Baxi 133 HE Plus problems - Leak!

[Confused_Baxi]

Hi,

I have a Baxi 133 HE Plus, it is leaking from the rear of the combustion chamber, behind the fan. Dripping to the bottom plate and then dripping to the front of the panel, where all controls are (Advanced Control PCB). I've had to resort to having a permanent cloth on the bottom plate to absord the water before it drips on the control panel.

The leak occurs when the heating is on AND the hot water is running. At times, it just leaks with the heating on. When heating is off, there is no leak. When hot water is running (without heating on) there is no leak.

Can anyone please help, I had a plumber (CORGI reg) check this and he too was confused and could not provide me with any resolution. I had to pay the full hour rate, without any fix or ideas of what can be done. Expensive.

First image illustrates the puddle of water, and second image the drip from above. Hope these images provide better understanding.



Can anyone please help.

Thanks.

 

[cwrplumbing]

Get a good one who is Gas-safe registered & who actually knows about boilers and not into ripping you off

 

[Confused_Baxi]

Thanks for the response, this engineer was registered and was recommended. But he hadn't seen anything like this before, even phoned Baxi when he was looking at the boiler and he couldn't still fix it.

 

[cwrplumbing]

Ok mate, I would think this could be a few things are you having to top up pressure on your boiler, if so you might be looking at main hex or if not might be flue connections or seals, recouperator (I think this boiler has one if so its a possibility).
Leak on a recouperator makes sense because when the boiler is running and condensing it would collect and leak. Good Luck !!

 

[Confused_Baxi]

Thanks for the reply, no need to top up the pressure. The pressure remains between 1 and 2, normal. Although I did try to decrease pressure, thinking it was too high, but did not allow me to. The pressure tap does not work now, and the pressure is normal.

 

[cwrplumbing]

So you have ruled out any pressure loss I think this is related to when the boiler is condensing get your guy to remove the fan and check the recouperator.

 

[Confused_Baxi]

Ok, will do, any ideas how much this will cost and how much time it should take? Seems like a big job and wouldnt want to get ripped off.

 

[cwrplumbing]

Its difficult to say ! might need a few hours at your local gas-safe registered hourly rate. Or it might be that the recouperator has to be replaced, then if so its going to cost more. Difficult for me to assume how much as I work for a company.

 

[Toddyplumb]

Get the engineer to check the seal between the combustion chamber base and the combustion chamber, and check the condensate hole is clear. Allow at least an hour, by the time the burner and fan have been remved and then the base

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

needs servicing, or is frozen sounds like the heat exchanger drain hole for the condensate is blocked,causing the waste water to back up and come out were its not designed this boiler does not have a recupirater as its a band a,that is only applicable to a band b

 

[Confused_Baxi]

Hi, I forgot that you could add images, attached a couple and it illustrates the same description as written, hope this helps to provide better understanding. you may be able to see the splashes from above, and the drip in the 2nd image.

 

[diesel_ltd]

have your engineer check the sump seal and flue seal, is it possible water is getting down the air intake of the flue or condensate water is getting into the air intake.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Hi, I forgot that you could add images, attached a couple and it illustrates the same description as written, hope this helps to provide better understanding. you may be able to see the splashes from above, and the drip in the 2nd image.


View attachment 1523View attachment 1524

that conden bottles full,no fly by wire by the look of it,blocked or frozen pipework ,is this a new problem come about with the change in whether ?

 

[Toddyplumb]

Its also remarkably clean for a 133 !

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

and the burners not blown up and killed it.............YET

 

[Confused_Baxi]

I have asked a couple of plumbers to fix this leak and they all say that it is best to just fit a new boiler, the time and labour that it will take to get to the leak and then fix it would cost a lot. Also, it cannot be guaranteed to have the leak fixed. A new boiler is recommended.

Having said this, can anyone recommend a boiler, and cost of the suggested boiler (and to fit possibly)? I have 2 bathrooms (one main the other en-suite), 2 bedrooms and one lounge. 8 radiators altogether. Ground floor flat.

I wouldn't mind having a more powerful boiler compared to the current headache 'Baxi 133HE Plus' (combi), hope the more powerful one could eliminate the loss of pressure if water is being used in more than one place at the same time.

One last note, the boiler has 2 flues situated at the top of the boiler, please can you confirm if the boiler suggested is compatible with this sort of fitting (2 flues).

Boiler images with the flues (x2);


Thank you for your help.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

baxi and potterton have a few excellent boilers in the range the duo tec and performa are reliable but the 133 and solo and promax heat only are lemons

 

[Confused_Baxi]

Hi Gas Man,

Thanks for the feedback, I was thinking more along the lines of Vailant or Worcester? Any recommendations within these ranges, please consider my notes on the flues.

Thanks.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

tbh not impressed with Worcester,dont know about vailent,if you check with baxi,the duo tec may use the same flue as the 133 but i am not certain