Potterton Performa 24 (combi-boiler)

[BlondieinLondon]

Can someone help me pls?

Since moving into my flat Mar 2008, I have had several problems with my boiler.

The latest is: (1) When I went away for the weekend recently, I switched off the boiler but my neighbours subsequently told me that it had been leaking gas, so they switched it off at the electric mains. When I returned home, I hadn't realised this and switched the boiler on, and the heating system worked ok. Since then though, I haven't switched off the boiler, just in case the gas leak happens again; (2) The boiler's always been a little noisy but, for the past few days, it's been extremely noisy (a banging noise).

Can anyone help me pls?

Thank you

Kim

 

[LUNAT]

HI

need more details.where is the noise coming from ? outside or inside the boiler ?is the noise coming when the heating is on ? how much is the water pressure ?????

 

[swbjackson]

If you think that the boiler is leaking gas shut off the gas at the meter and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Mike

 

[BlondieinLondon]

HI

need more details.where is the noise coming from ? outside or inside the boiler ?is the noise coming when the heating is on ? how much is the water pressure ?????

Hi there

The noise happens when the heating's on. The banging noise is intermitent and - annoyingly - it's not happening at the moment so I'll need to update you in a second. The gauge needle is hovering at 0.3.

 

[BlondieinLondon]

If you think that the boiler is leaking gas shut off the gas at the meter and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Mike

Thank you Mike.

As mentioned, the boiler worked fine since then, as I switched it on, being unaware that there'd been a problem. The heating's worked for about the past week and it's been fine. Should I still call the emergency services. I can't smell and gas from the boiler when the heating's on so...

 

[gas4you]

Re-pressurise boiler back to just above 1 Bar when cold and see if noise stops.

 

[BlondieinLondon]

Re-pressurise boiler back to just above 1 Bar when cold and see if noise stops.

Thank you, Dave.

I'm not technically-minded I'm afraid Could you advise how I reset the gauge pls? That said, I'm becoming more au fait with combi-boilers because of the problems that I'd had so... I thought that have a low gauge reading could mean that there's a leak somewhere. What do you think?

 

[gas4you]

There will be a filling loop on the system, hopefully under the boiler.

This is a silver braided hose with an isolating valve at one or both ends. Open this/these and watch the needle move.

When it gets to just over 1 Bar turn it/them off.

If the pressure keeps dropping daily or weekly then you do have a problem. If it has been only once or twice a year then it is nothing to worry about.

 

[bengasman]

If you think that the boiler is leaking gas shut off the gas at the meter and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Mike

Thank you Mike.

As mentioned, the boiler worked fine since then, as I switched it on, being unaware that there'd been a problem. The heating's worked for about the past week and it's been fine. Should I still call the emergency services. I can't smell and gas from the boiler when the heating's on so...

working fine or not, if there is even a SUSPICION of a gas leak,
you MUST call 0800 111 999. IMMEDIATELY

they come out 24/7, normally within the hour, and you don't pay a penny, leak or no leak.

 

[BlondieinLondon]

If you think that the boiler is leaking gas shut off the gas at the meter and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Mike

Thank you Mike.

As mentioned, the boiler worked fine since then, as I switched it on, being unaware that there'd been a problem. The heating's worked for about the past week and it's been fine. Should I still call the emergency services. I can't smell and gas from the boiler when the heating's on so...

working fine or not, if there is even a SUSPICION of a gas leak,
you MUST call 0800 111 999. IMMEDIATELY

they come out 24/7, normally within the hour, and you don't pay a penny, leak or no leak.

Thanks Mike I've done that and I'm waiting for the engineer.

I've only lived here 9 months, but I've spent a fortune on the boiler so far. The guy who sold me the flat though was into DIY (electrics, etc, and I suspect gas because some of the radiators had been hung on the walls and they were wonky). Lots of stuff had to be ripped out because it was dangerous. It's been a nightmare.

 

[BlondieinLondon]

There will be a filling loop on the system, hopefully under the boiler.

This is a silver braided hose with an isolating valve at one or both ends. Open this/these and watch the needle move.

When it gets to just over 1 Bar turn it/them off.

If the pressure keeps dropping daily or weekly then you do have a problem. If it has been only once or twice a year then it is nothing to worry about.

Thank you. I will try this after the emergency guy's been. Tired

 

[BlondieinLondon]

If you think that the boiler is leaking gas shut off the gas at the meter and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Mike

Thank you Mike.

As mentioned, the boiler worked fine since then, as I switched it on, being unaware that there'd been a problem. The heating's worked for about the past week and it's been fine. Should I still call the emergency services. I can't smell and gas from the boiler when the heating's on so...

working fine or not, if there is even a SUSPICION of a gas leak,
you MUST call 0800 111 999. IMMEDIATELY

they come out 24/7, normally within the hour, and you don't pay a penny, leak or no leak.

Thanks Mike I've done that and I'm waiting for the engineer.

I've only lived here 9 months, but I've spent a fortune on the boiler so far. The guy who sold me the flat though was into DIY (electrics, etc, and I suspect gas because some of the radiators had been hung on the walls and they were wonky). Lots of stuff had to be ripped out because it was dangerous. It's been a nightmare.

Thank you all VERY MUCH. I called out the emergency gas engineer and there was a leak from a pipe. I am so thankful that you alerted me to this, Mike. The gentleman also reset the pressure gauge which corrected the banging / noise problem.

However, the gauge is now back to less than 1 again. For the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that the towel radiator in the bathroom leaks water now and again. It doesn't happen all the time, just now and again. At first I thought that it only happened when I switch the radiator off but that's not always the case. Sometimes I get up in the morning and there's a pool of water under the towel warmer; other times, there's not.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks & warmest wishes

Kim

 

[swbjackson]

Glad you got the leak sorted okay.

For the plumbing leak you need to work out if it's coming from a joint, one of the valves or the radiator itself. Try running a piece of dry tissue round all the joints on the rad and valves. It may be something as simple as needing the packing gland nut tightened on a valve but it may need a valve re-making into the radiator.

Mike

 

[BlondieinLondon]

Glad you got the leak sorted okay.

For the plumbing leak you need to work out if it's coming from a joint, one of the valves or the radiator itself. Try running a piece of dry tissue round all the joints on the rad and valves. It may be something as simple as needing the packing gland nut tightened on a valve but it may need a valve re-making into the radiator.

Mike

Ok, I'm trying to suss out a trend but I'm not sure that there is one. The latest though is that when the knob at the bottom of the towel heater (that regulates if the radiator is on, off or how high the heat is) is turned to the off position, water drips out of this knob. The leak began a couple of weeks ago with a dribble, but it's now much more. I can't suss out how I can stop this leak - would it need a sealant?

It's a new radiator - only been in since Feb 2008 - and it's worked brilliantly so far.

 

[namsag]

Take the rad valve cap off and tighten the little nut underneath .