Modern boilers require constant water pressure to operate effectively. A boiler that repeatedly loses pressure is always cause for concern. It is critical to analyze and identify the problem as quickly as possible to safeguard both the boiler and your home from further harm. For instance, your comb boiler could lose pressure because: Possible causes include a leaking pressure relief valve, a fault with the expansion vessel, a leak in the heating piping, or a recent radiator bleed. In this post at Green Home Grants, we will review the most prevalent Causes of Boiler Losing Pressure loss and provide step-by-step instructions for resolving the issues.
What is Boiler Pressure, and how it works?
However, I think you should acquaint yourself with the general operations of your appliance before dealing with some of the problems and their fixes. Let’s get to understand what boiler pressure is. Hydronic boiler warms cold water and circulates it through pipes and baseboard radiators located in your home. To serve the intended purpose of a device, the pressure required should be enough to ‘shove’ the water. Today, most comb boilers have pressure control by means of filling loop from the cold water supply. It’s that simple!
What should the normal boiler pressure be, and how do you check it?
The average boiler pressure ranges from 1.0 to 1.5 bars. The steps are straightforward if you’re wondering how to check boiler pressure. First, locate the pressure gauge on your boiler. Typically, it is located on the front of the appliance. The pressure gauge will have two coloured sections: red and green. When the pressure is too low, or less than 1.0 bar, the gauge’s needle will be below the green portion, and when the pressure is too high, more than 2.5 bar, the needle will be in the red section.
What Causes a Boiler to Lose Pressure and How Do You Fix It?
Many circumstances contribute to pressure reduction in a boiler. These can run the gambit from a pressure relief valve that is sticking, a new set of radiators that have just been bled, the expansion vessel, right up to a major leak in the pipes. You can easily diagnose such problems, and you can overcome some of them on your own.
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Boiler leaking.
A leak in the boiler is one of the most Causes of Boiler Losing Pressure. Boilers have numerous weak points, including automatic air vents, washers, ring joints, diverter valves, and heat exchangers that can become broken. When there is a significant leak, you will notice it because your boiler will drip from the bottom. Minor internal leaks are less evident because the water drips onto another surface.
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Leak in the system
If you suspect a leak in your piping, you will need to investigate. Begin tracing the pipes in your home to identify the problem. We recommend inspecting the joints and bends, which are the weakest elements of the system. Similar to a leaking boiler, check for a little puddle of water.
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Faulty pressure relief valve.
As the name implies, pressure relief valves are intended to release excess pressure, which typically occurs when the boiler surpasses 3 bars. When such a valve, whether internal or external, fails, it begins leaking water from the central heating system at a lower pressure to a pipe outside of your home.
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The expansion vessel is damaged.
When your boiler’s expansion vessel fails, the pressure rises to three bars when it heats up. This is because the enlarged water in the system has no place to go. Next, the pressure relief valve releases the excess pressure from the boiler, allowing the appliance to reach a safe location. As a result, the pressure gauge shows a significant decline.
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Radiators were recently bled.
The boiler pressure may have reduced if you’ve recently bleed your radiators. The good news is that diagnosing and resolving such an issue is straightforward at Green Home Grants.
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Boiler parts are broken.
The final reason your comb boiler loses pressure is a faulty component. If you lack divination talents, don’t panic; your boiler’s monitor will indicate that the appliance isn’t feeling well and requires a check-up.
If In Doubt, Contact Green Home Grants Specialist.