Last updated on October 13th, 2024
A Potterton boiler leaking water can cause your boiler to not fire up, rust, or become dangerous.
I have been fitting and fixing boilers full-time for over a decade and have repaired many leaking Potterton boilers. In this post, I’ll share some of what I have learned over the years from my on-the-job experiences.
Why is My Potterton Boiler Leaking Water From Underneath?
There are many places a Potterton boiler can leak water from, but it’s almost always leaking from underneath.
A Potterton boiler leaking from underneath doesn’t mean the leak is at the bottom of the boiler though. The leak could be at the top of the boiler inside but collects in the bottom of the boiler before dripping out underneath.
The best way to find out where leaks are coming from is to keep checking as high as possible to look for signs of water because where it’s dripping from is not usually where it’s leaking from.
Common Potterton Boiler Leaks
Certain boilers have certain recurring problems which typically get fixed by the boiler manufacturer when they make a new boiler or update a faulty part.
Here are some common recurring boiler leaks I come across:
Potterton Boiler Leaking Water
A Potterton boiler leaking water on the left-hand side is a very common leak repair for me. On older Potterton boilers it’s very common for the diverter valve to leak out the front which can usually be repaired by:
- Stripping the diverter valve
- Replacing the hot water diaphragm
- Replacing the spindle nut
- Cleaning everything up
- Silicone greasing everything
Potterton Boiler Pipe Leaking
When you have a boiler pipe leaking water you will need to do one of these things:
- Tighten the nut if it’s on a compression fitting
- Resolder the fitting
- Replace the section of pipe
- Solder a patch fitting on
Boiler Leaking Water From Overflow Pipe
A Potterton boiler leaking water outside means the pressure relief valve is leaking out of the blow-off or overflow pipe.
The pressure relief valve leaking is usually a sign of other problems causing it to leak but it often means you will need to replace the pressure relief valve.
You should make sure you find and fix any other problems before replacing it or it will just leak again.
Potterton Boiler Condensate Pipe Leaking
A Potterton boiler condensate pipe leaking out of the end outside is normal but if it’s leaking from a fitting inside the house then this could potentially be dangerous.
A frozen boiler condensate pipe can cause it to leak sometimes but condensate water is acidic and eats away at copper and brass which is why they have to be plastic.
If you have a boiler condensate pipe leaking onto a copper pipe, especially gas, then this should be fixed as soon as possible.
Potterton Boiler Filling Loop Leaking
A Potterton boiler filling loop leaking usually means it needs to be replaced.
You can tighten the nuts up if it’s leaking from them but you will probably need to replace the boiler filling loop or filling loop valve.
Potterton Boiler Flue Leaking Water
A Potterton boiler flue leaking water is typically a sign it’s not fitted correctly.
A condensing boiler creates condensate wastewater which is created from the flue gases.
This wastewater needs to run back into the boiler condensate trap via the flue which is why the flue needs to be pointing slightly up and away from the boiler.
If the flue is pointing slightly down (or even straight), the condensate will drip out of the end of the boiler. If the boiler flue is leaking from anywhere else, e.g. a flue connection, this will need to be looked at and fixed by a gas engineer as soon as possible.
Potterton Boiler Leaking Gas
If you can smell gas coming from your boiler then you will probably have a boiler gas leak which needs to be fixed ASAP!
You should turn off the gas at the gas meter if you can, and call your local Gas Safe registered engineer to book an appointment or call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Potterton Boiler Guides
Summary
An old Potterton boiler leaking water may be a sign the boiler is on its way out and needs to be replaced soon. Leaking brown water typically means you have a dirty heating system which is causing problems and is a good sign you need to flush the heating system after fixing the leak.
If you have a boiler leaking from any type of compression connections, e.g. a leaking boiler valve on the flow or return, or a boiler drain valve, you should try tightening the nuts with an adjustable spanner.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to help. If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing it.
