What to do if your boiler is leaking water
A boiler leaking water is not a good sign and should be sorted right away and if it’s a small drip then you may be able to take your time to try and fix the problem or arrange for a plumber to come and have a look over the coming days.
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If it leaks badly, you need an emergency plumber as soon as possible as the water can cause serious damage to other parts of your boiler or property. If your boiler is over 10 years old, why not consider a new one that won’t be leaking any time soon?
Boiler water leaks and where they come from
If your boiler isn’t working at all, then this is classed as a boiler breakdown and you may need to consider the cost of a new boiler.
Hopefully not, but it may be your only option to get you up and running again, however, this will probably depend on how old your boiler is and if your boiler is still under warranty or not.
If your boiler is starting to get old, then it could be a good idea to take out a boiler cover plan to protect your home and wallet from costly boiler breakdowns.
Water leaking from your boiler – what to do to fix the problem
Obviously, water leaking from your boiler is worrying, especially as you initially don’t know what the issue is, whether it can be fixed or if you need a new boiler.
Here is our quick guide on typical boiler water leaks and how to fix them by yourself or by a plumber or heating engineer.
Generally, it will take a plumber to fix the problem completely, but you can take steps in the meantime.
Fixing a boiler leaking water if pressure is too high
This is the only boiler water leak you can fix yourself and is probably the best reason out of a bad bunch for your boiler to be leaking.
You can amend the pressure of your boiler, if usually boiler pressure is too low you can top up, but with pressure too high, it is forcing the water out of your heating system. Therefore you need to release the water pressure in the system to stop the leak.
How to release pressure to stop boiler leaking
To stop the water from leaking due to high pressure, you need to find the pressure gauge to confirm it is the reason.
Usually, the pressure release valve or PRV, as it is also called, does this automatically to stop any build-ups.
If not, you need to release some pressure via your radiators by bleeding them. Bleeding a radiator lowers the water pressure back to the normal level.
If there is lots of air trapped in, you will hear a hissing sound first until water is released. Once done, check your gauge is around 1-1.5 bar, or in the green zone on newer boilers.
Got a radiator leak causing low pressure? Read our guide on fixing a leak in a radiator here
Water leaking due to poor boiler installation or corrosion on pipework
If your boiler is leaking underneath, but your pressure is lower, and you can’t really pinpoint the reason then this may be due to a poor installation or corrosion.
Whichever of these issues is related to your boiler will depend on how old your boiler is or how long since you had your boiler installed.
The only way these water leaks can be stopped is by getting a professional to fix the problem.
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Water leaking due to poor installation
If you have only recently had your boiler installed, and by recent, we would say up to 1 year, then your boiler leaking water may be due to the installation not being carried out correctly.
Suppose this is the case, you need to contact your installer to look at the issue.
There shouldn’t be any corrosion at this point.
Boiler leak due to corrosion of pipework or fixings
If your boiler is older, say at least 7 years old, then there may be some corrosion. This can be due to many reasons but usually is due to how the boiler was installed in the first place, it has just taken longer to be a problem.
Corrosion is where the pipework has started to wear away or rust and become brittle or weak, leading to water escaping.
A faulty or broken heat exchanger can cause a water leak
One of the main components that leak in your boiler is heat exchange. If this leaks, expect a hefty bill or a brand-new boiler.
These are the heart of the boiler, and if these are leaking then water is not being heated properly and can be dangerous.
You need a heating engineer to sort this water leak quickly.
If your heat exchanger is leaking water, then why not get a free quote now online?
It may be cheaper than fixing the boiler repeatedly.
The boiler has broken seals causing water leaks
If your boiler has been subject to excessive use or is knocking on a bit now, rubber seals can go brittle and break.
These aren’t significant problems but aren’t problems that most people can solve.
It will involve shutting off the water at the mains and taking the pipes apart, and changing the seal to stop the leak.
If your boiler’s not working, it should be a quick job for any qualified Gas Safe registered heating engineer.
What to do if my boiler is leaking?
- Firstly, you should check the water isn’t going near any electricity, and then attempt to soak up or catch the water in the meantime if possible.
- Assess whether it is a pressure issue, and if not, call a Gas Safe registered engineer as soon as possible.
- Get a new boiler quote, just in case. If your boiler is old, you will save money on gas and electricity bills and any more call-outs for your old leaky boiler.
Is a leaking boiler dangerous?
Essentially a leaking boiler is dangerous if left to continue to leak or starts to go near electricity.
It can also cause more damage to other parts of your home and walls if it is excessive.
You could get a new boiler tomorrow if you need emergency boiler installation.
If this gets into structures or wood, it could be more hassle than catching and sorting the leak early.
Generally, though, if a leak is caught quickly, it will not be too dangerous.
How to stop boiler leaks?
Here’s how to stop boiler leaking. Make sure that a Gas Safe registered engineer firstly installs your boiler.
The best way to stop leaks is to ensure that you get your boiler serviced yearly.
Most boiler manufacturers stipulate that you must also get your boiler serviced and checked every year to maintain the warranty.
Leaking boilers insurance claims and boiler cover
Most boiler leaks can be covered by boiler cover or insurance if you have home insurance.
Emergency cover on both of these usually covers you up to at least £500, so always make sure you use it if required.
There may be an excess, but this is better than paying for it all yourself if you have these options.
Need a new boiler? Get a quote now.
If your boiler is leaking and you’re worried about what could happen in the future, then why not try a free fixed-price boiler quote to see how little it could cost you?
A new boiler will ensure that your home is heated efficiently, and if you get it done by professionals then you can be sure it will be fitted by a Gas Safe registered installer and be water leak-free.
