Gledhill BoilerMate query. Any advice gratefully received

[sallynb]

I have a Gledhill BoilerMate 2000 in a property which is 4 years old. The right hand pump (which I believe circulates primary hot water through the heat exchanger and back into the store) joins onto the boiler with a copper pipe and black rubberish seal. When the system activates to bring the water back up to temperature, water appears to come from the area around the seal and drips down the side of the metal casing. This stops as soon when the system stops heating the water in the thermostore. The problem has been obviously been ongoing to a small degreee for a year or two (judging by the water marks, limescale and mould under the system), but must have suddently got much worse.

I suspect the leak is occuring from the pipe around the seal rather than internally, and am hoping that it may be fixable. However, any advice would be gratefully received. I have had advice from a couple of plumbers, but neither were familiar with the system.

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

glendhill boilermate 2000 is a unvented system and an engineer needs to have a g3 cert to work on them.

have you a pi of the black rubberish seal, as that don't make sense

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

sorry pic

 

[gas4you]

Boilermates are not un-vented, they do not require G3, that is their main selling point to developers.

As said we need to see a pic of what is leaking.

 

[sallynb]

Thanks for your feedback. I have requested that a pic is posted, and hope that one may be available shortly.

The problem does seem to be around the seal which connects the copper pipe below the heat plate exchanger pump to the unit. All the copper pipes connect to the unit by means of these connectors, which are round and black and may be called push fit connectors.

I have been pouring over the installation guide, but have absolutely no experience with anything like this. However, it seems possible to me that when the boiler was installed (not even 4 years ago) the pipe was not connected properly resulting in a very slow external leak from the seal (other pipes also show evidence of limescale). However, I suspect that it is only recently that it has become a faster leak.

I would be grateful for anyone's advice. Obviously, if there is an internal leak it could be curtains for the whole system, but I am very much hoping that this will not be the case and it is simply due to dodgy external pipework.

 

[Agile]

My advice to others is the make sure you get your boiler regularly serviced by a competent engineer who will deal with any small leaks before they cause more damage and a breakdown.

Until I see the picture I cannot say any more.

Even when I see it I expect my advice will still be to call a competent engineer.

I laughed today when I repaired a Worcester boiler. The landlord had fitted a new kitchen including connecting the new gas hob. But she left out the isolating valve! I was not sure if she was going to fit one herself or wanted me to do it for her. I will have to clarify when I take her out for a meal later.

Afterwards I went to her own house nearby. Many of the floorboards were up. I was particularly impressed by a large double panel rad in the kitchen. Right in the middle of the floor and not connected to any pipes either! She had some nice tools though.

Tony

 

[gas4you]

will have to clarify when I take her out for a meal later.

You have a way with your female customers then Tony, you old dog

She had some nice tools though.

Miss Whiplash was she

 

[sallynb]

Thanks,

I agree with you about finding a reputable plumber. Problem is that I am having trouble finding someone with knowlege of this system, and advice I have been given in contradictory at best. It will be days before Gledhill can get an engineer out to me, but I felt that judging by their reaction this may be a problem that they have faced before.

Also should point out the system is only 3 years and 6 months old and Gledhill blurb says that it should not require annual servicing. It is however out of warranty now, which is causing me some anxiety as I know that if the worse case scenario plays, it will be very expensive to replace. Hopefully, this will not be the case. Very irritatingly, the amount of limescale on the system suggests that the problem has been there for a considerable time - possibly since installation.

Would what may be an external leak of this kind (from around the seals) cause any internal damage, and, if so, would I ve better to turn the system off to prevent (leak only occurs when the thermostor system 'fires' up) any more damage?

Many thanks for any advice.

 

[Rob]

LOL!

 

[gas4you]

You are correct, the boilermate does not require annual servicing. It sounds from your vague description that it is just an 'o' ring or seal gone on the plate HE connection.

After draining down I would have thought any competent plumber/heating engineer could sort this for you

 

[sallynb]

Thanks for advice,

I would be delighted if it is such a simple problem. We have still not been able to get a specialist round, but the guy who's company installed the BoilerMate has said, after looking at a pic, that the problem is not on his side of the installation. Does this after all imply that there could be an internal leak?

Hugely grateful for any opinion. Unfortunately, my photo has still not appeared in my post. However, I can always email separately if anyone should like to see it.

 

[gas4you]

You could e-mail me the pic, my address is in my profile.

 

[sallynb]

We had a couple of experts to look at our defective BoilerMate 2000 today. Unfortunately, both felt that the system has a leak in the pipe either inside the unit steel casing or near or within the seal entering the steel casing. It seems extraordinary to me, but this, I'm told means that it is unfixable. Personally, I feel that declaring it unfixable is probably just the simpler option and nobody wants to give it a go since liability could fall on them.

We had 4 plumbers in now for their opinion on the unit and all have said (and 2 have written) that the leak has been going on for a considerable time - quite possibly since the unit was installed just 3 1/2 years ago, and this has gradully damaged the pipework and seal. It may simply have been a problem waiting to happen even before it was put in this house.

Of course, the warranty is now up (it was 2 years), and I'm expecting to face a major battle with Bovis Homes to try to get them to stump up all or most of the cost of replacement. My question is does anyone have any advice based on similar experiences, or indeed advice on how to deal with an obstructive builder? I would also be very interested to know if this is a common propble with Gledhills?

Thanks to all for invaluable advice so far.
Sally

 

[gas4you]

Sorry I couldn't help with the pic I wonder if you could use the letters you have stating that the unit is faulty along the 'not fit for the purpose intended'.

I have a 3 year old Bovis house and NEVER again Gledhill boilermates are a c r a p product at best, but usually HW sensors or pcb.

Pursue this to the end, the best you may get is a goodwill gesture to replace.

 

[Solagas]

I know its a bit late to reply...keeps blowing the fuse in the spur point. Checked the obvious, water in pump electrics, three port valve etc... called technical help. I was on Gledhill Technical helpline today 43minutes on hold.... eventualy gave up and went to my next booking. The worst thing is that it cost me 60p per minute for the pleasure. Well ****ed off.