Heating system pressure loss. Leaksealer any good?

Hi,

My boiler sprung a small leak near the burner and I needed a temporary fix. None of the user friendly sealers worked for longer than a week but then I used oxypic from

It worked a treat and was still fine 6 months or so later when we had the boiler removed as planned.

Not nice stuff though as it can stain etc but with common sense handling it was fine.

When you switch the heating off for summer, I suggest you do a final search for the leak first. With the system cold, top it up until you get the pressure up to the normal hot operating pressure. This will cause it to leak faster, and with the system cold, it's less likely to evaporate before it creates a noticable wet spot, so you stand a better chance of finding the leak.

If you have to top up once a month then I'd seriously say that the cure is worse than the condition. Check the rad valve spindles if you must. LS-I should do the trick.

I happened to notice in the manual for a Worcester-Bosch combi an instruction not to use these sealants, for fear of clogging up the heat exchanger.

No idea how likely that is, or whether it applies to any CH system - I just pass on the info at face value.

David

I have a hunch that if the leak is anywhere it is in one of several "quarter turn" ball valves I have around the system to isolate segments.

I have in the past noticed that turning one of these makes a few drips come out.

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do to tighten them up.

I've resolved to put in some leak sealer and see what happens. I don't have teh patience to wait for the summer.

David