Leak sealers

[solo]

I've never been a fan of leak sealers mainly cos they never seemed to work for me. I have a situation with a 22mm end feed elbow on the flow pipe of a combi that has a slight weep. Appears to have been there from day one as the bright sparks who installed the boiler in the loft kindly left the filling loop cracked open. Access is difficult. Has anyone used anything that they have found does the job for them? Looking for a quick fix at the moment as the owner doesn't fancy going in the loft every other day to top up, and is yet to decide whether she wants it repaired or the whole lot ripping out. Cheers.

 

[JohnD]

Fernox LSX really does seem to work.

But I agree, I'd be happier opening up the joint and remaking it. Trouble is wet pipes are a pig to solder and you need room to wield spanners round a compression.

 

[solo]

Thanks for the reply JohnD. I think I used that stuff before without success but I've seen it mentioned by a few others elsewhere so I'll give it another look at.

 

[JohnD]

you need to get the joint very clean and grease-free (doesn't matter if it's slightly damp because water cures the rubber) and push the stuff well into any cracks with your thumb. If you can depressurise the syst all the better so water doesn't push it off.



It will be stuck to your thumb for a few days afterwards

 

[solo]

Thanks again.

 

[ChrisR]

If you can get the joint dry, an aggressive flux like Everflux will usually let you resolder it without taking it apart.

 

[Paul Barker]

I would put her a fgilling loop and pressure guage downsstairs also. It's ludicrous to think anyone would installa boiler in a loft without doing so or without providing full isolation in the main house, which I believe is now a requirement.

No disrespect to you, difficulty level or not but it's ludicrous for us to think of ploding gunk on a soldered joint, the pipe going into boiler should be demountable to give you room to split joint should it be necessary though as Chris says it might resoulder with skin your hands red raw everflux. To drain below loft level is hardly any effort and to refill a sealed system is childs play. Any inhibitor you're worried about losing probably isn't worth the plastic the bottle was made of, system will be just as well off witha diluted amount of useless chemical whose main aim in life is to neutralise the acid cleansers, which it's now done.

 

[solo]

Thanks again for replies. Going back there today to measure up and price for new system with a boiler in kitchen this time.