Is this boiler beyond saving? Your verdict please...

[ahlondon]

While the central heating, water is trickling out of the bottom end of the rear black tube in photo, where it connects with the metal section. There is corrosion at other connections. The PCB has been changed a few years ago and there was also another issue with it losing pressure. It's about 12 years old. Brand is Main (eco elite 25 combi erp).

I am thinking of replacing with a Glow-Worm Micracom 24kW Combi but the installer says it is too plasticky and will leak after a few years...

 

[muggles]

Is the water running constantly or just when the boiler is firing? Has the condensate been checked to ensure it's not blocked?

 

[ahlondon]

Is the water running constantly or just when the boiler is firing? Has the condensate been checked to ensure it's not blocked?

When running. The part referred to in photo is nowhere near condense pipe and isn't condense water.

 

[muggles]

When running. The part referred to in photo is nowhere near condense pipe and isn't condense water.

How do you know it's not condense water? That black pipe is attached to the condensate sump at the bottom of the boiler.

 

[ahlondon]

How do you know it's not condense water? That black pipe is attached to the condensate sump at the bottom of the boiler.

When running the boiler makes a noise like it is sloshing around lots of water. Engineer said to try draining the system. The pressure normally changed depending if running or not so I suspect it is the water in radiator. No sloshing around sound when heating hot water.

 

[muggles]

I'd still say blocked condense as the first port of call, although that pipe shouldn't leak. There's a replacement seal available for about £40

 

[ahlondon]

I'd still say blocked condense as the first port of call, although that pipe shouldn't leak. There's a replacement seal available for about £40

Before I saw inside I thought blocked condense but it makes sense that the condense has backed up all the way to the section showing the leak. Will investigate more...

 

[ahlondon]

I'd still say blocked condense as the first port of call, although that pipe shouldn't leak. There's a replacement seal available for about £40

From what I have read, condensate backing up should be overflowing from the bottle trap and perhaps shut down the boiler with an error code (E133?)

 

[ianmcd]

as @muggles says the condensate is blocked

 

[dilalio]

Cleaning condense trap is part of routine servicing.
They get blocked with corrosion of the hex and with anything that gets sucked in through the air intake of the flue.