Do you have a boiler that is losing pressure or has lost pressure? No need to worry. It is quite common and happens to a lot of people. In this article I am going to tell you why a boiler loses pressure and how you can fix it.
Function of Pressure Loop
Most modern boilers have a pressure system which is maintained by something called the pressure loop. You don’t have to worry to know what the pressure loop is. What you do need to know is that this pressure loop is what maintains pressure in your boiler. The pressure gauge needs to be between 1 and 1.5 bars. If it falls below one then you need to re-pressurize your boiler.
Boilers do lose pressure over time. This is common. But if you find that it has lost sudden pressure then either there is a leak in the system or there is a bleeding radiator.
What You Should Do in Case of a Leak?
The first thing you should do is check the pipes and walls for any signs of leaks. Since most pipes have joints the leaks usually happen around the joints. Look for water on the floor around one of the pipes. Touch the walls and see if you find them damp. And look for chipping paint which is also a sign of water leak.
Sometimes the water around pipes can be a result of condensation. If you are unsure, wipe the pipe and put a tray underneath it. Turn on the system and see if the leak happens.
What You Should Do In Case of a Bleeding Radiator?
The second reason could be that you just bled the radiator and there is not enough air in it to build the pressure.
Once you know that there is less pressure you can restart the boiler to see if the pressure builds up. If not you can fill it with water until the pressure reaches between 1 and 1.5 bars. Check the company manual or their website on instructions to re pressurize.
Never look for leaks inside the boiler or try to open it yourself. If you need tools to open the boiler then you should not do it because
You can lose your warranty
More importantly, because it is extremely dangerous due to hot water inside.
In this case, call a gas engineer and have them look for the problem and repair it.