Water escaping via condensate pipe

[neomagik]

Hi folks,

I'd appreciate a bit of help if possible.

My boiler has suddenly started loosing pressure. I now need to pressurise the system twice a day. At first I thought it was a leek but after a thorough investigation I was unable to find one. I then placed a plastic cup under the condensate pipe and left it for 7 hours. When I returned the cup was full to the brim. I'm not to sure how much water is supposed to exit this pipe but as it is condensed steam I would guess not a lot and that this is the reason for the pressure loss.

I am guessing that the prv is stuck slightly open but would appreciate you guys opinion. The prv looks pretty simple to replace but I'd like to know if there's anything else I need to be checking while I'm at it.

Boiler is a Potterton Promax Combi HE Plus.

Thanks

 

[southcoastboile]

condence pipe will drip when boiler is running, nothing to do with pressure, if you dont know this then you realy shouldn't be changing any parts, if the vessel is faulty then its probably why the prv is dripping, you will then find you replace the prv and it will do the same thing, the vessel pipe may also be blocked, causing the same problem, this is why you should call a gs engineer, they will know what they are doing. it is not something you should be touching yourself, i hope i have helped in narrowing down the fault but please dont attempt this, you may live to regret it.

 

[mikegas]

the prv is not connected to the condensate pipe, did you collect the water from a plastic pipe or copper?

 

[diamondgas]

:welcome: to the forum neomagik

Sorry if i offend but your post says a lot about how little you know/understand regards your particular heating system and design IMO

Pressure loss has many many cause! Best bet is to pay for a professional IMHO

 

[neomagik]

Thanks for the welcome and replies,

If your replies suggested that it could be a simple prv replacement I would attempt it, but it looks like I need to seek a pro!

In answer to mikegas, I collected the water from a plastic pipe.

In answer to southcoastboile, I realise that water is supposed to drip from the condensate pipe as a result of the temperature reduction of the flue gas, I just didn't realise there would be so much, remembering back to my physics lessons at school, the volume of steam is many hundreds of times greater than the equivelent volume of water.

And in answer to diamondgas, I will call in a gas engineer but to save his time and my wallet, I'd like to be able to rule out anything that I can to point him generally in the right direction.

I am naturally curious about these things so would someone be able to tell me where the water discharges to when you manually open the prv?

Thanks in advance.

 

[diamondgas]

Water should discharge to outside where it is noticable but not a nuicence! Far as my memory reveales close to midnight ...lol
Bottom line in Neomagik you could have asimple pressure loss in the expansion vessel exagerating the tinitest of leaks ... however it's hard to say wehether thats your issue.

Condensate collection is incidental untless it is when the appliance is off!

 

[mikegas]

you can put your location up and someone on here might be able to take the job

 

[neomagik]

Newark, Nottinghamshire

 

[jtsplumbing]

Q` is the plastic condense pipe not connected to anything ??

 

[neomagik]

Hi jtsplumbing,

It's connected to the condensate outlet on the boiler, it then exits the house and drops to my garage guttering.

 

[mfgs]

I understand you want to try and "point your gas engineer in the right direction", but no engineer to gonna pay any attention to someone telling him what they have tested and what the fault is etc. They are always gonna test and check everything themselves. Just call a local engineer in and let him do his job.

 

[neomagik]

Hi mfgs,

I have already said I will get an engineer in but I'm not just going to point at the boiler and say 'fix it please' which by your logic I may as well do :smiley2:

 

[Gray0689]

Hi mfgs,

I have already said I will get an engineer in but I'm not just going to point at the boiler and say 'fix it please' which by your logic I may as well do :smiley2:

Well yes you should as your not qualified to tell him what the problem is you can point out what you think the problem is and he/she will sort it out for you

 

[neomagik]

Gray 0689.

My point exactly.

I've already contacted an engineer who has asked me a series of questions to help narrow down the problem! Questions which without my own investigations I couldn't have answered. He wants me to tie a plastic bag to the copper outlet pipe outside to see if this collects water. This is something I can easily and safely do without the time and expense of the engineer and was the kind of advise I was after from you guys!

I shall not ask again.

 

[Gunner-rob62]

If you have water dripping from the condensate pipe when the boiler has been off for some time then the leak is internal to the boiler, possibly a split heat exchanger. Nothing to do with pres. relief valve

 

[Anton]

Hi
I'm a newbie, so be gentle.
Most likely to be no air pressure in the boiler expansion vessel. If the heating comes on twice a day, the water expands, and dumps out of the PRV. Nothing to do with condensate water. The heating water expansion is normally absorbed by the expansion vessel. If the vessel is full of water, instead of air at 7.5- 15psi pressure, the water can only expand and go out of the PRV into the gutter.

 

[yo1]

if its a problem with losing pressure then the engineer shouldn't need much information, apart from that you need to top it up every day and have you noticed any leaks in your house..