Condensing boiler questions

[RSstuff]

Our condensing boiler is running the heating and heating the water as normal, but it's started trickling into the condensate drain almost constantly. Even when it isn't running. Also when first fired up, there seems to be more steam/etc from the flue as in the pic. Before I call the heating guy I'd like an idea of how much expense is incoming.

[Dogwatch]

The plume from the exhaust will vary according to the humidity of the atmosphere. The higher the humidity the more the “steam” will stick around.

[OutInTheShed]

That sounds like a leaking heat exchanger or other leak.
If it's not losing pressure, it must be leaking in the HW circuit.

It could be anything from £50 in parts plus a couple of hours labour up to and beyond a new boiler.

The risk is paying some muppet a small fortune to waste time trying to diagnose it and fit random new parts only to have it fail again.

[RSstuff]

The boiler is 15 years old, and although we've got boiler breakdown cover on the house insurance, unless a repair would give a few more years, I'd probably consider a new boiler.

Edited by RSstuff on Wednesday 17th April 15:08

[RSstuff]

OutInTheShed said:

That sounds like a leaking heat exchanger or other leak.
If it's not losing pressure, it must be leaking in the HW circuit.

It could be anything from £50 in parts plus a couple of hours labour up to and beyond a new boiler.

The risk is paying some muppet a small fortune to waste time trying to diagnose it and fit random new parts only to have it fail again.

Beyond a new boiler, what's the likelihood it's economically repairable? whether it makes any difference, it only gets used between 2-4 hours a day.

[OutInTheShed]

RSstuff said:

Beyond a new boiler, what's the likelihood it's economically repairable? whether it makes any difference, it only gets used between 2-4 hours a day.

I think that might depend on the make and model of the boiler.

Is there a common fault which Mr Boilerman will go straight to and fix in an hour at a sensible cost?
Is the boiler quite old, so lots of parts have done their time?
Are you going to spend £400 in repairs and then need a new boiler next year?

You can't know.

So there is something to be said for getting new one with a ten year warranty.

Down load the manual, have a look at the parts list and look on ebay to see the plastic manifolds and valves and stuff which cause many of the
problems.

It helps a lot if you have a good boiler bloke who will give you fair guidance on what to expect and really knows your make and model.

[RSstuff]

It's a WB boiler, it seems claiming on the breakdown policy doesn't affect the premiums. So I've got nothing to lose by using it.

[SlimJim16v]

Possibly excess water pressure. There should be a gauge or some way of checking it.

[RSstuff]

Engineer has checked, and the heat exchanger is leaking. On a 15 year old boiler it's probably time to think about a new boiler.