Newly installed combi losing pressure

[hedylaura]

We just spent £3k+ upgrading our old open-vented system boiler system to a new combi condenser boiler (Viessmann 30kw) system which worked less than a week before the pressure dropped to 0 resulting in no hot water or heating. The plumber came and topped up the system saying it was "just one of those things" that happens occasionally for no discernable reason. So I duly paid him for his work. Then a few days later it happened again.

Now the plumber is saying ("in his opinion") that we have a leak in the pipework on the ground floor. He reasoned this because one of the radiators on the top (first) floor had completey drained, and had it been a leak on the top floor there would be signs of it on the ceiling. He topped it up again as a temporary measure so we were able to have hot showers on our return from a trip to Oz, but by the time we got back (less that 24hrs later) it had dropped to zero again.

He is suggesting re-piping the entire ground floor, which will ruin our flooring.

I can't see any evidence of a leak, and we had the place checked for damp not so long ago and this did not flag up any problems in the areas where we have pipework.

So my questions are - is he right? And are there any other ways to determine if/where there is a leak without going to the extreme lengths of ripping up flooring? Is it possible that the plumber caused the leak by over-pressurising the system?

And more importantly - am I liable for the additional costs that this will incur? In my view he hasn't finished the job he set out to do - we did not just buy a boiler off him, we bought hot water and heating. Both of which have been supplied for no more that a week in total since the installation 1 month ago.

Thanks for your help!

Hedy

 

[Hybrid]

The way I see it the customer is more inclined to accept my quote if they think they've already paid £50 towards the final cost. If they don't accept my quote they've still got something for their money and I haven't totally wasted my time.

 

[arran197]

The way I see it the customer is more inclined to accept my quote if they think they've already paid £50 towards the final cost. If they don't accept my quote they've still got something for their money and I haven't totally wasted my time.

That is a good idea, but I can imagine there is more work involved in testing it than you first think? Do you hydrolic test it or just pressurise it with air or something?

 

[LeakFinder's]

Hybrid,
I would agree with you but we always asume a plumber has confirmed the fault by pressure testing the pipework before we visit a site. It would suprise you how many guys including old hands cant be bothered to do a pressure test.

 

[Hybrid]

It doesn't surpise me Leakfinder lol. A lot of people spend so long thinking of creative ways to establish if there is a leak they'd be quicker just testing it in the first place.

Arran I hydraulic test it.
It takes a bit of time but it something i'd be doing if I get the job anyway and it usually sways a customer towards using me. I spend the test time discussing the install with the customer. I get paid £50 to quote lol, wish everyone would take me up on the offer.

 

[E4gas]

I got called back to combi conversion the next day 9pm , water dripping though the celing , ripped up hallway floor boards, no where near my work , found a pin hole in hot pipe to bathroom , it was like I tiny jet , must have been leaking a good 24 hrs , cut out hole , repaired ..