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-   -   Apparent leak on CH system (https://www.diybanter.com/uk-diy/683354-apparent-leak-ch-system.html)

Peter James[_4_] December 19th 20 08:08 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.
Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the visible
pipe work, but to no affect.
A Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25 combi boiler is fitted.
Peter
--
A Conservative Government is an organised hypocrisy.
Benjamin Disraeli 1804 - 1881



newshound December 19th 20 09:47 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19/12/2020 09:06, Chris Hogg wrote:
On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.
Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the visible
pipe work, but to no affect.
A Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25 combi boiler is fitted.
Peter


Is it a vented or sealed system? If the latter, is the expansion
vessel doing what it ought to, or is it knackered and the pressure
relief valve is leaking?

But that would show up as a regular need to repressurise, which
hopefully the OP would have reported.

Might it not suggest a system with no inhibitor that is consequently
still corroding?

Dave Liquorice[_2_] December 19th 20 09:47 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the
bathroom.


Hydrogen, liberated from the water as iron takes up the oxygen.

Does the system have inhibitor?

This is the highest Radiator in the system. A friend, who is a retired
plumber, suggested that I have a small leak somewhere in the system.


On the basis that for something to get in something needs to come
out, yes but it's not the whole story.

If a vented system is it pumping over? Even a tiny little bit just as
the pump starts (or stops) will circulate oxygenated water into the
system.

--
Cheers
Dave.




alan_m December 19th 20 09:49 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19/12/2020 09:06, Chris Hogg wrote:
On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.
Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the visible
pipe work, but to no affect.
A Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25 combi boiler is fitted.
Peter


Is it a vented or sealed system? If the latter, is the expansion
vessel doing what it ought to, or is it knackered and the pressure
relief valve is leaking?


If the former is the system pumping over? Pump running too fast and the
water is circulating up the expansion pipe and into the open expansion
tank. This can aerate the water and when drawn back into your CH
pipework the air has to go somewhere.

You may only see a pump-over as some of the system closes down such as
when thermostatic radiator valves close down once temperature is reached
etc.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

John Rumm December 19th 20 12:21 PM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19/12/2020 08:08, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system.


That's a possibility.

Another is that its not air, but hydrogen accumulating from corrosion
processes. Do you know if there is adequate corrosion inhibitor in there?


(you could test by trying to ignite the gas as its bled from the rad).

In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.


Such products still exist. Probably best only used as a last resort though.

Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the visible
pipe work, but to no affect.


Very small leaks can evaporate away before you see liquid water. In hard
water areas you may see a small verdigris or scale stain though.

You could add a small quantity of Fluorescein dye to the primary water,
and then go round with a UV torch to see if you can fine a leak location
then.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Cursitor Doom[_6_] December 19th 20 03:48 PM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.


No they haven't.

The Natural Philosopher[_2_] December 19th 20 05:56 PM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19/12/2020 08:08, Peter James wrote:
Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.
Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the visible
pipe work, but to no affect.
A Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25 combi boiler is fitted.
Peter

Probably not even worth doing. Mine has similar, but two years after the
plumber noted a weeping gate valve on the primary of the boiler ' not
worth fixing mate, it will scale up if you keep refilling ' the
frequency of bleed and recharge is down to about 6-monthly



--
Renewable energy: Expensive solutions that don't work to a problem that
doesn't exist instituted by self legalising protection rackets that
don't protect, masquerading as public servants who don't serve the public.


Peter James[_4_] December 20th 20 07:23 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19 Dec 2020 at 09:06:45 GMT, "Chris Hogg" wrote:

On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the
bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the
addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.
Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the
visible
pipe work, but to no affect.
A Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25 combi boiler is fitted.
Peter


Is it a vented or sealed system? If the latter, is the expansion
vessel doing what it ought to, or is it knackered and the pressure
relief valve is leaking?


It's a sealed system. Only 7 month old from new.
Peter
--
A Conservative Government is an organised hypocrisy.
Benjamin Disraeli 1804 - 1881



Peter James[_4_] December 20th 20 07:56 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19 Dec 2020 at 12:21:04 GMT, "John Rumm"
wrote:

On 19/12/2020 08:08, Peter James wrote:

Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the
bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system.


That's a possibility.

