Weird smell from Boiler

[Swanny86uk]

Been having problems with a faulty overflow pipe on my boiler. Over the past few weeks every time the boiler heats up at midnight (economy 7) there is an extremely strong smell of cats pee in the room where the boiler is. This smell is in no other room. I'm a bit worried as I often work in this room after midnight.

Anyone got any ideas what the smell / cause might be? Engineer's on his way aparently but some info would be helpful.

Thanks

[LCDMAN]

Hi Swanny, as an electrician I often get told of a"cat pee" smell when something is faulty and it is nearly always a hot cable, or more often a hot plug! Carefully check the plug and cable connecting the boiler to the electricity. If the plug is hot then it might well have a loose connection - so take the top off and check that the connections are all good and tight. If a loose connection has lead to burning in any way then you must replace the plug.

Of course, this is from an electrical perspective, not plumbing, and it might be that there is some sort of leak of either water/vapour or fumes. I would be tempted to get an expert plumbers opinion seeing as you say you are having "problems" with the overflow pipe (yet don't tell us what they are?)

[Swanny86uk]

Thanks alot for the reply. I shall a have check of the plugs when I get home. As for the overflow pipe, the connection of the pipe seems to be lose so the water leeks from pipe when the boiler heats up. Was just worried incase the smell was something nasty and i'm sitting in there getting a lung full.

Thanks again

[ianmunt]

The white hard plastic used in many electrical fittings is urea formaledehyde.when hot it smells as you describe,also commonly noticed if you fit too high a wattage bulb in a lamoholder.