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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[RSstuff]

Worcester Bosch sent their own engineer out to fit a new heat exchanger and a couple of other parts, for £355. The engineer said he'd carried out a service at the same time. Some retailers were asking more than that just to supply the heat exchanger. As long as the boiler is serviced annually the part has a decent warranty as well.