Last time I looked inside our old Thorn Apollo (either the thermocouple
ot the top socket needs replacing every five years, or so) when I took
the inner metal case off, it looked like water had been running down the
inside for a long time. My first thought was that the heat exchanger
gaskets needed replacing, but our CH water is usually dark brown (even
though I put inhibitor in every other year), and there was no brown
stain as usually happens on the odd occasions that our CH water manages
to escape. But I can't imagine anywhere else that it might come from.
Is it normal for the gaskets to need replacing after 30 years? I
wouldn't be surprised. Could it be condensation? We've started to go
to Rome every February in the school holidays, but I'm not sure that the
pilot light would cause that much moisture, given the ventilation from
the flue.

On Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 10:08:47 AM UTC, Dan S. MacAbre wrote:
Last time I looked inside our old Thorn Apollo (either the thermocouple
ot the top socket needs replacing every five years, or so) when I took
the inner metal case off, it looked like water had been running down the
inside for a long time. My first thought was that the heat exchanger
gaskets needed replacing, but our CH water is usually dark brown (even
though I put inhibitor in every other year), and there was no brown
stain as usually happens on the odd occasions that our CH water manages
to escape. But I can't imagine anywhere else that it might come from.
Is it normal for the gaskets to need replacing after 30 years? I
wouldn't be surprised. Could it be condensation? We've started to go
to Rome every February in the school holidays, but I'm not sure that the
pilot light would cause that much moisture, given the ventilation from
the flue.

We had a similar thing and the WB engineer had no idea where it had come from. Driving rain blown back down the flue? Doubt it. It dripped on the pcb and buggered that so I was not best pleased.

stuart noble wrote:
On Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 10:08:47 AM UTC, Dan S. MacAbre wrote:
Last time I looked inside our old Thorn Apollo (either the thermocouple
ot the top socket needs replacing every five years, or so) when I took
the inner metal case off, it looked like water had been running down the
inside for a long time. My first thought was that the heat exchanger
gaskets needed replacing, but our CH water is usually dark brown (even
though I put inhibitor in every other year), and there was no brown
stain as usually happens on the odd occasions that our CH water manages
to escape. But I can't imagine anywhere else that it might come from.
Is it normal for the gaskets to need replacing after 30 years? I
wouldn't be surprised. Could it be condensation? We've started to go
to Rome every February in the school holidays, but I'm not sure that the
pilot light would cause that much moisture, given the ventilation from
the flue.

We had a similar thing and the WB engineer had no idea where it had come from. Driving rain blown back down the flue? Doubt it. It dripped on the pcb and buggered that so I was not best pleased.


It's always dry when I look, so it's not there all the time. Just
rather odd. I did think about rain blowing into the balanced flue, but
it would have to be very windy indeed, and the jacket is sealed with a
gasket anyway, which would resist it being blown in.

Oh, it might be from the window cleaner who uses a long brush that has
water pumped into it, and it goes everywhere. I can imagine that some
would land on the outer bit of the flue and run in. Perhaps.

On 17/12/2017 10:08, Dan S. MacAbre wrote:
Last time I looked inside our old Thorn Apollo (either the thermocouple
ot the top socket needs replacing every five years, or so) when I took
the inner metal case off, it looked like water had been running down the
inside for a long time.Â* My first thought was that the heat exchanger
gaskets needed replacing, but our CH water is usually dark brown (even
though I put inhibitor in every other year), and there was no brown
stain as usually happens on the odd occasions that our CH water manages
to escape.Â* But I can't imagine anywhere else that it might come from.
Is it normal for the gaskets to need replacing after 30 years?Â* I
wouldn't be surprised.Â* Could it be condensation?Â* We've started to go
to Rome every February in the school holidays, but I'm not sure that the
pilot light would cause that much moisture, given the ventilation from
the flue.

I'd think condensation is unlikely- you need a cool surface. I'd be
surprised if even the case was cool enough.

I'm afraid, given the age of the beast, I'd suspect a leak. Hopefully
not in the exchanger (been there).

In the past, I've seen different colour (or no colour) to the trace left
by leaks in a system. I'm not sure the lack of colour is significant.



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Brian Reay wrote:
On 17/12/2017 10:08, Dan S. MacAbre wrote:
Last time I looked inside our old Thorn Apollo (either the
thermocouple ot the top socket needs replacing every five years, or
so) when I took the inner metal case off, it looked like water had
been running down the inside for a long time. My first thought was
that the heat exchanger gaskets needed replacing, but our CH water is
usually dark brown (even though I put inhibitor in every other year),
and there was no brown stain as usually happens on the odd occasions
that our CH water manages to escape. But I can't imagine anywhere
else that it might come from. Is it normal for the gaskets to need
replacing after 30 years? I wouldn't be surprised. Could it be
condensation? We've started to go to Rome every February in the
school holidays, but I'm not sure that the pilot light would cause
that much moisture, given the ventilation from the flue.

I'd think condensation is unlikely- you need a cool surface. I'd be
surprised if even the case was cool enough.


Me too, but that's why I mentioned we were away for a week each
February. It's pretty cold by the time we get back :-)

I'm afraid, given the age of the beast, I'd suspect a leak. Hopefully
not in the exchanger (been there).

In the past, I've seen different colour (or no colour) to the trace left
by leaks in a system. I'm not sure the lack of colour is significant.


I think I'm just going to have to wait until it's really obvious where
it's coming from. Like crusty deposits building up, or something. Or
maybe run it for a day with the boiler off. Too cold for that now,
though :-)