M
matthussey
In July we had our open vented back boiler break down so replaced it with a sealed condensing boiler. 2 radiators were replaced too but the remainder and pipes are the original ones.
Before the replacement we had air often collecting in our highest radiator, the bathroom towel rail. We were told this was most likely due to the pump sucking air in and collecting in the highest, and first, radiator in the system.
Our problem is that it seems to be still happening. Over the summer while the heating was not on I could bleed the towel rail of air.
When we turned our heating on in October I pressured to 1.5 bar, as advised by our fitter. Air still collected in the towel rail but the pressure on the boiler remained at 1.5 bar. If I bleed then the pressure obviously goes down.
Because it seemed to be a small leak I pressured back to 1.5 bar on November 5th and avoiding bleeding. The top rail was cooler after a few days. A week later the second rail was getting cooler too. After 19 days, today, the third rail takes longer to warm up but eventually does get hot, the top two bars get slightly warm but I think by conduction or convection rather than water. The cold pressure today (day 19) was still 1.5 bar. After bleeding the cold pressure lost between 0.1 and 0.2 bar.
I tried lighting the "air" and it didn't burn. I tried catching it in a bag too to see if it is lighter than air but it didn't seem to be. Therefore, I don't think it is hydrogen.
The system has inhibitor in it.
I contacted the fitter and they said that if air is getting in then water is getting out and we must have a leak. They told us to go round all of the exposed pipework with coloured paper towels to see if I can find anything but I couldn't. Their response to me saying this was that it must be in the pipework but that it would be 'like looking for a needle in a haystack' to find. They recommended waiting for it to become more obvious.
Our piping is mostly within our first floor and it drops down to the radiators on the ground floor from the ceiling. I can only find one place where it goes through a wall.
I'm just not sure of what my next steps are to fix this. I've looked at getting hold of leak specialists to help but these aren't cheap. I could also contact my insurance but I'm not sure I really want to claim.
What should I be doing to fix the leak?
Before the replacement we had air often collecting in our highest radiator, the bathroom towel rail. We were told this was most likely due to the pump sucking air in and collecting in the highest, and first, radiator in the system.
Our problem is that it seems to be still happening. Over the summer while the heating was not on I could bleed the towel rail of air.
When we turned our heating on in October I pressured to 1.5 bar, as advised by our fitter. Air still collected in the towel rail but the pressure on the boiler remained at 1.5 bar. If I bleed then the pressure obviously goes down.
Because it seemed to be a small leak I pressured back to 1.5 bar on November 5th and avoiding bleeding. The top rail was cooler after a few days. A week later the second rail was getting cooler too. After 19 days, today, the third rail takes longer to warm up but eventually does get hot, the top two bars get slightly warm but I think by conduction or convection rather than water. The cold pressure today (day 19) was still 1.5 bar. After bleeding the cold pressure lost between 0.1 and 0.2 bar.
I tried lighting the "air" and it didn't burn. I tried catching it in a bag too to see if it is lighter than air but it didn't seem to be. Therefore, I don't think it is hydrogen.
The system has inhibitor in it.
I contacted the fitter and they said that if air is getting in then water is getting out and we must have a leak. They told us to go round all of the exposed pipework with coloured paper towels to see if I can find anything but I couldn't. Their response to me saying this was that it must be in the pipework but that it would be 'like looking for a needle in a haystack' to find. They recommended waiting for it to become more obvious.
Our piping is mostly within our first floor and it drops down to the radiators on the ground floor from the ceiling. I can only find one place where it goes through a wall.
I'm just not sure of what my next steps are to fix this. I've looked at getting hold of leak specialists to help but these aren't cheap. I could also contact my insurance but I'm not sure I really want to claim.
What should I be doing to fix the leak?
