There are multiple reasons your Combi boiler is losing pressure, however most of the time it can be chopped up to be an easy fix. Pressure loss can stem from a number of reasons. One being there could be a leak in the pressure relief valve, a leak in the heating pipework, an issue in the expansion vessel, or even air in your system.
Throughout this article, we will offer a few options you can try on your own prior to calling for a qualified professional for assistance. These few tips are straightforward and easy for the everyday individual as these are some troubleshooting measures you can take to figure out the problem in no time!
- Is there a Leak in your Combi Boiler Pressure Relief Valve?
Check to make sure you have a continuous flow of water. If you find that you do and it is running through your pressure relief valve, there is a high probability that there is debris that is lodged inside. Should this be the case, unfortunately you will need to be sure to give Advanced Boilers & Hydronic Heating a call as a qualified professional will need to assist in having the valve replaced or cleaned, depending on the circumstances. If our skilled professionals find that a replacement is needed, this is a fairly inexpensive repair and can be fixed in no time.
- Have you Found the Expansion Vessel is Faulty?
The purpose of a Combi boiler expansion vessel is to accommodate any expansion that is created when water is heated up to heat your home, shower, dishes, etc. The expansion vessel will not be able to handle the expanding hot water if it is faulty. The pressure on the vessel will rise at a rapid pace and then eject water through the pressure relief valve.
If this doesn’t seem to pinpoint the problem, be sure to locate the Schrader valve that can be found on the expansion vessel. This looks a lot like an air valve found on a bike tire or even your car. Make sure to unscrew the plastic cover on the top of the Schrader valve and then press the pin in. If water comes out of the valve instead of air, the expansion vessel is no good. This is an indication that the diaphragm inside the vessel has ruptured, therefore requiring a replacement.
Still have a problem after doing these measures? It very well could be that your expansion vessel may need to be pressurized. If you find that the pressure drops and rises rapidly, this is an indication that the expansion vessel needs to be recharged. To be certain of this issue is in fact the culprit, you will need a certified professional to make sure this is the case. If it is, the vessel will then have to be drained first and then the pressure checked shortly after.
With pressurizing the expansion vessel, this is something that is typically done during annual maintenance service, as part of preventative care to avoid happening in the future, however is a fairly easy fix nonetheless should it happen. Bear in mind, we highly recommend that a certified and skilled professional perform this service as this deals with scalding hot water and gas that can be extremely dangerous for the average homeowner to attempt without proper knowledge and experience.
- Check for Air in the System:
This step is a fairly easy and straightforward troubleshooting method you can do on your own. With a few quick checks, there is a high probability you might be able to diagnose the problem on your own prior to calling a qualified boiler professional.
Prior to doing anything else, it is best to try bleeding your radiators (if your system has these). Be sure to use either a radiator key or even a flat screwdriver (this varies on the valve pipe) to “bleed your radiators.” Once you locate the radiator bleed valve, slowly turn the valve at a counter clockwise motion until the water starts to drip out. In doing this, it releases any trapped air and therefore lets hot water into the cold fins. It is important to keep in mind that the radiators must bleed in sequence. Make sure to use a towel or something that is able to catch any drips from the valve to avoid a mess of a situation.
If you find that bleeding the radiators is not effective, be sure to contact an expert at Advanced Boilers & Hydronic Heating. This could indicate that there is a much larger issue such as an air lock in the system, or even the system itself may need to be flushed out. If one of these two things is occurring, this is a job for a team of professionals, as we don’t recommend you try this at home unless you feel completely comfortable in doing so.
- Is There a Leakage in the Central Heating System?
Should you find a leak on your central heating system, it is important to take note that this can also cause your Combi boiler to lose pressure as well. When looking for signs of a leakage in your central heating system, you may find a stain on your ceiling, leaky pipes, a damp floor, or even a small hole in a radiator. Corroded radiators, along with pipes are also a good indication there is a leakage.
While trying to find the exact location of where the leakage is coming from may seem like searching for a needle in a haystack, it is definitely worth a shot. If you find you are able to locate it, this could save you money upfront so as to not have to fork out the money for a qualified professional to do the preliminary troubleshooting measures as mentioned initially.
- Were you Able to Solve the Problem?
If after going through these few troubleshooting steps and you find that the problem has not been solved, please feel free to give Advanced Boilers & Hydronic Heating a call. With our team of highly qualified professionals, we are more than happy to assist in answering any questions or concerns you may have, as well as come out on site to take a look as well. We specialize in a wide array of boiler repair Conifer, boiler maintenance Denver, boiler replacement Denver, as well as boiler Installation Denver services. Rest assured, we will get you and your boiler back up and working in no time!