Condensate output contains grit and pressure loss

[Bobdisk]

Checking the boiler before winter, I have found the condensate trap contains a lot of grit, rather like sand. I don't think that's normal, but what is it likely to be? It works normally, but keeps losing pressure, about 1 bar every 3-4 days, with no signs of escaping water. I keep topping it up, so the inhibitor must now be weak, but I want to find the leak(s) first. I have put in some ultra violet leak tracing dye, and not seen anything....yet. Its a Worcester Bosch 29CDi classic, about 18 months old

 

[oz-plumber]

I would say you have a hole in the heat exchanger.
Or the heat exchanger need a clean

 

[Bobdisk]

Nothing comes out of the condensate when its not running. The boiler is only about 18 months old. How is the HE cleaned? Can it be done without dismantling?

 

[village idiot]

Nothing comes out of the condensate when its not running. The boiler is only about 18 months old. How is the HE cleaned? Can it be done without dismantling?

If something came out of the HE when boiler is not running, then something is amis. Get a Gas Safe person to sort it out. The front cover will have to be removed etc

 

[wildcard]

If the boilers 18 months old then it"s still in warranty.Call back the gas safe engineer who fitted it & he will have a look.

 

[oz-plumber]

Nothing comes out of the condensate when its not running. The boiler is only about 18 months old. How is the HE cleaned? Can it be done without dismantling?

Cleaning the HE is a fairly involved process.
It does require dismantling the boiler.

I would be calling the original installer back or putting a claim through warranty to see what the problem is.

 

[village idiot]

Before you go down the warranty route, get the installer back in. Depending on the boiler manufacturer, some may take the opportunity to blame the installer and void your said warranty due to: ''Installers fitting practice''

 

[Scott_D]

Was it serviced after a year?
Check all rad valves, vents etc for leaks
Check valves under boiler for leaks
Tape a clear bag over the PRV discharge pipe on the outside wall

You can close the valves under the boiler. If the pressure gauge drops it's loosing from the boiler, if not it's the heating system.

 

[snowhead]

Grit like this?

8 year old Worcester HE 40

[/IMG]

 

[village idiot]

Was it serviced after a year?

Went to service a WB boiler three weeks ago in Kenly, Surrey. Turns out boiler was fitted 3yrs ago. Literature shows 7 yrs warranty. Service records, none for past 3 yrs? I gently made the customer aware that her warranty counts for naught. She told me I must be mad, then showed me paperwork from WB confirming a 7yr warranty for the install.
Yes, says I, but for you to have the warranty, you need to service the boiler annually. She went all white. Had only asked me round to service the boiler as it was noisy. Had the noise not been there, she would have carried on using till something fails then get a shock from WB engineers.

Personally, or every boiler I fit, I send the custard a text message or phone them 10 days before service is due reminding them of the need to service the boiler. I do the same again a week before the service is due. If they ignore me, I assume they are using someone else or are not bothered with a service. Saying that, if at the time of installation, the customer was a 'pain' in the bum, I will not return their calls if they contact me to come do the annual service

 

[Bobdisk]

Snowhead; yes, if that is grit that looks like sharp sand. Scott; yes, it was serviced, and forms filled in on the dot.
Update, 24 hours after putting the uv into the ch and seeing it at a radiator bleed, the condensate trap is glowing like a beacon! I collected a sample in a jam jar for the plumber. I will call the installer on Monday. Its a funny situation, The person who installed it, (he has done several in our road, and has a good reputation. His work is neat and tidy) does not do servicing, I did not know that until I called him for a service, says "servicing is more trouble than its worth". But as I paid him, it is his responsibility while it is still under warranty. So I called in a GasSafe someone who does do servicing. Ever since he serviced it , it keeps loosing pressure. It did not loose any pressure in the first year. See here:
http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/c...68711-losing-ch-pressure-after-servicing.html

 

[Bobdisk]

Another thought, what will Worcester Bosch say about using UV dye in the ch? The maker says its safe.

 

[wildcard]

Another thought, what will Worcester Bosch say about using UV dye in the ch? The maker says its safe.

WB Will invalidate your warranty if you have a water softener connected via the f&e tank or filling loop.Alot of people are"nt aware of this.

 

[Dotty]

Agreed. please read the forum rules. The trap deals with combustion by products and as such you are neither competent nor qualified to tamper with it.

Also as said you have given WB a gold plated excuse not to validate the warranty now you've introduced a foreign agent into the system water without checking with them first.

thread closed.