Central Heating Leak Detection in Halifax

Symptoms

The owner of a property in BD12 reported that his boiler was losing pressure, pointing to a leak somewhere on the heating system. British Gas had recently installed two new radiators at the property, and they had also notified the customer that a leak was present on the heating pipework.

With pressure continuing to drop, a specialist central heating leak detection survey was arranged to locate the source.

The boiler's inability to maintain pressure indicated an active loss of water from the closed heating circuit. Without identifying the precise location of the leak, any repair would be speculative and the system would remain compromised.

Methods Used

Given the nature of the reported pressure loss, a systematic central heating leak detection approach was taken. The heating system was first pressure tested to confirm a leak was present.

When the test failed, tracer gas was introduced to the heating pipework and the entire property was inspected for gas traces. Tracer gas was detected in the room situated between the two bedrooms, narrowing the search to that area.

Acoustic equipment was then used on the pipework connected to the radiator in that room, where water movement was detected. Access was made to both walls in the area to expose and visually confirm the source of the leak.

Once the leak was physically located, the cause became clear. When British Gas had remounted the radiator bracket during the recent installation, a screw had been driven directly through the copper pipe behind the wall.

A repair was completed, and the system was pressure tested again to verify the fix.

Investigation Process

1. 1
   Initial Pressure Test

   On arrival, a pressure test was carried out on the heating system. The test failed, confirming an active leak on the heating pipework.

2. 2
   Tracer Gas Introduced

   Tracer gas was injected into the heating circuit and the property was inspected room by room. Gas was detected in the room located between the two bedrooms.

3. 3
   Acoustic Survey

   Acoustic equipment was used on the pipework connected to the radiator in the identified room. Water movement was detected, confirming an active escape at that location.

4. 4
   Wall Access and Leak Located

   Access was made to both walls in the room to expose the pipework. The leak was found to be caused by a screw that had been driven through the copper pipe when British Gas remounted the radiator bracket during a recent installation.

5. 5
   Repair Completed

   The damaged section of copper pipe was repaired using two 15mm equal kwik fit couplings, two 15mm inserts, and a replacement piece of 15mm plastic pipe.

6. 6
   Post-Repair Pressure Test

   The heating system was pressure tested at 2.4 bar for 20 minutes. Pressure remained at 2.4 bar throughout, confirming no remaining leaks on the pipework.

7. 7
   Radiators Bled

   All radiators on the heating system were bled following the repair. However, the heating system would not switch on, which requires further investigation.

Result & Outcome

The leak was located behind the wall in the room between the two bedrooms, on the copper pipe connected to the radiator. A screw installed by British Gas when remounting the radiator bracket had punctured the pipe, causing the sustained pressure loss. This central heating leak detection survey identified a cause that would not have been apparent without non-invasive testing to direct the wall access precisely.

Following the repair, the heating system was pressure tested at 2.4 bar for 20 minutes with no drop recorded, confirming the circuit is now watertight. Both walls that were accessed to reach the pipework will need to be made good. Separately, the heating system would not switch on after the repair and radiator bleeding, so the boiler and controls will need to be checked by a heating engineer before the system can be returned to full use.