Gas Boiler question

[Kassee]

Hi, what is the name of the tank / water storage in the loft that was put into the bungalow with the gas boiler and central heating system. Is it separate to the water tank that was already in there ?

[TonyV]

Kassee - normally refered to as a Header tank

[roslyn251254]

header tank?

[Kassee]

Thank you - would the header tank normally be looked at on the installation of a new boiler ?

[TonyV]

Not really - it does what it says on the tin and provides a head of water. When you say looked at what exactly do you mean? Although installer should have put some cleaning chemicals in prior to boiler change and inhibitor after.

[Kassee]

I mean look at - to see if everything is OK. I have been hearing the noise of water dripping just as the heating starts up. Of course Im not heating the house at the mo - but there is a wet patch showing, on one of the ceilings, which must be under the tank.

[Kassee]

Is the header tank a job for someone else, not the person who fits the gas boiler ?

[TonyV]

Ahh ok - It depends on system you had before as to what you have now, but obviously leak has occured since boiler was renewed, so would get installer back to sort it - probably nothing more than a flange needs tightening. Do it sooner rather than later though - leaks will only get worse.

[Kassee]

Hi thanks - thats real helpful - but it was installed years ago (about 15 years). So who do I need to contact, the man that services the boiler (gas man), or a plumber ? Help !

[TonyV]

Kassee - just seen your second comment about whos job is it - I would still ask boiler installer initially to have a look if you believe leak has coincided with instalation of your new boiler. He will be more than capable of sorting the header tank out. Out of interest what boiler (make / model) do you now have installed?

[Kassee]

At the moment I have a Potterton Envoy which isn't working well at all - keeps cutting out. And if I have a new one installed, but haven't yet decided - all the quotes were for a Worcester boiler

[TonyV]

Kassee - sorry, our latest posts have overlapped and I have just noticed your latest reply. I thought you already had new boiler installed. I would get leak looked at ASAP as it will still be leaking even though heating is off. I would just get a plumber to look at it, by personal recomendation if possible - should be no more than min callout charge to fix, unless tank is damaged, but they are not expensive. Whether your current service engineer is a plumber as well, you will need to ask. If he/she is independant, they probably are - if British Gas, probably not.

[Kassee]

No I haven't had it fitted yet. Had a number of quotes. Southern Elec seemed OK, a salesman came, signed up and paid the deposit, but then two engineers came out, and there were a number of other costs involved, and I didn't feel happy with that at all - so cancelled.

Now I am still having quotes - looking up gas engineers on gas safe register - some recommended by friends.

[Kassee]

Thanks for all your help

[TonyV]

If I were you, would search out independent Gas Safe registered engineer to replace boiler - IMO most of the major gas / electric companies reps try to push a particular boiler to earn a bonus

[boxtops]

We had a condensing boiler put in, which meant that we could get rid of all our header tanks - it's brilliant, more space in the house and it's very efficient. Water heats on demand.