How to check a new Baxi expansion vessel?

[Brockk]

I received my new Baxi 248722 expansion expansion vessel today - it was advertised as new, and although it came in a Baxi box and looks new, I noticed that the silver tape holding the two pieces of polystyrene type padding has been cut, so wondered what I should do to check that it is ok.

Am I right in thinking that if I connect a pump up and it holds a charge it is ok? Or would it need to be installed first? Anything else I should check before installing it?

 

[muggles]

Yes, provided the air side holds a charge it'll be fine

 

[Johntheo5]

Maybe check that the precharge pressure is as shown on the label?.

 

[cross thread]

Put a gauge on it ,probably be around 0.75 bar

 

[Brockk]

Thanks everyone. There was no charge at all (was on zero) so I have charged it up to 1bar.

It was manufactured in 2018, so is that expected? Should I wait to see whether it's held for 24 hours, or wait longer? Or should I just return it?

Here's the photos of it:

 

[Johntheo5]

I would return it, its a 5.5 year old "new" spare and all EVs are precharged with nitrogen when new which apparently doesn't breath out through the diaphragm so charge lasts longer, I have checked a few external ones (in service) that don't drop even 0.1bar after 2 years or more.

 

[Brockk]

That's a bummer This one was £65 while all others are £99 (on eBay - for 'new' ones). They are £146 on Screwfix.

If the charge was to hold for a few days could that indicate that it might be 'ok'? I'll probably get a new boiler in a few years time so I'm only really going to need it till then :/

 

[Johntheo5]

If it holds for a few days then yes, under those circumstances.
I would squirt some soapy water on and around the schrader valve to check for any leaks there, as well.

 

[Madrab]

If you're concerned then send them a message and ask - did the box look like it had been opened?

I would be a little concerned if it was advertised as new and the pack wasn't sealed, there was no pre-charge and the vessel was 5 years old.

 

[Brockk]

I messaged them before buying it, they said it was new and had been in storage and that it comes in the Baxi box - which it did, and while there's no way of telling whether it had been opened (no seals on opening slip, even tho the box was sealed with two white plastic strips (but that could have been done by them)) the four silver strips that hold the polystyrene together had been cut (assuming they aren't like that from the manufacturer).

The vessel itself has no marks or scratches on it so looks 'new', though obviously the worrying parts are it had no charge and the silver strips appear to be cut or not as expected.

I messaged two other sellers asking if they were new/had the polystyrene covers neither of them got back to me and one put their price up from £85 to £99, which seems a bit dishonest to me so I would rather not purchase from them.

 

[Johntheo5]

The pressure test and soapy water test will reveal a lot.

 

[Brockk]

I did a test for two days but on checking felt like it had gone down, so carried out another test by pressurising it to 1bar and taking photos of the gauge, and then checked two days later. It seemed to have gone down a little bit but was difficult to call.

So I have ordered a digital pressure gauge which is supposed to be very accurate, and will test again. Any thoughts on how to carry out this test? Should I pressurise it to 2 bar? Or more? Then test again after 2 days? Or leave it longer?

(There is another one on sale for a similar price, advertised as new but the date of manufacture is 2013, which is a bit off-putting - any thoughts on that?)

 

[Johntheo5]

I would pressurize to 2bar and test again after a few days.
If its leaking can you return it?.

 

[Brockk]

Thanks, and yes, the seller said they can send me the return labels if required.

I'll pressurise it to 2bar and check after 3 days - if it's no good will send it back and probably just buy a brand new one from Screwfix to save messing about with eBay

 

[Brockk]

The digital pressure checker arrived today so I have pressurised it for another test. Oddly, my electric gauge struggled to get it beyond 1.5 so I stopped it there and it reads as 1.27 on the digital pressure checker. I will check it again on Sunday.

Should I allow for a reasonable drop in pressure? Or should there be no drop in 3 days?