Pressure Loss Investigation & Repair – Hospital in Surrey
Location: Surrey
Industry: Healthcare / Hospital
Background
A hospital in Surrey contacted Asbury Heating after experiencing persistent pressure loss in its heating system. The maintenance team reported that they were having to top up the system daily, despite finding no visible signs of leaks. With hot water being a critical requirement in any healthcare environment, a reliable and efficient heating system was essential.
The hospital’s setup included a boiler connected to two hot water cylinders, and no immersion heaters were installed as a backup source of hot water.
Scope of Work
Asbury Heating attended the site to diagnose the cause of the pressure drop. The initial checks confirmed:
- No visible water leaks
- Expansion vessel had no air charge – a common cause of pressure issues
- Upon further inspection during system top-up, the engineer discovered that the Schrader valve on the expansion vessel was leaking
To resolve the issue:
- The boiler was safely shut down and isolated, and the system was drained to allow access
- The faulty Schrader valve was removed and a temporary repair was made to restore boiler function
- The engineer recommended a full replacement of the expansion vessel and pressure relief valve (PRV)
Challenges and Solutions
The lack of backup hot water systems (no immersions) meant that boiler downtime had to be kept to an absolute minimum. The Asbury engineer worked quickly and methodically:
- Safely isolated the boiler and electrical components
- Completed initial diagnostics and a temporary fix in under two hours
- Arranged a return visit to fit the necessary replacement parts without further disruption
Results
- The leaking valve was sealed, and the system re-pressurised correctly
- The boiler was brought back into full operation, restoring hot water to the hospital
- The client was left with a clear, actionable plan to prevent future issues, including system upgrades and recommendations for resilience
“Fast, professional, and knowledgeable. We now understand the root cause of our pressure loss and feel confident in the next steps to improve the system’s reliability.”
– Hospital Estates Manager (Surrey)
Timeline
- Initial visit and diagnosis: 2 hours
- Return visit for parts and completion: Scheduled within days to minimise impact
Cost Analysis
The temporary repair provided an immediate and low-cost fix to restore functionality. Long-term, the recommended replacement of the expansion vessel and PRV will reduce ongoing maintenance needs and daily top-ups, saving staff time and reducing strain on the system.
Installing immersion heaters would offer valuable backup in case of future boiler failures, protecting hot water supply in a high-dependency environment.
Safety and Compliance
- Full boiler isolation procedures followed
- Safe electrical isolation ensured before any intervention
- All work completed in accordance with heating industry standards and NHS compliance guidelines
Lessons Learned
- Always inspect Schrader valves when topping up an expansion vessel – small leaks here can cause significant system pressure issues
- Where immersion heaters are not present, consideration should be given to adding backup heat sources to safeguard hot water supply in critical environments
Conclusion
This case highlights Asbury Heating’s responsive and practical approach to resolving heating system faults in sensitive healthcare settings. Our engineers act swiftly, communicate clearly, and provide both immediate fixes and longer-term solutions to improve reliability.
Asbury Heating – keeping vital services running with expert care and technical precision.