Another is that its not air, but hydrogen accumulating from corrosion
processes. Do you know if there is adequate corrosion inhibitor in there?

Yes there us, I watched the Engineer run it into the system
Peter





Chris B[_2_] December 20th 20 10:16 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 20/12/2020 07:23, Peter James wrote:
On 19 Dec 2020 at 09:06:45 GMT, "Chris Hogg" wrote:

On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:



Is it a vented or sealed system? If the latter, is the expansion
vessel doing what it ought to, or is it knackered and the pressure
relief valve is leaking?


It's a sealed system. Only 7 month old from new.
Peter

By that I assume you mean the whole system is new, not just the boiler?
In which case you may find it is just the air coming out of all that
fresh water used to fill the system. I have just (2 years ago) gone
though a similar experience and had to be bleeding the towel rail for
the biggest part of 9 months or so. Not needed bleeds or any top ups in
the last year.

--
Chris B (News)

Dave Plowman (News) December 20th 20 11:15 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
In article ,
Chris B wrote:
On 20/12/2020 07:23, Peter James wrote:
On 19 Dec 2020 at 09:06:45 GMT, "Chris Hogg" wrote:

On 19 Dec 2020 08:08:22 GMT, Peter James wrote:



Is it a vented or sealed system? If the latter, is the expansion
vessel doing what it ought to, or is it knackered and the pressure
relief valve is leaking?


It's a sealed system. Only 7 month old from new.
Peter

By that I assume you mean the whole system is new, not just the boiler?
In which case you may find it is just the air coming out of all that
fresh water used to fill the system. I have just (2 years ago) gone
though a similar experience and had to be bleeding the towel rail for
the biggest part of 9 months or so. Not needed bleeds or any top ups in
the last year.


It's odd. My towel rail also needs bleeding from time to time. It's not
the highest rad in the system either - by a long way. System is
pressurized and doesn't seem to have any leaks to speak of - I'd guess I
add some water to it every couple of years.

There is plenty inhibitor, and the rad is stainless steel. Never have to
bleed any other rad in the system.

--
*The best cure for sea sickness, is to sit under a tree.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Liquorice[_2_] December 20th 20 11:48 AM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On Sun, 20 Dec 2020 11:15:04 +0000 (GMT), Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

It's odd. My towel rail also needs bleeding from time to time. It's not
the highest rad in the system either - by a long way.


Is it the first inverted "U" from the boiler? Air released from the
water by the heating will collect there. This doesn't have to be the
highest point in the system 'cause air won't travel down wards very
easily.

--
Cheers
Dave.




Dave Plowman (News) December 20th 20 01:16 PM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
In article l.net,
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 20 Dec 2020 11:15:04 +0000 (GMT), Dave Plowman (News) wrote:


It's odd. My towel rail also needs bleeding from time to time. It's not
the highest rad in the system either - by a long way.


Is it the first inverted "U" from the boiler? Air released from the
water by the heating will collect there. This doesn't have to be the
highest point in the system 'cause air won't travel down wards very
easily.


That could well be it - boiler is in the bathroom too. It's no big deal -
certainly not worth the effort of investigating why. There could well be a
tiny leak somewhere - but doesn't show.

--
*How's my driving? Call 999*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Reentrant[_11_] December 20th 20 05:46 PM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 19/12/2020 08:08, Peter James wrote:
Every three or four weeks I need to de-air the towel radiator in the bathroom.
This is the highest
Radiator in the system.
A friend, who is a retired plumber, suggested that I have a small leak
somewhere in the system. In his day he would have solved it with the addition
to the system of a "leak fixing additive". But he does admit he is totally
out of date and things might have moved on from this.
Can anyone suggest the best way of solving this. I have searched the visible
pipe work, but to no affect.
A Worcester Bosch Greenstar 25 combi boiler is fitted.
Peter

Skillbuilder posted this only yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHogrs_OkxM

(Basically, put some cheap perfume into the system, run it for a week or
two, then go round the house sniffing).

--
Reentrant

alan_m December 20th 20 09:52 PM

Apparent leak on CH system
 
On 20/12/2020 17:46, Reentrant wrote:


(Basically, put some cheap perfume into the system, run it for a week or
two, then go round the house sniffing).


Zoflora would probably work for this

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-G...ucts/262483441

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk


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