Is this leak urgent?

[catchyjem]

I have a small leak from the pipe leading to a radiator. Contacted British Gas online as have a contract but first available appointment is 6th January. I've put a dish under the leak that I'm emptying everyday. However I'm starting to worry that my combi boiler might lose pressure and I won't be able to fix that myself. I really don't want to lose my heating and hot water over Xmas. Should I just bite the bullet and call someone else out now or will it be ok to leave until the 6th?

Drips I would leave but a dish every day seems like a lot. If you can't get someone out make sure you keep topping your water pressure up on the boiler.

Thanks for the reply. It's not really that much water, maybe an egg cup full each day? Trouble is I have no idea how to top up the pressure. I've read some instructions online that made no sense to me. And it's kept saying "you must do each stage correctly or risk damage to your boiler".

Is there anything on "You Tube" for repressurising a combi boiler? I used to have to do this in a previous house and it wasn't difficult. It may vary depending on the model of your boiler.
Doesn't sound like it cannot wait until Jan. I wouldn't be worried about that amount of water. Just keep your eye on the pressure guage.
It is horrible isn't it though when you are worrying about these things.

Topping up water pressure for combi boiler isn’t hard, it’ll be in the instructions for your particular boiler, look make and model up on line. It’s designed to be done by the householder so they make it easy. There’ll be a little valve with a handle just under the boiler. You can’t really damage a boiler doing it. If you pos5 a picture of the gauge on your boiler and the pipes underneath someone here will help.

On my old combo boiler (Worcester) it was super easy to sort out the pressure. You just used a grey plastic tool (looked like a T shape) to turn a valve underneath the boiler. Really really easy.

What boiler do you have? Look up the instruction manual, and/or find a YouTube video.

I had a leak on a radiator that suddenly burst and leaked through the floorboards and caused the ceiling to collapse so there’s no way I would leave a leak. It can suddenly “blow” into a huge gushing leak and cause damage. I’d call someone out to fix it.

@PigletJohn is this something you can help with? :)

Thanks all. I am probably over worried just because it's Christmas! I knew how to do my old boiler but we moved to a new house and this one is completely different. Of course YouTube is a great idea, I'll see what I can find. At the moment the pressure is still ok but I do think it's starting to drop! I'll try to post a picture.

Could it be a valve on the radiator that just needs tightening?

I'd definitely learn to re-pressurise your boiler... if only for future reference. You don't want to be in the situation where you desperately need to jump in the shower and your boiler decides to lose pressure and cut out. It's really simple and I doubt you could break it. If you accidentally over pressurise you just bleed the excess from a radiator.

Hopefully pictures attached. The pipe is just a bit corroded and it's dripping slowly from there. I hope it wouldn't burst! There is a grey sort of handle/switch under the boiler but I can't see how it moves.

OK, I have this boiler. To change the pressure is the white knob but you're between 1-2 atm so you're doing ok so far.

an eggcupful a day is not significant. Don't up the pressure until/unless the boiler cuts out from lack of pressure. If you do top it up, keep quite low. This will reduce the escape of water.

As you have a sealed, pressurised boiler, in the event of a radiator pipe bursting (unlikely), water will only come out until the pressure drops. Probably less than a bucketful, but not a huge amount. After the initial pressure drop there may be a dribble. Looking at the pipe, I think it's probably been knocked by a hoover or something and is not corroded. Test it with a magnet in case it is steel, it is probably a copper pipe and a brass fitting. It might tighten up, but don't do that in case you make it worse.

You can put a tray or pan under your dish, just in case the leak worsens, if there is room.

Thanks! I feel a lot calmer. I've got a tray under it, I just moved it to take the photo. I'll keep an eye on the pressure and hopefully I won't need do anything until they come on the 6th.