Hi there, I wonder if anyone can shed and light on my problem with the dreaded Powermax combi boiler!
Last week I had my boiler looked at by a gas engineer as I was losing pressure when the system was switched off at night. Pressure was not a problem if I left the boiler and CH on all the time but this was getting costly in gas! The engineer re-pressurised the expansion tank which was low and replaced the PRV which was leaking water but I am still seeing a lose of pressure. This boiler now seems to hold pressure when the CH is on and also when it is off at night. However, as soon as i use any hot water it drops like a stone and then locks out.
I've checked the expansion vessel valve and when depressed ever so slightly it is releasing air not water. Unfortunately i do not have an air pump to check the air pressure in the expansion vessel. One other thing I have noticed is that when I repressurise the boiler to 1bar the pressure jumps very quickly to just under 3 bar when the boiler switches on. I have been round the house and checked all the radiators but cannot find a leak anywhere. The pipes in my house seem to be some kind of flexible plastic and appear to run through the cavity walls. I cannot see any evidence of a leak anywhere on the ceiling, walls or next to the radiators. I've checked the valves on all the radiators and they seem clean and dry. Downstairs floor is all concrete so I'm guessing pipes are only in the walls.
Do you think the expansion vessel has given up the ghost, the expansion vessel valve or is it more likely a leak I cannot see?
Thanks for all your help.
Lisa
Last week I had my boiler looked at by a gas engineer as I was losing pressure when the system was switched off at night. Pressure was not a problem if I left the boiler and CH on all the time but this was getting costly in gas! The engineer re-pressurised the expansion tank which was low and replaced the PRV which was leaking water but I am still seeing a lose of pressure. This boiler now seems to hold pressure when the CH is on and also when it is off at night. However, as soon as i use any hot water it drops like a stone and then locks out.
I've checked the expansion vessel valve and when depressed ever so slightly it is releasing air not water. Unfortunately i do not have an air pump to check the air pressure in the expansion vessel. One other thing I have noticed is that when I repressurise the boiler to 1bar the pressure jumps very quickly to just under 3 bar when the boiler switches on. I have been round the house and checked all the radiators but cannot find a leak anywhere. The pipes in my house seem to be some kind of flexible plastic and appear to run through the cavity walls. I cannot see any evidence of a leak anywhere on the ceiling, walls or next to the radiators. I've checked the valves on all the radiators and they seem clean and dry. Downstairs floor is all concrete so I'm guessing pipes are only in the walls.
Do you think the expansion vessel has given up the ghost, the expansion vessel valve or is it more likely a leak I cannot see?
Thanks for all your help.
Lisa