Boiler leak

[fizzy]

I rent out my Aunt's old house. Boiler was serviced Monday. No hot water Tuesday. I went and pressurised the system. Today I get a phone call. Black water coming through the ceiling

Found this. No idea why it's suddenly started to leak. Any ideas? Do I bypass or replace? They aren't cheap. What size are those bigger pipes?

Cheers in advance.

 

[fizzy]

 

[Welderpaul]

Mine did the same a year or two ago. The rubber which surrounded the magnetic 'core' perished and started leaking.
Managed to find a new one on ebay and swapped it over. 5 minute job to change. I wouldn't bypass it.

28mm?

First call is to whoever serviced it?

 

[Barking Mat]

Bet it's the o ring.

 

[fizzy]

Thanks that would explain it.
Will chase one up tomorrow.
In fairness to the service chap I did the same and walked away. Leak took 24 hrs to show up.

 

[fizzy]

Bet it's the o ring.

Just watched a video on these - no the leak is coming from the bottom connector where it joins the plastic body. No O rings there are there?

 

[DanZac]

Just watched a video on these - no the leak is coming from the bottom connector where it joins the plastic body. No O rings there are there?

Is it? From the pictures it looks like it's coming from the drain plug on the bottom (assuming it's the same design as the one we've got).

 

[Seadog]

The magnet has an O ring to hold it in place. However, it is not a seal since the magnet is not in contact with liquid, but sits in a plastic sleeve which forms parts of the top.

 

[Matrixx]

To service the magnet you turn the valves (with system off), open the vent to release pressure then unscrew the top section and take out the magnet and plastic sleeve clean and put back in, then vent the filter. the black stuff is the metal oxide the magnet is supposed to collect. the leak is from the bottom valve, its just a rubber seal.
I have the new version which has a bypass section.

 

[fizzy]

Is it? From the pictures it looks like it's coming from the drain plug on the bottom (assuming it's the same design as the one we've got).

No drain plug on this one.

 

[bert]

I have one of those and it's replaced as part of the service every year. Mines got a drain bolt in the bottom.

 

[fizzy]

I have one of those and it's replaced as part of the service every year. Mines got a drain bolt in the bottom.

No need to replace that's wasteful at £90 a go. Designed to be easily cleaned.

 

[bricol]

Fernox version on the same idea is dead easy - pull magnet out the top, open drain valve at bottom - flushes all the crap out. Can't remember if the recommendation is to shut the valves first or not.

The amount of crap that came out the first time after I fitted it !!!! Not had much on every occasion since.

 

[steve_s]

Looking at the water in the bucket looks like it could do with a power flush and inhibitor

 

[The Artilleryman]

Looking at the water in the bucket looks like it could do with a power flush and inhibitor

That might cause further leaks, can be very costly if pipes are inaccessible - don't ask me how I know.

 

[fizzy]

All sorted. Bought a new seal kit on Amazon. No magnetic particles at all in there. Flushed it all out. Leak was a flat washer on one of the connectors.

 

[bricol]

That might cause further leaks, can be very costly if pipes are inaccessible - don't ask me how I know.

got mega water pressure round here . . . so before attaching a vertical radiator to the new pipe stubs coming out of the wall, I shoved a warmed up garden hose over one, jubliee clip to secure. Another hose to the other stub, and out the window . . .

Other half turns the garden tap on . . . pleasingly progressively cleaner water was exiting the window . . .

Until the supply hose pipe came off the stub . . .

I don't know how "turn the tap off, quick" gets misinterpreted as "walk to the other end of the garden" . . but then you are trying to hold a hose pipe folded up and block a pipe at the same time, I guess it comes out a little garbled . . .

 

[Robotstar5]

got mega water pressure round here . . . so before attaching a vertical radiator to the new pipe stubs coming out of the wall, I shoved a warmed up garden hose over one, jubliee clip to secure. Another hose to the other stub, and out the window . . .

Other half turns the garden tap on . . . pleasingly progressively cleaner water was exiting the window . . .

Until the supply hose pipe came off the stub . . .

I don't know how "turn the tap off, quick" gets misinterpreted as "walk to the other end of the garden" . . but then you are trying to hold a hose pipe folded up and block a pipe at the same time, I guess it comes out a little garbled . . .

Reminds me of replacing a waterpipe in the paintshop, it went up through a steel platform floor so once we had finished my mate went upstairs to watch for leaks while I turned the water on, suddenly water starts pouring down the side of the pipe through the floor and my mate is shouting "turn it off", I did and went up to the platform to find him rolling on the floor laughing with an empty jug in his hand which he'd used to pour water through the floor