BAXI CONDENSING BOILER

[JSM]

Hi Wizards,

I've been in my new house for three years. It has a Baxi condensing boiler and plastic piping throughout the house. I am not sure whether or not I have a very slight leak. I know that the boiler needs topped up occasionally and that the pressure of water is high in a sealed system. My query is: In the summer the boiler operates for about seven months without needing topped up but in the winter it needs topped up after about three months. What is the explanation for this?

I would welcome your kind advice and would thank you in anticpation.

Kind regards,

Jim

 

[baxpoti]

What boiler do you have?

 

[simond]

The most likely reason is that when the heating is on, the pressure in the radiator pipework (due to the expansion of the water therein) is significantly higher.

At a higher pressure your leakage will be greater.

Therefore you lose more water in the winter (heating on) months.

 

[JSM]

Thanks, guys.

Baxpoti - It is a BAXI BOILER 133HE PLUS

Simond - You are probably correct. Could I be optimistic in hoping that it is just normal condensation/heat loss or whatever and not an actual leak?

Regards,

Jim

 

[twgas]

I would suggest its a leak rather than evaporisation. Have you checked the pressure releif pipe to see if it drips, may be worth tying a plastic bag over it and see what happens

 

[powell30]

3 months to top up is hardly a 'gusher'.......that said drop in some fernox leak sealer.....a tiny weep will be closed up. If it's anything more you need to trace it but if you only top up every 3 months i doubt it's anything more than a weep.......do a visual check of piping and boiler to just check tho

 

[JSM]

Thanks twgas and powell30!

twgas - Where is the pressure relief pipe?

powell30 - I'll get a plumber to put in some fernox leak sealer. Is it a big job? Does it go in through a radiator? Much mess?

Many thanks,

JIm

 

[namsag]

First thing you should do is walk the system when heating is on checking rad valves/bleeds etc for small weeps. check under rad valve caps.

 

[powell30]

not a big job.....a partial drain down and undo one of the bleed valves on a rad and pour it in....you may need a small pipe to fill it. Turn on heating and it seals small weeps in about 24hr, maybe less but first do what namsag suggests could be a compression just needs a tweak.

 

[ollski]

You will always get a degree of corrosion taking place in the heating system. In the winter it will be forced around the heating circuit and often find its way to the auto air vent where it will be released wheras in the summer it will generaly rise to the tops of the radiators and stay there unnoticed
+. Just get a dose of inhibitor in there.

 

[JSM]

Many thanks, Everyone.

Jim