My boiler is the Potterton Performa 24 Eco HE. I have two problems or maybe just one as I think they are connected. Firstly, the water pressure drops a lot each day and needs to be topped up regularly or I don't have enough hot water for two or more showers in one day. Secondly, as it has got warmer when I use the On/Off/Reset Selector Switch and move it from Central Heating or Hot Water too Hot Water, I don't get any hot water for even one shower. Also, I'm having to drain the radiators regularly to let the air out. Can you identify what the problem is and how I go about fixing it, please ?

Nick, April 2012

potterton performa 24 eco HE
GCN 47-393-11
COMBI boiler
losing pressure everyday?
has to be a leak somewhere
either inside boiler, on heating pipework or radiators
fixing a leak is relatively easy
the problem comes in finding it
the only sure fire way is check
EVERY inch of pipework [including under the floor]
EVERY radiator
EVERY radiator valve
EVERY joint inside boiler [including safety blowoff pipe]
its a long slow tedious & labourious job
anything you can do to help eliminate possible causes of leaks would be greatly appreciated
otherwise your looking at a hefty bill if you have to pay by the hour to get someone to do the donkey work for you
whereas if you have identified the source of the leak you only have to pay for time spent on repairing that part
intermittant hot water?
if you are lucky it might just be a defective rubber diaphragm in DHW pressure differential valve
[cheap part easy fix]
if you are unlucky it might be
complete 3 way valve assembly [expensive]
& DHW plate heat exchanger
the only way to tell if its the easy fix or expensive fix is to open up the boiler & look at the state of the affected components
either way it sounds like you need a heating engineer

manwithnoname, April 2012

Check your header tank and the downpipe from the header tank to ensure it is letting water into the system

Bob, April 2012