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If the gas boiler is leaking, the reasons may be in poor-quality equipment, improper operation. How to detect and quickly fix a leak? How to restore the work of equipment? We have prepared useful recommendations to help you stay warm in the cold winter.
Why did the heating boiler leak
What should I do if water drips from the case? Find out the cause of the leak, which is not always obvious. Sometimes a leak is indicated by reduced pressure in the system.
Because of what the structure leaks:
- Corrosion of metal components. Parts come into contact with water, are subject to temperature changes, so the corrosive effect can quickly lead to damage. Much depends on the quality of the metal. If the heat exchanger is made of diluted alloys, it wears out faster, the tightness of the seams is broken.
- The thin walls of the radiator quickly burn out.
- Water hammer and high pressure contribute to breakage.
- It’s not the boiler, but the accumulation of condensate. It flows down from the walls of the chimney and drips onto the burner. As a result, the flame may go out. If this happens frequently, install a water intake tank. In case of leakage from the pump side, tighten the central nut.
Consider the causes and their solutions in detail. Malfunctions are typical for all models of Vaillant Turbo, Navien and other brands.
Corrosive effect
The radiators of a double-circuit boiler are made of different metals, which are destroyed in different ways. The main alloys are copper, steel, cast iron. Copper heat exchangers are found in “Bucks”, as well as wall-mounted units “Rinay”, “Celtic”, “Bosch”. They are resistant to corrosion when used correctly. Therefore, manufacturers do not recommend turning on heating more than 60 degrees.
In some models, radiators are coated with an anti-corrosion agent.
Steel heat exchangers are cheaper, resistant to temperature extremes, but more susceptible to corrosion. They can be found in the boilers “Proterm”, “Buderus”, “Beretta”. Basically, steel products are not covered with protection, with the exception of the Ferolli trademark. The protective layer is an aluminum coating with environmentally friendly insulation.
Cast iron blocks are not afraid of corrosion, but are sensitive to water hammer and temperature changes.
Interestingly, the rest of the metal surfaces of the boilers are not covered with a protective layer, as in boilers. Although boilers last longer than water heaters. The thickness of the walls of the case is 1,5 mm, and the combustion chambers are 2 mm, so breakdowns occur less frequently.
Make-up technology
Many users do not pay attention to this factor, but it has already been proven that it really affects the durability of the device. This is the quality of the water. It is believed that “dead water” should be used in the heating system. It does not contain oxygen, additives, microorganisms. Therefore, it does not react with metals. If you do add tap water, do so infrequently. Oxygen contributes to damage to the inner walls of parts.
Welding seams
Manufacturers should pay special attention to the quality of the seams, because the device works under pressure. Abroad, with the assembly of equipment, automation has been working for a long time, and here the seams are performed using X-rays. A small oversight will result in a leak. Often this happens at the end of the warranty, when it is already difficult to prove a factory defect.
You can repair a crack, weld a seam, but, according to user reviews, such a repair will not help for long.
Burnt walls
Although the combustion chamber is made of thick metal, improper operation leads to burnout of steel and cast iron.
- The boiler works at the maximum mark constantly. A high flame erupts. This happens due to poor insulation of the home or with an incorrectly selected model – without taking into account the area.
- Incorrect burner power setting.
- The combustion chamber is set too low.
When choosing a technique, study the reviews of users, the manufacturer. Consider the volume of the room and install a boiler of suitable power, with flame regulation.
High blood pressure
Gas equipment is designed for a certain pressure. When heated, the liquid expands leads to bursting of the tank and possible leakage. What else can be a problem:
- Expansion tank failure. It is designed to remove excess liquid during heating.
- Air congestion. Excess air can be bled off by unscrewing the taps on the radiators.
- Filter blockage. Rinse it under running water.
- The safety valve is leaking – this indicates a blockage or malfunction of the element. If water constantly flows from the tube, this indicates a broken valve. In this case, the operation is dangerous and may lead to an explosion of the boiler. Therefore, remove and clean the valve from deposits, replace if there is a malfunction.
Follow the pressure gauge readings. The pressure in the expansion tank and the valve must match.
How to fix a leak
To stop a leak in the radiator, you can use the soldering method. Before draining the water, disconnect the device from the mains and wait for the boiler to cool down. If the heat exchanger leaks, drain the water from the circuit.
Now remove the radiator:
- Unscrew the screws of the outer casing and the camera protection, dismantle them.
- Disconnect the wiring of the sensors, the tubes that are connected to the node.
- Take a photo or mark with a marker the correct connections to complete the connection.
- Turn off the fan and smoke detector.
- Carefully dismantle the heat exchanger.
Soldering is carried out with a gas burner. First, the place of corrosion is cleaned with fine sandpaper, then degreased. Solder is used for soldering; at the end of the work, the damaged area can be covered with aluminum for protection.
To avoid further problems in operation, inspect not only the outer case, but also the internal components when buying. Radiator material, quality of seams, joints, connections. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding flame modulation and temperature.