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Sorry for long post, but
Have a Worcester Greenstar 28i Jnr.
Few weeks ago noticed boiler pressure has dropped to zero - topped it up and dropped to zero again overnight (with central heating being used a bit). Arranged for boiler service to come out - in the meantime checked no water coming out of prv valve by putting bag over, didn't seem to be water coming out of condensate pipe (as it feeds into drain/gulley outside so can see it). No leaks from boiler and no leaks in rads/water coming through ceiling, etc).
Boiler guys comes out - checks boiler and can't see any issues. Assumes leak in central heating system/pipes. We have two radiators downstairs where the pipes are buried (and then one in shower room with pipes in wall but no leaks in wall/through grout in tiles for that one) so he assumes its a leak in one of buried pipes. Tries leak sealer as a starter and doesn't seem to work. Pressure still dropping to zero after a few hours. He suggests he comes back and puts isolation valves on pipes before they go underground to the radiators to try and identify which radiator pipes has the leak.
Day before he comes back - I borrow an infared camera and blast central heating around the house - can see pipes heating up underground but nothing that suggests a leak anywhere.
The buried pipes are in Room A (which were buried about a year ago in concrete when we have work down on floor and the pipes coming down the wall are boxed in so can't see them) - lift the carpet and no sign of any leak.
and Room B (buried about 4 years ago) - pipes coming down the wall accessible, but then buried in concentre to the radiator and have laminate floor so can't lift it as I could with the carpet in the other room. Infared camera does show residual heat long after central heating is off under the floor and next to adjacent room (hallway) which has a higher floor level so think maybe its leaking there and not noticeable)
When plumbercomes back he says before messing with pipework he'll isolate flow and return from boiler to confirm it is the CH pipework - so he does this (we still have hot water use) and overnight no pressure drop. He can't come out for a week to then isolate the radiator pipes and as its mild I just leave the CH isolated and there is no pressure drop at all that week.
Plumber comes back again and fits isolation vales on pipes to the radiators in Room A (has to do this in bedroom above as pipes coming down wall are boxed in) and Room B (on pipework in room against the wall).
Flow and Return vales re-opened and both radiators isolated. Central Heating run so its feeding rest of the house for a few hours. Then turned off and overnight - no visible pressure drop so suggesting it is a problem with one of the buried pipes in either room.
Next day - open the isolation vales to Room A and run Central Heating so now only radiator in Room B is isolated. Overnight - no visible pressure drop. So assume it must be Room B pipes.
Next day - open the isolation valves to Room B and run central heating and every radiator now heating up. Overnight - No visible pressure drop?!!!?? as if the issue has gone away on its own. Pressure does drop slightly that day but also there is a cold snap/outside temp dropping to freezing.
Speak to plumber - he thinks it might be the leak sealer kicking in, but is confused why its not happening anymore.
Last couple of weeks the pressure has been dropping slightly every couple of days and I've been topping up periodically, but not had time to do any more testing and plumber can't suggest anything.
Yesterday - decide to isolate pipes to Room B again to see if this gradual pressure drop stops (assuming the leak is partly sealed but still leaking slightly??). Top up pressure to 1.5. Central heating on it rest of house in the evening for a bit. This morning pressure has dropped to zero again???????!!!!!!!! overnight for the first time for weeks. So now completely baffled as I'm assuming it can't be pipework in Room B and it rules that out , but I don't get why its suddenly broken again. I assume it isn't a co-incidence that isolating one set of pipes has caused pressure dropping to zero again, but don't understand why that would be the case or what to do next as appear to be back to square one (or worse).
Any ideas??
Have a Worcester Greenstar 28i Jnr.
Few weeks ago noticed boiler pressure has dropped to zero - topped it up and dropped to zero again overnight (with central heating being used a bit). Arranged for boiler service to come out - in the meantime checked no water coming out of prv valve by putting bag over, didn't seem to be water coming out of condensate pipe (as it feeds into drain/gulley outside so can see it). No leaks from boiler and no leaks in rads/water coming through ceiling, etc).
Boiler guys comes out - checks boiler and can't see any issues. Assumes leak in central heating system/pipes. We have two radiators downstairs where the pipes are buried (and then one in shower room with pipes in wall but no leaks in wall/through grout in tiles for that one) so he assumes its a leak in one of buried pipes. Tries leak sealer as a starter and doesn't seem to work. Pressure still dropping to zero after a few hours. He suggests he comes back and puts isolation valves on pipes before they go underground to the radiators to try and identify which radiator pipes has the leak.
Day before he comes back - I borrow an infared camera and blast central heating around the house - can see pipes heating up underground but nothing that suggests a leak anywhere.
The buried pipes are in Room A (which were buried about a year ago in concrete when we have work down on floor and the pipes coming down the wall are boxed in so can't see them) - lift the carpet and no sign of any leak.
and Room B (buried about 4 years ago) - pipes coming down the wall accessible, but then buried in concentre to the radiator and have laminate floor so can't lift it as I could with the carpet in the other room. Infared camera does show residual heat long after central heating is off under the floor and next to adjacent room (hallway) which has a higher floor level so think maybe its leaking there and not noticeable)
When plumbercomes back he says before messing with pipework he'll isolate flow and return from boiler to confirm it is the CH pipework - so he does this (we still have hot water use) and overnight no pressure drop. He can't come out for a week to then isolate the radiator pipes and as its mild I just leave the CH isolated and there is no pressure drop at all that week.
Plumber comes back again and fits isolation vales on pipes to the radiators in Room A (has to do this in bedroom above as pipes coming down wall are boxed in) and Room B (on pipework in room against the wall).
Flow and Return vales re-opened and both radiators isolated. Central Heating run so its feeding rest of the house for a few hours. Then turned off and overnight - no visible pressure drop so suggesting it is a problem with one of the buried pipes in either room.
Next day - open the isolation vales to Room A and run Central Heating so now only radiator in Room B is isolated. Overnight - no visible pressure drop. So assume it must be Room B pipes.
Next day - open the isolation valves to Room B and run central heating and every radiator now heating up. Overnight - No visible pressure drop?!!!?? as if the issue has gone away on its own. Pressure does drop slightly that day but also there is a cold snap/outside temp dropping to freezing.
Speak to plumber - he thinks it might be the leak sealer kicking in, but is confused why its not happening anymore.
Last couple of weeks the pressure has been dropping slightly every couple of days and I've been topping up periodically, but not had time to do any more testing and plumber can't suggest anything.
Yesterday - decide to isolate pipes to Room B again to see if this gradual pressure drop stops (assuming the leak is partly sealed but still leaking slightly??). Top up pressure to 1.5. Central heating on it rest of house in the evening for a bit. This morning pressure has dropped to zero again???????!!!!!!!! overnight for the first time for weeks. So now completely baffled as I'm assuming it can't be pipework in Room B and it rules that out , but I don't get why its suddenly broken again. I assume it isn't a co-incidence that isolating one set of pipes has caused pressure dropping to zero again, but don't understand why that would be the case or what to do next as appear to be back to square one (or worse).
Any ideas??
