A boiler leaking water needs the urgent attention of a heating engineer as it could lead to serious damage.
Corroded pipes, high pressure and loose joints are all common causes of a boiler leaking water.
If your boiler was only installed recently, the leak could be down to poor installation.
Small leaks of water could mean you need to top up your boiler pressure. The pressure relief valve could be releasing extra pressure.
The heat exchanger – the important part of your boiler where cold water is warmed up with hot gas – could be damaged.
Is a leaking boiler an emergency?
If your boiler is leaking water it might be a sign that an internal part has failed.
While it's not necessarily dangerous, you should switch off your boiler to prevent your electrics short-circuiting and to
stop water damaging your home or belongings. Don't try to fix a boiler leak yourself.
How do I stop my boiler from leaking?
To stop the leak from causing water damage in your home, it's a good idea to place a bowl or bucket underneath your boiler to catch the drips.
If you can see where the leak is coming from, you could also tie a cloth or towel around the pipe to try and temporarily stop the dripping.
What do I do if my boiler is leaking?
Turn off the water supply. To keep the puddle from growing, it's a good idea to stop the water supply to the boiler.
Switch off the heating.
Drain the system.
Mop up the water.
Wait for the plumber.
In the meantime, check your insurance policy.
Can I still use my boiler if its leaking?
If you spot a leak or find that the boiler pressure has dropped dramatically in a short space of time (suggesting a leak)
then don't use your boiler. Instead, switch off the water supply and the central heating and contact a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Your boiler dripping water from the bottom isn't good news.
It could be a sign that the pipes inside your boiler have corroded.
If there is dripping water coming from the bottom of your boiler, you're going to need to get a Gas Safe registered engineer to look at it for you.
Is a leaking boiler bad?
A boiler leak should be considered a serious problem, which could be potentially dangerous if not rectified quickly.
The leak could cause the electric components within the boiler to short circuit.
Additionally, if left untreated, the leak could cause rust and corrosion to the pipes inside or outside of the unit.
How often should I have to top up my boiler?
The pressure in the system will usually require topping up once or twice a year.
If you are having to repressurise your heating system much more frequently, please contact your installer.
Boiler overflow pipe
This valve releases water if the system builds up too much pressure.
Your boiler's overflow pipe may leak water if:
The boiler has built up too much pressure due to the expansion vessel failing or losing its charge.
The pressure relief valve is not seated correctly, causing water to pass by it.
What does a dripping overflow pipe mean?
An overflow pipe leaking, or dripping is due to water entering a cistern when it shouldn't, either via the ball valve or via the outlet pipes at the bottom.
In most cases, it's due to a faulty ball valve. boiler overflow pipe dripping outside house.
Why is my boiler leaking from the overflow pipe?
This valve releases water if the system builds up too much pressure.
Your boiler's overflow pipe may leak water if: The boiler has built up too much pressure due to the expansion vessel failing or losing its charge.
The pressure relief valve is not seated correctly, causing water to pass by it.
What size is a boiler overflow pipe?
Internal condensate discharge pipework must be a minimum of 19mm ID (typically 22mm OD)
plastic pipe or as per manufacturer's instructions and this should “fall” a minimum of 45mm per metre away from the boiler, taking the shortest practicable route to the termination point.
What does a dripping overflow pipe mean?
An overflow pipe leaking, or dripping is due to water entering a cistern when it shouldn't, either via the ball valve or via the outlet pipes at the bottom.
In most cases, it's due to a faulty ball valve.
Can a condensate pipe go into the ground?
Essentially, a condensate pipe takes wastewater away from the boiler.
It can be taken to the outside, run internally, or even pumped through a 10mm plastic tube rising vertically, then to a drain.
A leaking drainpipe can, over time, slowly drip water into the walls or floors of your home, resulting in a wet environment for damp and mould to thrive.
Obviously, there are certain health risks associated with mould, so it's important you address the problem swiftly.
Can sweating pipes cause mould?
It may sound trivial, but sweating pipes can cause serious water damage, and can lead to mould and structural rot.
Luckily, pipe sweating is a relatively simple fix and can be taken care of by DIYers.
Can leaking gutter cause rising damp?
Obvious signs that a leaking gutter is to blame is a damp patch on the ground immediately beneath it.
While you may not pay too much attention to a spot of damp outside the home, you should. Water seeping into the soil over a
period can gradually cause damage to your foundations and lead to more damp.
