Cheers. After checking the PRV, the expansion vessel, pumping up, letting down, crawling under the floor and checking a million KZread vids who neglected to mention the inspection port for the Heat Exchanger.... I finally found you. Problem solved!!

We have a 5 yr old Ideal boiler, just like the one in this video. It had been losing pressure for nearly 12 months. Two plumbers had been, couldn’t find any leaks, had 2 doses of sealant which helped a bit but didn’t cure it and eventually we were topping up every day. I had started pulling up floorboards, done the easy areas and was contemplating the harder areas when I found this video. It took 2 minutes to find the leak: steady drip into the condensate drain just like in your video, and the drip frequency increased when pressuring the system, which was the clincher that this was the cause. Ideal have now replaced the main exchanger for free under warranty and the pressure is holding fine. Thank you for this video - I have made a small donation!

Your video has just helped me confirm my heat exchanger is leaking after 4 years this evening my daughter pointed out it sounding funny I went to investigate and found with no pressure and boiling like a kettle I shut it down filled the system back up and now it's draining from 2 bar to 0 in 10 mins flat my kids have been complaining it was cold so I have had to sit next to it all night to keep the pressure up so the kids can sleep warm plumber will be called in the morning great video thanks for your help diagnosing the problem

Good to have a expert on line.

@jedisky6162

4 жыл бұрын

Well said.

Great video with a comprehensive, sensible explanation. No 'ego' getting in the way, which happens so often on YT. I have had this problem with an identical Ideal boiler. I had it replaced four days ago. It was just 6 years old. I was prepared to like the Ideal boiler but in that six years, I had replaced the diverter valve three times (one under guarantee), the ignitions set, the pressure relief valve. it had three serious leaks in this time causing damage to new kitchen units. I hope the Baxi that has just been installed does better. Many thanks

Thanks for diagnosis! You are my man! I have an Ariston Genus one 24kw since 2020 - brand new! It starts last year losing pressure - once to 2 months I had to refill. Now got error 309 - gas relays. I checked everything - looks ok. Since I`m using it for UFH with very low temperature (23-35C), the condensing siphon had to be clean of rust every year - otherwise got error 501 - flame detached. Then - I found you! Thanks God! And YES - you are right. After a 309 I checked the rubber pipe under the main heat exchanger and drops are coming every 5 secs. The time between system refills due to losing pressure is 1 day now. What to do? 1. Check the main heat exchanger coil pipe where leaking and: 1a. Stick it with epoxi? 2a. Weld it to a professional welder? 3a. Change the entire main heat exchanger (it kept 2 years only the first one!) Got a new/SH one? 4a. Got a new boiler - which brand shouldn`t do the same at low temperature in UFH system? 5a. Got a new main exchanger/new boiler and use it on high temperature with a mixing thermostatic valve and recirculating pump underneath ? 2. Continue for a wile as is (years?). Is it safe for people around boiler? Is it killing us? (CO?) As I don`t have radiators and all the pipes are polypropylene, I would install under the boiler a water pressure regulator between cold water and heating return to have constantly 0.5-0.6 barr in heating and it can leak as much as it wants. Is it hurting? :)) Thank you! P.S. I am living in Romania but I would buy any recommended boiler by you.

Your analysis for your themas are the best in youtube

Thanks Mr Ballard

@jedisky6162

4 жыл бұрын

I agree

Top man in this industry

Very useful

Great video

@250watts8

4 жыл бұрын

I agree

I had Vaillant round twice over this and they refused to replace the heat exchanger under warranty. They claimed if it was leaking water would be dripping out of the bottom of the boiler. After seeing this it makes complete sense now that the water would be escaping through the condenser waste pipe.

@shabirahmeds

2 жыл бұрын

Same story with me me too

Mark, Thanks for an excellent video. I think this boiler has a siphonic sump which discharges in a gush when full. So checking the condensing pipe for a constant drip doesn't work.

Thinks just found my leak on my filling loop.

How likely are stainless steel heat exchangers to leak? Have you come across any?

My ideal ICOS boiler from 2005 had to go. Leaking heat exchanger. Spent too much trying to keep it alive. They appear to be a pile of junk.

I have a logic combi 30 that loses pressure only when the central heating is used. All summer 6+ months pressure remains steady no drop what so ever. As soon as we start using the heating pressure drops slowly over the course of a few days. You hear gurgling of water In rads. Top up the water, bleed the rads, heating on pressure starts to drop again, rads need bleeding everyday. Been happening for years. Had people out. They do the same obvious checks I do. Any ideas?

Hi Mark I'm wondering if you could help me please. I have an oil combined boiler and I would like to change the heat exchanger to try to improve the amount of hot water to the taps. I have 4 bar of mains pressure and the boiler pressure is set at 2 bar. The heating side works very well but the hot water side is pretty poor, I can only run 1 hit tap at a time properly, as soon as I turn on a second hot tap the flow drops off to a dribble, could I possibly fit a larger capacity heat exchanger to improve the flow to my hot taps. Andy.

