leaking directly in front of the black pipe. Next to the leak looks like a bleeding cap but I'm not sure. The leak is constant, 3 drips a second full 25 litre bucket every 10 hours or so.

I've been to landlords main office to clarify who is in charge of the maintenance issues now that they've tendered out a private company to over see the maintenance issues (very bad reviews) I phoned them they put me on hold and never got back to me, in the interim Phoned the sorta regular plumber service engineer and offered to pay him myself just to turn the water off to the boiler. Anyway he has the part needed a filter or something and just needs to phone my landlord to complete the work for the full fix. I'm still left hanging, I told the plumber the advice he gave me in an emergency was useless, there are no stop cocks under the sink or anywhere in the kitchen and I pulled out the fridge and washing machine to double check. The main stop cock must be in the loft. So it's serious, now only can I not isolate the boiler I can't turn the water off unless I can get into the loft and locate the right stop cock. Or turn it off from the street.

hydrus21

Are you able to send some pics?

niallpatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120382142#Comment_120382142

Excuse the quality of the pic, The usual plumber service engineer got back to me today he's going to do the fix on Thursday morning so thats another days emergency leave I've to take unless my wife is working from home. It's a compression pressure release valve or something? It beggars belief in an upstairs flat of all things with tenants below same landlord a stop cock or some emergency shut off isn't fitted. I'm not liable but just as well I'm on top of my game I'd hate for the nice tenant down below to be inconvenienced with a wrecked ceiling and damaged property.

The pic is wrong way round, dunno why

niallpatrick

Opps I've fixed the pic, stress related lapse of concentration. It's the right way round now

I should add for legal reasons and it's something I shouldn't even attempt I can't open the main cover

hydrus21

The pressure release valve opens to release water from the heating circuit when the pressure is too much.( 2.5 - 3 bar ).

There is a on/off valve ( usually attatched to a flexible braided hose) to increase the system pressure.

Is it open? Maybe stuck open.

The Continental Op

Hope your engineer arrived today OP. Think I'd have tied a funnel under the drip fitted a hose on the end and run the hose to somewhere lower it could drain out like a shower tray. My nerves couldn't deal with trying to sleep wondering if the bucket had filled up.

niallpatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120390387#Comment_120390387

Honestly the service engineer/plumber puts too much faith in my abilities I won't even re-pressurize the boiler myself after he showed me how to do it. He topped up the pressure on the boiler when he identified the fault for the drip 3 weeks ago. The top up loop is on the right hand side of the boiler but theres another braided hose top left of the boiler. I'll just have to wait it out, much appreciated for the reply. Person below I'll reply to them as well with a bit of added detail.

niallpatrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120390755#Comment_120390755

He was supposed to phone me this morning first thing to let me know he's on his way, it's now 13:29 as I write this and he's just phoned me. I have a routine going, spin off the damp tea towels and towels when I empty the bucket have a fresh bucket under the boiler and once spun out put the tea towels and towels back into the fresh bucket. I'm exhusted having to check the bucket at 4am. Hopefully this is the last of it. Many thanks.

niallpatrick

It's just went from a fixable problem by a professional in the trade to a nightmare, Heating engineer called had the part but the facilities management company now responsible for collecting the rent and maintenance issues are reneging on their legal responsibilities. Engineer can't do the work until he's made sure he's going to get paid. I offered to pay him myself just to get it done but he's going to chase it up himself.

In the meantime he showed me how to turn the hot water off to the boiler stopping the drip completely and we'll still have fresh water from the mains. If mods allow it I'll highlight the valve on the pic of the boiler above I posted earlier just in case anyone's in the same predicament with the same sort of boiler and manufacturer. I am not competent or confident with the majority of plumbing or gas heating issues but a gas safe registered engineer did show me and made sure I did it myself before he left. You don't have to open the main case just the bottom flap.