Hi
I understand that there are many great tradesmen out there, however the corgi registered person who installed my boiler 2 years ago, left 22mm pipe with no lagging - the pipe froze only once that year, however we didnt know this was the problem and had to pay a lump sum to BG and join their monthly scheme to avoid paying over £300 in one go.
I did not have the choice of paying extra to have the pipe run internally as I was never told about this option. It seems that when the law was introduced in Scotland regarding these new boilers, there were those who did not pay attention to the rules or not enough information was given? Even when we called the installer for any ideas when the boiler cut out on xmas eve, he said "sounds like a pressure problem" therefore we had to pay BG, only to find the BG defrosted the pipe with a hairdryer.
This year we were better armed having lagged the pipework but the pipe still froze and since then we have changed to 32mm pipe, increased the amont of lagging, added 45 degree elbows (he had 90) and in desperation therma wrap (yes we know it is meant for copper pipe but i am frustrated with it and was willing to try almost anything).
It has been really helpful reading this forum and unfortunately we have no nearby waste pipe to connect the condensate pipe to (which may be the reason why the installer never mentioned it - but since he didnt lag the pipe and left it sitting in the gutter, which not surprisingly froze with several inches of snow in it, at the time - I doubt it).
To add to the frustration Worchester recommend maintaining a temperature of 15 degrees - wel,l since our heating does not drop below 19 I can tell you that that doesnt work, not for us. The opposite in fact i.e. if the heating is not on, it is not producing the condensed water and so does not freeze (as much)! Besides this.. the whole point is to have a well insulated home therefore the heating will stay off and the room at 21 for some time but i am being told, with rising bills, to keep the heating on all the time - so much for energy saving then eh?
I am interested in trying the cable tape/wire tape. If anyone has tried this I would be grateful for their advice and thank you all for letting me rant...
hmmmnn, how much have you paid to bg to date then? and where has it got you with this matter?