Hi Mark, I'm hoping you may possibly be able to diagnise/confirm my thoughts regarding my Ideal Logic Combi 35 boiler continuing to lose pressure. I've had an engineer out multiple timee and over the past year or so my PRV, flow sensor, filling loop valves, have all been replaced. The expansion vessel has been tested and recharged twice and is not leaking. Despite no visible leaks - checked multiple times thoroughly - on any radiators or fittings, no evidence of water damage to ceilings or walls, my boiler is still losing pressure consistently every 2 days or even daily. Pretty much the only part that hasn't been replaced is the main heat exchanger, though about 3 years ago I replaced the boiler with a used, like for like model, as the original boiler was also losing pressure regularly. The water where we are is very hard and full of limescale, which I know doesn't exactly help the life of a boiler or the working parts. We currently do not have a magnaclean filter fitted. I've read that the main heat exchanger in Ideal boilers is prone to faults and pressure loss. I've spent a hell of a lot of money in parts, engineers costs and call outs and really am at a complete loss now. Firstly, would you recommend replacing the main heat exchanger with a reconditioned one as a last resort to resolving the fault, but spending as little as possible on my boiler , or would you say cut my losses and completely replace the boiler with a different make and model? Love your channel and the clear and concise content you put out - keep up the good work!

@lordytar

6 ай бұрын

I have the same boiler and am having the same issues. What started as a weekly top up of the pressure a year is now multiple times a day. I've had a gas engineer replace the vessel, add sealant, and nothing has improved. The boiler was isolated for day or so and the pressure still dropped to 0. I'm going down the new boiler route but am worried the issues will come back! Did you manage to get your issues sorted in the end?

Thank you for sharing your knowledge first of all... anyway I’ve had an engineer out 4 times now and he hasn’t got a clue why I’m topping mine up every 2 weeks. The heating system is 3 years old, ideal logic 30 which are prone to heat exchanger problems. So if I get him to turn off boiler , not isolate water . Turn power off and remove the waste water / condense pipe underneath boiler?

@MarkBallardLTD

3 жыл бұрын

The easiest way to confirm if the boiler or heating system is leaking, is to close the two central heating valves under the boiler. These should be the far left and far right valves both 22mm. Close these, see what happens. You should be able to keep using the hot water but no heating. If you still loos pressure. Most be the boiler. Hope that helps.

@leestar7156

3 жыл бұрын

Mark Ballard LTD hi mark, I did as you instructed isolated the boiler but for 1 month due it being red hot and it still lost almost 1 bar, when I opened the flow and return it lost a very small amount. What’s your professional opinion mate ?

@shabirahmeds

2 жыл бұрын

You need to be more clear in articulating what you are saying ..Red hot weather ? Pressure loss before or after sealing off system ?

Mine was the internal expansion vessel.

Any ideas on finding a leak in central heating system? Boiler engineer said it's not the boiler. There's no water in the ceiling downstairs, no water coming from the radiators at all. Checked the loft for air vessels. I'm at my whits end 😭

@MarkBallardLTD

3 жыл бұрын

If you can't find leak. Use leak sealer , like fernox f4 leak sealer. It's can work really well.

Hi my ideal C30 boilers condensation trap is leaking water at the bottom, it's not winter or cold, could it be my condensation pipe is blocked up. Great video thankyou in advance.

@MarkBallardLTD

Жыл бұрын

Every time your boiler runs hot water or heating water will come out the condensing pipe.

@sloopycat1954

Жыл бұрын

@Mark Ballard Thankyou for your reply, I think you misunderstood my question, water was leaking from the bottom of the condensation TRAP of my IDEAL logic C30 boiler when it was overfilled, i wasen't 100% sure what to do that's why I asked you for advice, anyway I emptied the the condensation trap at and that has solved the problem, please reply back I would be grateful to hear your opinion, whether you think I did it right or wrong. Great video.

Could we have a video on how to change a basin tap please.

@ichdenker

4 жыл бұрын

That is one job I find a right pain.

@MarkBallardLTD

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, its on the list.

@ichdenker

4 жыл бұрын

@@MarkBallardLTD Thanks

@250watts8

4 жыл бұрын

@@MarkBallardLTD Thanks

Would be great to get your opinion on my last comment Mark

Answer to an Ideal boiler...scrap it and fit a Viessmann. Design fault in heat exchanger...mine lasted 2 years from new. Replacement warranty one year not ten. Ideal will not guarantee their boilers for ten years unless it was fitted from new with their own brand filter. Avoid.

Literally have to top up every half an hour & the pipe system coming out of the back wall is constantly leaking water with metal shards and sludge! My CO2 sensor (which is placed close to the boiler) also sets off usually at least once or twice a month. But it records a constant moderate leak of CO2. The pipes are all rusted & rotten. I cannot drink from them as they will make one sick, they also really negatively affect my skin. Yet, every time #PoblHousing send their yearly gas engineer out, despite all of these issues and way more written down; nothing is done about it! #PoblHousing are truly the most evil monsters I have ever come across. They will kill off their tenants, just to get a property back to fix up, double the rent, and make a profit! They call THIS charity! I call it an unscrupulous corporation's systematic abuse of authority, driven by their repugnant lucre!! I'm usually a very laid-back person. But, I have to say, they get under my skin in a way I can't describe. #CorruptCompanies #AmIRight #ScrewYouPoblHousing #Bleh