Diverter Valve leaking on Vaillant EcoTec Plus 831 boiler

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

Disclaimer: I am a complete novice.

Water started leaking from underneath the boiler, a slow drip from the right hand side. I did some research and pinpointed that it might be the diverter valve causing the problem.

I've ripped off the cover and lo and behold, the diverter valve is the culprit. It has a single drip every 8 seconds dropping from underneath it. The base of the boiler was flooded with water when I opened it so I've drained that out but of course the valve is still dripping.

I'm assuming that this leak must have been going on for some time and that it only started leaking out of the boiler when there was no space left for the water to collect in the base? Maybe I'm wrong there, not sure, but the base of the boiler where the water had collected looks dirty and full of limescale, gunge, rust like it's 20 years old but as you look upwards at the rest of the boiler, it looks like almost new. There's a pipe also which looks clean and new as it extends to the top of the boiler, but looks really old and limescaled up at the bottom.

Is there any way to patch the valve or for me to repair it without having to fork out the £250 I was just quoted over the phone? That guy said he wouldn't be able to visit until next week because he's too busy. If there's a way for me to fix it I'd prefer to save the cash if possible.

Is it also OK for me to continue using the boiler as normal in the meantime or am I risking further damage?

Cheers!

Crystalclear · 31 Jul 2015

Quick question???

How much is he charging for the DV?

Is this the one?

http://www.clickonbathrooms.co.uk/P...0&PGFLngID=1&gclid=CLjH94HUhccCFTDItAod_oQElw

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

Crystalclear said:
Quick question???

How much is he charging for the DV?

Is this the one?

http://www.clickonbathrooms.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=12273801&AccID=82660&PGFLngID=1&gclid=CLjH94HUhccCFTDItAod_oQElw

Thanks for the link, that does look very similar to the one in there, maybe some minor cosmetic differences. Shape-wise it's pretty spot on I think. Wish I knew how to change it though. By the way, the leak is coming from the bottom of that large black knob bit towards the front. Where the blue arrow is pointing in this picture:

The plumber just gave a rough quote over the phone, he said £100 for the DV, £75 per hour labour, 2 hours labour = £250 total + VAT on top!

DP · 31 Jul 2015

You can certainly have a go, but do you have courage to do it? Looks easy but (for a heating engineer who does repairs snd servicing it is) how will you feel when water starts gushing out of the pipes and flood other electrical components which may well need replacing also

Dan Robinson · 31 Jul 2015

Two hours is stretching it a little. Most of us could do it in under an hour. Don't expect to be charged what the engineer pays for the part. That's not how life works.

Do you think Tesco pay £1 for a loaf of Warburtons?

Crystalclear · 31 Jul 2015

Before you let anyone near your expensive boiler, you'll need to do some homework.

Understand the basics of a verbal agreement between you and plumber; if he doesn't assess the job properly and then mentions additional costs? Will you be happy paying?

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

DP said:
You can certainly have a go, but do you have courage to do it? Looks easy but (for a heating engineer who does repairs snd servicing it is) how will you feel when water starts gushing out of the pipes and flood other electrical components which may well need replacing also

That is one of my main concerns, the electrical fuse box and all sorts of wiring is directly under the boiler! Some water was actually starting to get onto the fuse box already. Since I've drained water out of the base of the boiler (soaked it up with two dishcloths) 3 hours ago it hasn't started leaking again from underneath as yet, although the Diverter Valve inside is still leaking of course.

But I saw a video of someone who attempted a repair of a different boiler (Baxi) using a Diverter Valve repair kit. Before they begun, they drained all the water out of the boiler first so I'm guessing I would be able to do that too, preventing any water leakage onto the electrics? That boiler and its DV was totally different though so video was of no practical use as such. Just gave me a bit of hope that I might be able to repair mine too.

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

Dan_Robinson said:
Two hours is stretching it a little. Most of us could do it in under an hour. Don't expect to be charged what the engineer pays for the part. That's not how life works.

Do you think Tesco pay £1 for a loaf of Warburtons?

Thanks for the info. I wasn't actually surprised at the mark up, I figured plumbers would mark up the prices of parts in a similar way to any retail business. It's just the total £250 cost seems a high price to pay.

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

Crystalclear said:
Before you let anyone near your expensive boiler, you'll need to do some homework.

Understand the basics of a verbal agreement between you and plumber; if he doesn't assess the job properly and then mentions additional costs? Will you be happy paying?

It's a bit different because I've already determined that it's the DV. I've seen it leaking with my own eyes after opening up the boiler. And the boiler still works, it still heats water and functions. So once the DV is replaced, the leak will stop and the boiler should still function OK (because it still works while it's leaking).

What that means is that the verbal agreement I would reach with the plumber is that I need you to change a specific part - I don't need anything else so how much will it cost for you to change just that one part. I can be a bit more accurate and precise than just a verbal agreement based on the plumber opening up the boiler and then being trusted to determine what the problem is - then honestly feedback that info to the customer.

But the plumber might look at the state of the base of the boiler inside which is full of gunk and looks rusted in different areas. He might try to suggest that many other parts need to be changed because of how filthy the base looks. That's one possible scenario which might compromise verbal agreement. But I guess it's up to me to then authorize that he change other parts or not.

Dan Robinson · 31 Jul 2015

There may be a reason the valve is leaking though. the leak itself may be a symptom of a more fundamental problem not limited to the mediocre construction of the boiler. You haven't spotted it, yet a professional....

No engineer worth his salt will take a customer's diagnosis at face value.

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

Dan_Robinson said:
There may be a reason the valve is leaking though. the leak itself may be a symptom of a more fundamental problem not limited to the mediocre construction of the boiler. You haven't spotted it, yet a professional....

No engineer worth his salt will take a customer's diagnosis at face value.

Fair enough, that's a possibility I guess. But again, it'd be up to me to instruct what I want done, even in light of any further suggestions the plumber makes, wouldn't it?

If you buy a single cheeseburger at McDonalds but nothing else and they try to give you a cheeseburger meal (with fries and drink), are you expected to pay for the whole meal or do you just say I only ordered a cheeseburger, thanks anyway?

But can you see a scenario where there could be a more fundamental sympton causing the DV to leak or is it most likely that it's just the DV part which is faulty? I've seen it leaking from a specific place towards the front of it.

Dan Robinson · 31 Jul 2015

System contamination for one.

Gorguruga · 31 Jul 2015

Dan_Robinson said:
System contamination for one.

So if the DV is repaired tomorrow and the leak is stopped. How long before system contamination causes the problem to reoccur?

Dan Robinson · 31 Jul 2015

Hang on - I need to find my bit of string.

Steelmasons · 31 Jul 2015

These type diverter valves are shyte and notorious for leaking.
Plastic carp.

Surprised the gas safe Gestapo haven't had a moan regarding removal of front case....lol

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Diverter Valve leaking on Vaillant EcoTec Plus 831 boiler

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