Underfloor heating leak - diy?

[djohnson]

If anyone can give me some advice appreciated. Arrived tonight to find the heating off (property has been unoccupied for some months, agent was supposed to ensure that all was well and heating was on!). It’s an air sourced heat pump with underfloor heating downstairs. I noticed an error on the heating controller which I reset and also noticed the pressure on the expansion tank (think that’s what it’s called!) was on nil so re-pressured it. However looking in the under-stairs cupboard at the set up for the underfloor heating I found a leak as pictured. It smells damp and hence I think this has been a issue for a while. Question - is there an obvious / easy diy fix for the leaks? I’m far from competent with heating systems but got a tool kit and willing to try or do I just need a professional in the AM? (In rural Northumberland so not always easy to get plumbers out quickly).

[snowandrocks]

Is it a traditional system with pipes set into the concrete slab?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but my parents have been trying to track down a similar small but persistent leak for the last year or so. The pressure drops off over the course of 24h or so but no one has been able to accurately trace the leak.

They're now ripping up and re-laying the entire ground floor slab with new pipes throughout. Complete chaos as the pipes run under a number of internal walls.

Edit: just re-read - hopefully your leak is above surface which should be easy enough to sort out in comparison.

Edited by snowandrocks on Saturday 10th April 04:13

[djohnson]

Thanks. Yep leak is above surface

[Andeh1]

Op, have you tried slacking off & retightening joints?

Got any central heating cover?

snowandrocks said:

Is it a traditional system with pipes set into the concrete slab?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but my parents have been trying to track down a similar small but persistent leak for the last year or so. The pressure drops off over the course of 24h or so but no one has been able to accurately trace the leak.

They're now ripping up and re-laying the entire ground floor slab with new pipes throughout. Complete chaos as the pipes run under a number of internal walls.

Edit: just re-read - hopefully your leak is above surface which should be easy enough to sort out in comparison.

Edited by snowandrocks on Saturday 10th April 04:13

Have they isolated each zone, remove pipe & cap off at the manifold?

Have they replaced the manifold?

Tried some of that central heating leak stop?

A hole in the pipe under the slab, unless malicious, is so unlikely!

[Gingerbread Man]

Is that your auto air vent leaking? Would be an easy swap out if so. Luckily at a high point in the manifold so hopefully air won't be brought into the ufhing

[djohnson]

Hi. Thanks for all replies. The leak is from the black unit to the right of the picture. I’ll try slackening and re tightening joints.

[snowandrocks]

Andeh1 said:

Have they isolated each zone, remove pipe & cap off at the manifold?

Have they replaced the manifold?

Tried some of that central heating leak stop?

A hole in the pipe under the slab, unless malicious, is so unlikely!

Not to hijack the thread but yep, they've isolated each circuit and tested them individually. The leaking circuit is unfortunately the one that runs almost the full length of the house. They've had a couple of different specialists in with thermal imaging cameras etc trying to find the exact location without much luck so didn't really have much choice.

[Teddy Lop]

Andeh1 said:

Have they isolated each zone, remove pipe & cap off at the manifold?

Have they replaced the manifold?

Tried some of that central heating leak stop?

A hole in the pipe under the slab, unless malicious, is so unlikely!

its more than possible with the 5hit way the building game works in this country, I've had to first fix the electrics on a few sites right after the plumbers have fitted the UFH piping. A carelessly placed ladder, a dropped tool, any number of things could damage a pipe enough to be okay for a bit but future trouble.

OP you need to identify the manufacturer of that manifold and see if you can order the bit? Even if getting a plumber in to do it might pay to have it in hand although don't tell him in till he gets there, and bear in mind its often more complicated/something other/something causational than first looks suggest.

[silversurfer1]

djohnson said:

Hi. Thanks for all replies. The leak is from the black unit to the right of the picture. I’ll try slackening and re tightening joints.

No point ! As ginger says the leak is from the auto air vent letting by.

Isolate on the manifold valves remove and replace very easy job

SD

[djohnson]

Thanks

[dhutch]

It does look like the autovent is leaking, which should be a reasonably easy repair.

Perhaps also a weep on the nearest balancing valve.

I would not loosened and retighten or other disturb any joints you don't have to and or which are not already leaking!

[dhutch]

snowandrocks][Copper said:

pipes set into the concrete slab?

They're now ripping up and re-laying the entire ground floor slab with new pipes throughout. Complete chaos as the pipes run under a number of internal walls.

Sadly copper pipes in concrete is a very poor solution, and with time will almost certainly fail, and is not an easy repair especially if it's ufh rather than supplying rads. The cement corrodes the copper with time.

Fortunately it's now rare with the prevalence of plastic pipes, which can often also be run in a single peice with no joints.

Daniel

[Fastpedeller]

dhutch said:

snowandrocks][Copper said:

pipes set into the concrete slab?

They're now ripping up and re-laying the entire ground floor slab with new pipes throughout. Complete chaos as the pipes run under a number of internal walls.

Sadly copper pipes in concrete is a very poor solution, and with time will almost certainly fail, and is not an easy repair especially if it's ufh rather than supplying rads. The cement corrodes the copper with time.

Fortunately it's now rare with the prevalence of plastic pipes, which can often also be run in a single peice with no joints.

Daniel

Zeebo tape around copper - but some 'professional fitters' saved costs years ago