Boiler Loosing Pressure FAST!

[shenniko]

Hi All,

I've been reading about on the net trying to find out why my Girlfriends Boiler has started loosing pressure...

I think its a combi Boiler, but thats all i know about it at the moment..

Basically her gas is on a meter, so she needs to top it up with cards every so often. She's usually on top of this, so it never usually runs out, but one day last week the gas ran out. Later that day she went out got more Gas and topped up the meter.

Now whenever we run hot water, the boiler makes a terrible noise, kinda like a plane flying over the house..

So i checked the boiler and the pressure is very low (about 0.7).

The Heating and hot water still work fine, no problems (except for the noise).

I called my dad and he told me about filling the boiler back up (with one of the valves on the pipes (as you can tell im pretty new to this, hence not knowing the technical terms )). The pressure went back up to about 1.5 but later that night (only about 5 hours) it had dropped back down to 0.7.

Have tried filling it up again, and again it drops within a few hours..

From reading the forums and other places, a loss of that much pressure usually means a leak, and with losing that much water so fast, i would expect to see some damp/wet patches somewhere (near radiators/boiler) but cant see any..

Any Ideas?

Thanks

Robbie

 

[alan m 1974]

see if there is any sign of water outside by the pipe coming off the boiler and goes outside its a safety valve but can fail and open up lower than the 3 bar it should open at,have you closed loop afterb filling,a expansion vessel fault maybe

 

[shenniko]

Have closed the valve after filling, and as soon as ive closed it i can see it dropping...

Guess if its getting rid of the water from the pipe outside the house ill see it coming out fast(ish) as can see the pressure dropping if i stand there and look a the meter...

If the water is getting released outside, is there anything i can do? or would i need to call someone it to fix?

Robbie

 

[alan m 1974]

ITs a new valve there not dear,get a corgi reg firm in and your looking around £70 but you could do it yourself if your at all diy minded,name of boiler?

 

[shenniko]

I'll have a look tonight when i get in.

thanks for your help

Robbie

 

[alan m 1974]

Were are you,im by the jail,if close and you need help,just ask me

 

[ChrisR]

See the FAQ's, it's all in there.

 

[shenniko]

Over the other side of the water mate (Bidston)

Robbie

 

[bengasman]

just call the landlord and let him sort it out
i take it you mean there is a "token"meter, also called card meter.
call your supplier, bound to be british gas, tell them you want a normal meter
once you have that, change to a cheaper supplier total excercise could knock 40% of your bill

 

[shenniko]

Its not a Token meter as such, she has a card which she tops up (say put 40 quid on) and then puts that into the meter..

Its her house, so no landlord :/

Filled the boiler up when i got home, she was outside looking at the "release pipe". Saw the pressure drop in the boiler (went from 1.5 to 0.7 in about a 1 min...) No water came out the pipe..

Boiler is a Britony combi 100.

Robbie

 

[bengasman]

Card meter is officially called token meter, very rare in owner occupied premises, but advice still stands of course.
Definitely a leak. Sandwich bag with rubber band over prv outlet and you will know for sure whether it leaks or not.
Next most likely is a compression joint that has come loose. Only way to find it is to reveal the pipes I’m afraid.
Start with the downstairs ones, you are right about the assumption that you would see it if you loose that much water, hence upstairs is less likely.
I take it you have already checked everything that is visible with a magnifying glass.