Thermal imaging cameras

[mfgs]

I may have to look for a leak on a heating system losing pressure every day. No sign of a visible leak anywhere, including prv and condense in case heat exchanger is knackered. All ground floor heating pipework is in concrete flooring, has anyone hired a thermal imaging camera and had any success in pinpointing the leak or leaks with one?

 

[Leo21]

No, I just pour in a few bottles of f4 in it.

 

[mfgs]

I will take that as a no then, tempted to hire one but don't want to waste the money without any results.

 

[lame plumber]

have you checked the main hex for leaks straight down the condensate drain? common fault

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

i have few times recommended specialized company who uses thermal imaging and they found leaks with success, its just so expensive to even hire :/ it would however cost more to try to investigate and use even borescope so this was cheaper option for customer.

 

[lame plumber]

thought of isolating gf pipework fm boiler then seeing what happens

 

[Millsy 82]

thought of isolating gf pipework fm boiler then seeing what happens

Thats what I did last time capped off the pipes leading to down stairs rads and when pressure held over 48hrs bingo. Repipe downstairs rads.

 

[lame plumber]

cheaper than hiring thermal camera

 

[mfgs]

Checked the condense for leaks. Not easy to isolate downstairs pipework as all nice wooden flooring upstairs and it must be chased into a wall somewhere on a drop as there is no sign of them or any boxing where they could drop.

 

[Leo21]

Can't you just isolate the boiler with the valves?

 

[mfgs]

I have already ruled out the boiler, I know its a system leak. Losing pressure every day, no sign of any water through the ceiling. Plastic pipe in concrete floor on ground floor which has already had 2 leaks repaired. The leak is in the concrete floor, I just don't know how the best way to find it is. It not a simple re-pipe as there are about 14 rads downstairs and would have to lift expensive wooden flooring upstairs to get at pipes for drops so would end up being very costly.

 

[Leo21]

Sounds like a right pig!

 

[lame plumber]

Checked the condense for leaks. Not easy to isolate downstairs pipework as all nice wooden flooring upstairs and it must be chased into a wall somewhere on a drop as there is no sign of them or any boxing where they could drop.

best get your thermal camera on the walls as well then, best get the customer to get in touch with their insurers, it could be very costly

 

[mfgs]

It really is. It is under a BG contract and they have said they will no longer work on the system as it has cost them too much or some load of old crap. They want it sorted and I want to try and offer the best solution to help them out. Thermal imaging was all I could think of to pinpoint the leaks to repair and then pressure test before going down the extremely costly route of a re-pipe.

 

[lame plumber]

they need to contact their household insurance as you may be ripping up floors etc, forget bg insurance

 

[Leo21]

Can bg do that, they need to read there contract.

 

[lame plumber]

bg can and do stop work when they have reached their spend limit, whether ot not they fix the problem..

 

[SimonG]

So this would be the third leak under the floor? Is the best option then not to repipe. Sounds as though there is an issue with the pipes in the floor. The insurers may fork out this time, but might not be so keen for anymore. Just my two penneth.

 

[mfgs]

To be honest I didn't even think of house insurance, could be a solution. Repiping is going to cost a fortune.

 

[lame plumber]

hence why the insurers need to be involved now or custards will be left high and dry in the future, unlike their floor🙂

 

[Leo21]

Insurance won't pay for the re pipe, just re in station of be damaged caused. And some new policy's not even that.

 

[lame plumber]

all depends on the loss adjuster and what they say. reducing the risk of future damage must also be considered

 

[gassafe]

If they have got 14 rads downstairs then it sounds like they can afford to rent a thermal camera!

I doubt there that pricey these days, the technology & price is coming down these days. Just explain it to the custard, and let them choose. Otherwise shut upstairs rads and get 3 bottles of leak sealer in there...

 

[mfgs]

I will tell the customer to contact insurance company. I have never done any insurance work, will they ask for more than one quote and does the customer or insurance company choose who gets the job?

 

[TBServices]

I wouldn't be entertaining a repair at this stage. They obviously need all the existing plastic removing from the system.