Discuss Help - System losing pressure after oil boiler was replaced in the Central Heating Forum area at PlumbersForums.net
Hi,
This is not a DIY job, you must consult 'Registered Professional Gas Engineer' plumber for this issue.
I don't see what choice I have really. There's just no way I can leave the heating off until after Christmas. I'll try and get it checked before Christmas, but it seems unlikely.I would be really surprised if your home cover, covers an oil boiler. Seen many a customer in the past with 'cover' to find out they're not!
The more you put on here the more Mickey mouse the install sounds.
Second hand boiler, un insulated pipes outside, installer not getting back to you.
Any pics of the outside of boiler and new pipework?
Might be worth trying to get hold of a decent oil guy and go from there. Bin off your installer.
Its either the ev or leaking underground pipes. But theres also something not right in the combustion chamber.
The quickest way to test this is to drain the system and fit isolation valves to the boiler flow and return. Thereafter pressure test the boiler. From the photos you have posted, to me, it all points to boiler feed water leaking into the combustion chamber. The surfaces you have photographed should look like a slightly singed digestive biscuit - not like a barnacle encrusted hull of a boat.
Whilst I can understand that you want to continue to try to use the boiler - if the exchanger is leaking, unless the boiler is on load 24/7 (evaporating the leak at source), it will quickly fail to a point where it is unusable. The damp refractory linings / protection boards will disintegrate allowing the flame / heat to attack the inner then outer casing.
Sorry but what have I misunderstood? I'm agreeing that there should be no water in the combustion chamber.You're misunderstanding what Brambles is saying. There should be no water in the combustion chamber. The water jacket surrounding the combustion chamber should not have pierced, fractured etc. If there was water in there then yes it will evaporate and boil away but you would also have lost pressure, it will not stop boiler pressure dropping, I suspect the reason why you're not noticing the pressure drop when heating is because as I said above the pressure will rise slightly when heating, even on a perfectly sound system. As we've all said, in the morning fill up, isolate boiler power so it doesn't come on and wait an hour, if pressure has dropped check inside the chamber for obvious signs, check around boiler base, check all accessable pipework and check the PRV hasn't discharged by putting a bowl under it.
One thing to take into account is the small amount of water that needs to be lost to drop pressure significantly, or even to zero. I'm running an admittedly small system used for training in my workshop, 5 rads, electric boiler and unvented indirect cylinder but I was just showing an apprentice yesterday, it only takes just under 2 litres of water loss to drop from 1.4 bar running hot, to 0 pressure on the gauge.
That amount of water can be lost into a combustion chamber and evaporated in next to no time at all. Same with a PRV, only a few cups of water lost can significantly drop pressure as you can now imagine. The suggestions you've had to isolate the boiler with service valves and check there is a good one. Even doing as also suggested, topping up the system, don't run it at all and check for water in the combustion chamber will really narrow the problem down.
GM
The pressure within the primary flow system is rather like a balloon - it either leaks or it does not. But it will leak if the skin is penetrated. Heat protection is outside the primary flow skin. Moving / removing any form of refractory lining, plates or other protection should have no immediate impact on the pressure within the primary circuit.
The boiler needs to be set up in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. They (oil fired boilers) should not be configured on a trial and error basis. If the refractory protection on an oil fired boiler fails, in conjunction with the fire valve not responding quickly, the effects can be catastrophic. If you want photo's I’ll post them.
Be aware that most (if not all) UK Insurers subscribe to Athena Intelligence which quickly and effectively picks up forum and web chat (open and dark) et al conducted ahead of subsequent major insurance claims.
Reply to Help - System losing pressure after oil boiler was replaced in the Central Heating Forum area at PlumbersForums.net
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