With the U.K’s ever changing weather, a functioning central heating system is a must in every home. Our climate does not account for the occasional cold shower. So when our radiators or water decides not to heat up, the problem instantly needs fixing. Central heating systems are controlled by the boiler in a home, it is the source of heat. There are a few signs to look out for which may indicate you have a central heating leak.
Boiler Pressure
If you need to frequently top up your boiler pressure, this could point to a leak within your home’s central heating system. If your boiler pressure is frequently low, this suggests that pressure is being lost within your pipe system, so you have a leak. At this stage, check all visible pipes around your home for any signs of moisture. Carefully check and routinely monitor the pipes around your boiler and radiators. A common source of a leak is radiator valves, where a radiator key is inserted for bleeding. If these are not tightened, or if you have not bled your radiators recently, this could be the source of pressure loss. If, after an inspection, you do not have a leak, this points to a problem with your boiler.
Pressure Relief Valve
You may have a leaking pressure relief valve if no leaking pipes are found. This pipe is usually fed through an external wall. An easy way to assess whether your pressure relief valve is leaking, is to tie a plastic bag around it and leave it overnight. If the next day there is water or moisture in the bag, this is the source of the issue.
When to Contact a Professional
If you have narrowed your central heating issue down to a leak, it’s now time to enlist a professional to put an end to cold showers. Specialists in central heating leaks from Aspect, will be able to locate the leak in your central heating system and quickly begin repairing it. Central heating related leaks used to be very disruptive to someone’s home, as experts would have to manually search for leaks, leaving a trail of mess and destruction behind them. However, Aspect professionals use modern technology to help locate leaks quickly and discreetly. Aspect professionals use the ‘trace and access’ method, in which they use various different tools and instruments to find the source of the leak, access it, and repair it.
Thermal Imaging Cameras
When locating a leak within a system of pipes, Aspect professionals will most likely begin using a thermal imaging camera. Thermal Imaging cameras allow experts to see the hot and cold parts of the home. When pointed at the roof or at a wall, the camera will display areas of warmth and cold. This is particularly useful for locating a leaking pipe, as excess water and loss of heat in a pipe will be visible through the camera. Inspecting the home with this camera, will not just point to the leaking pipe, it will also highlight any other areas which may be vulnerable to a leak.
Dye Tests
Another method of leak detection Aspect experts may use is a dye test. Fluorescent, non harmful dyes are poured down a shower or bath plug hole. Any dye which escapes or leaks becomes visible under a UV light or a small camera. This method can be used to find the source of a drain leak. This method is often used when a leak is suspected, or beginning to form, as it makes even the smallest leak visible.
Tracer Gas
Aspect professionals may also use tracer gas to find a leak within a system of pipes. After the pipes have been drained, a non harmful gas mix is sent into the piping system. As the gas is lighter than air it quickly escapes through leaking areas of the pipe. Technology is used to detect the gas as it leaks from the pipe. Again, this highly precise method can find even the smallest of leaks.
