Hi, for months we've been topping up the boiler, and now it's every 2 days or so, and usually drops when I've just shampooed my hair in the shower! Anyhow today we paid £30 and put some leak sealing stuff in and let the heating run, which of course put the pressure back up to 3.0 then it cuts off so that's not the pronblem. I read on here somewhere about pumping something up to cure this.

We are under Ferroli Gold contract which I have found useless as I called them out and all they did was cut off the thing (sorry to be so untechnical here) where you could top up so we had to get our plumber out to put this back to how it was before. They also took 19 days from my first call. They said that this problem wasn't covered on my caresafe cover for which I pay £12.50 per month for so I might be cancelling this soon as I think I'll call them for another try but can someone confirm what they think the problem might be for us? Many thanks in advance, Gill

Gill, June 2008

Many thanks for that it should be covered on our plan so I have phoned them today - fingers crossed!

I think it's definately the expansion vessel with how you've described it!

Gill, June 2008

Hi guys,

Firstly your pressure should never be at 3bar unless you got a problem!

When you top up your system it should be to between 1-1.5bar (when system is cold) while operating if all is ok, this should not rise above 2.5 bar, if it does then the safety valve on the boiler lifts and water will escape out the vent pipe (under your boiler, and piped to outside)

Now, firstly get you system pressure right (if over 1.5 bar, bleed off from a radiator until correct) then check outside where the vent pipe comes out, if it is dripping or dribbling, then the safety valve in the boiler needs replacing.

If not, turn on the boiler, and watch the system pressure build, if it builds to 3 bar (look outside anagin, you will see the water escape) then it is a sign that your expansion vessel is either undercharged (easy one for someone to fix) or is split and needs replacing.

T, June 2008