Boiler leaking water- is it repairable?

Angus

Member
Location
Devon
Our oil fired boiler is leaking water out of the front . It will not ignite, infact it trips the electrics. It is leaking through the burner assembly. I cannot get hold of our engineer, could anyone advise on (a) the possible problem, prognosis, and (b) a reliable engineer in the South Devon area. As you have all probably guessed mechanics is not my strong point. I'm guessing something is goosed. The boiler is about twenty years old, thanks in advance, Angus.
 

Gone Shooting

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
hereford
Serviced a worcester boiler in one of our cottages and a week later it started to leak like yours - ended up paying for a service and a new boiler ! At that age replace it before the rest of it falls apart - its done you well .
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I am wondering how a new boiler is going to fit in here. Don’t they need to be on an outside wall to let the condensate out? Presumably they don’t need a chimney either which is a good thing as our chimney has just about had it.
 
Depending how well insulated your house is an ASHP might be a viable replacement with the RHI on it for 7 years.

Quickest fix would be replace like for like 'cos an ASHP would need a dedicated hot water cylinder system it your boiler provides hot water as well.
 

Cowabunga

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
I am wondering how a new boiler is going to fit in here. Don’t they need to be on an outside wall to let the condensate out? Presumably they don’t need a chimney either which is a good thing as our chimney has just about had it.
They certainly need a vent to the outside for the exhaust if not for condensate. Whether that is a hole directly out of its back through an outside wall, or a 'chimney' aimed vertically is up to the individual installation.
 

br jones

Member
Our oil fired boiler is leaking water out of the front . It will not ignite, infact it trips the electrics. It is leaking through the burner assembly. I cannot get hold of our engineer, could anyone advise on (a) the possible problem, prognosis, and (b) a reliable engineer in the South Devon area. As you have all probably guessed mechanics is not my strong point. I'm guessing something is goosed. The boiler is about twenty years old, thanks in advance, Angus.
If you can afford it ,change it for a oil condensing boiler ,use 1/2 the amount of oil
 

br jones

Member
Depending how well insulated your house is an ASHP might be a viable replacement with the RHI on it for 7 years.

Quickest fix would be replace like for like 'cos an ASHP would need a dedicated hot water cylinder system it your boiler provides hot water as well.
Thing is with ashp ,you have to increase the size of your radiators by 30 % and if it isnt used for UFH its a pointless waste of money
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
I am wondering how a new boiler is going to fit in here. Don’t they need to be on an outside wall to let the condensate out? Presumably they don’t need a chimney either which is a good thing as our chimney has just about had it.

The best place for an oil boiler is outside the house in it's own little built-in shed. Period.
 

C.J

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Devon
Our oil fired boiler is leaking water out of the front . It will not ignite, infact it trips the electrics. It is leaking through the burner assembly. I cannot get hold of our engineer, could anyone advise on (a) the possible problem, prognosis, and (b) a reliable engineer in the South Devon area. As you have all probably guessed mechanics is not my strong point. I'm guessing something is goosed. The boiler is about twenty years old, thanks in advance, Angus.

Phil Blackler http://oilburnerservice.co.uk/
 
Our oil fired boiler is leaking water out of the front . It will not ignite, infact it trips the electrics. It is leaking through the burner assembly. I cannot get hold of our engineer, could anyone advise on (a) the possible problem, prognosis, and (b) a reliable engineer in the South Devon area. As you have all probably guessed mechanics is not my strong point. I'm guessing something is goosed. The boiler is about twenty years old, thanks in advance, Angus.

It's knackered.

If you want to limp along whilst you get a newie sorted, find somewhere lower than the burner that you can drill a hole to let the water out, dry everything and it'll work until the leak gets very bad.
 

Ukjay

Member
Location
Wales!
I am wondering how a new boiler is going to fit in here. Don’t they need to be on an outside wall to let the condensate out? Presumably they don’t need a chimney either which is a good thing as our chimney has just about had it.

They will more than likely have a balanced flue, the boiler itsleft could be mounted in an area that has access to an outside wall, not just out the rear, as you have options to allow side and high level outlets, just depends on situation.

The condensate does not need to go outside - and many advise it is even preferrred these days to take it to an inside waste pipe to prevent issues with freezing of the condensate pipe which knocks the boiler out. If there is no near waste pipe - you can add a condensate pump like this to help get it to the desired location

 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Check out whether you qualify for a free, more efficient and cleaner new boiler through some energy saving scheme in your area. Not long ago I was phoned every other day by different companies wanting to replace my oil boiler for free.

Looked at one of these "offerings" a year or so back for one of our cottages with an elderly tenant, so the building qualified.....ish. The cost of the subsidised gas boiler and the remedial works needed meant I got my engineer to put another LPG combi in for less money! As for oil.... forget it!
 

Angus

Member
Location
Devon
Thank you all for your replies, I suspected as much. The boiler is a Grant 140-160 and has a fair number of radiators to heat. It mainly provides heat and hot water for the family business, but , as we are in tier three that has been closed for the time being, so at least we have time on our side.
 

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