Funny smell from hot water.....
Discussion
Don't know if anyone can help with this......
Some may know I have a boiler that has had numerous problems since I bought the place. The boiler was newly installed a month before. It's an oil fired combi boiler and we suspect it has been a botched/cheap installation
Anyway - everytime we've had problems with the boiler and it's repaired we have stinking hot water - very noticeable when in the bath. Smells strongly of chlorine. Only the hot water stinks and sometimes its very strong and you come out of the bath smelling of the stuff - its horrible.
A few weeks ago a pipe behind the boiler burst - we had a new copper one installed and we needed a new expansion tank. No funny smells until now - last night the water was stinking of the stuff again - girlfriend actually felt unwell because it was so strong.
Does anyone know what may cause this? I know the bloody thing probably needs to be condemed. When we have had plumbers in they say the boiler is a decent enough make - we live in a steadings development and all the neighbours have had problems with their plumbing over the years - apparently the houses were done to a good standard - but the plumbing really lets them down. Plastic pipes - we are selling next year !!
Any thoughts appreciated - as I said always seems to stink after or just before its been fixed/repaired.
Some may know I have a boiler that has had numerous problems since I bought the place. The boiler was newly installed a month before. It's an oil fired combi boiler and we suspect it has been a botched/cheap installation
Anyway - everytime we've had problems with the boiler and it's repaired we have stinking hot water - very noticeable when in the bath. Smells strongly of chlorine. Only the hot water stinks and sometimes its very strong and you come out of the bath smelling of the stuff - its horrible.
A few weeks ago a pipe behind the boiler burst - we had a new copper one installed and we needed a new expansion tank. No funny smells until now - last night the water was stinking of the stuff again - girlfriend actually felt unwell because it was so strong.
Does anyone know what may cause this? I know the bloody thing probably needs to be condemed. When we have had plumbers in they say the boiler is a decent enough make - we live in a steadings development and all the neighbours have had problems with their plumbing over the years - apparently the houses were done to a good standard - but the plumbing really lets them down. Plastic pipes - we are selling next year !!
Any thoughts appreciated - as I said always seems to stink after or just before its been fixed/repaired.
One thing I've noticed when working on combination boilers is that if you drain the domestic water from it, you can often get a lot of brown looking water flowing from the hot tap when you re-commission it. I imagine it caused by the sudden rush of water disturbing sediment in the pipework.
It often only lasts for a few seconds though until it runs clear again though.
Another possibility is that the plate heat exchanger may have split. When this happens heating water mixes with the hot water.
The tell tale sign is that it usually over pressurises the heating system. But if you are in an area with a low mains water pressure, it may not be noticeable.
Easy way to check it is to reduce the system pressure to zero and if the pressure starts rising by itself, the heat exchanger is probably to blame.
It often only lasts for a few seconds though until it runs clear again though.
Another possibility is that the plate heat exchanger may have split. When this happens heating water mixes with the hot water.
The tell tale sign is that it usually over pressurises the heating system. But if you are in an area with a low mains water pressure, it may not be noticeable.
Easy way to check it is to reduce the system pressure to zero and if the pressure starts rising by itself, the heat exchanger is probably to blame.
wolf1 said:
Is it a combi or traditional system with a hot water tank? If it's the latter could it be the additive in the central heating system leaking into the hot water tank?
Is the hot mains fed or a tank in the attic? Have you checked it for dead mice/birds etc?
Sorry for delay in getting back - it is a traditional combi - no hot water tank. First time I've had one of these - never again.Is the hot mains fed or a tank in the attic? Have you checked it for dead mice/birds etc?
R1 CKY said:
One thing I've noticed when working on combination boilers is that if you drain the domestic water from it, you can often get a lot of brown looking water flowing from the hot tap when you re-commission it. I imagine it caused by the sudden rush of water disturbing sediment in the pipework.
It often only lasts for a few seconds though until it runs clear again though.
Another possibility is that the plate heat exchanger may have split. When this happens heating water mixes with the hot water.
The tell tale sign is that it usually over pressurises the heating system. But if you are in an area with a low mains water pressure, it may not be noticeable.
Easy way to check it is to reduce the system pressure to zero and if the pressure starts rising by itself, the heat exchanger is probably to blame.
Thanks for information - I'm due to get married this wekend and then off on honeymoon - don't want to start fking around with things I don't know about. i may try this when we're back - however it will be due a service shortly after that so maybe I can wait until then.It often only lasts for a few seconds though until it runs clear again though.
Another possibility is that the plate heat exchanger may have split. When this happens heating water mixes with the hot water.
The tell tale sign is that it usually over pressurises the heating system. But if you are in an area with a low mains water pressure, it may not be noticeable.
Easy way to check it is to reduce the system pressure to zero and if the pressure starts rising by itself, the heat exchanger is probably to blame.
In your opinion is any of what you said hazardous to health when we are in the tub?
Thanks again for info.
R1 CKY said:
Wouldn't like to say, but I've come into contact with chemicals used in heating systems undiluted and had no ill effects.
In fact I've actually swallowed some inhibitor and I'm still alive!
Thanks for getting back to me with that - this happened on and off since last November if I remember correctly and no ill effects to report - but last night was pretty bad - very weird as it usually only lasts a couple of nights then nothing for a good while!In fact I've actually swallowed some inhibitor and I'm still alive!
Anyway - thanks again.
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