A leaking Boiler’s usually down to a faulty seal or valve and in more extreme cases a split pipe.
Never ignore a leak. Left alone leaks can cause rust and corrosion inside your Boiler, shortening the lifespan.
A Boiler has electrical parts. Electricity and water don’t mix. Water from a leak can find it’s way to the electrical components inside a Boiler and cause them to short circuit.
In the event of a Boiler leak, you can follow this quick procedure to establish the cause.
Is a pipe leaking?
The first place to check is the pipes underneath the Boiler. There are various copper pipes and a plastic condensate pipe. Check them all and see if any are leaking water.
Is the Boiler turned on or off?
You might find when the Boiler’s running there’s no leak this is due to the pipework expanding when hot. If this is the case, a hot water pipe is likely the cause of the leak.
What if the Boilers on and a pipe’s still leaking?
In this instance, it could be the cold water pipe from the mains.
Check the Boiler pressure once you have determined whether its a hot or cold water pipe that’s leaking.
A leaking Boiler combined with a loss of pressure could be down to a failed pressure relief valve.
If the pressure relief valve is leaking your Boiler pressure could be too high. Pressure should be between 18-21 psi. The valve’s designed to leak water under pressure to stop the system from blowing up. Check your pressure.
Other causes of leaks include
A faulty temperature probe can cause a Boiler to run too hot and to leak.
It’s possible the leak’s coming from a faulty Boiler pump. In this instance, the pump will need repairing or replacing.
Do not continue to use your Boiler on the discovery of a leak. Leaving your Boiler running could cause damage to your Boiler and expensive water damage to your home.
Never Attempt a DIY Boiler Repair
You should never attempt to repair a Boiler yourself. Even for simple tasks like tightening pipe connections. Over tightening can cause serious issues.
Always use a qualified gas engineer for Boiler Repairs. Even a minor repair like a leak.
We are on hand 24/7 for plumbing and heating emergencies. Feel free to get in touch if you need any advice on your leaking Boiler or you would like to book an engineer.