Fractured pipe - brittle and needs replacing

HawkEye244 · 25 Oct 2019

This is a pipe coming from the boiler and has become fractured, no idea how the pipe has suffered enough strain to actually cause a split in the pipe but nonetheless it has happened.
Problem at the moment is that it's dripping all over the patio. It looks to be solvent welded and I'd like to replace the corner fitting myself. Is there a product I can use that will weaken the join and loosen the fitting so that it can be neatly pulled off and replaced? Or will this job require the fitting to be cut off?

Madrab · 25 Oct 2019

Pipe needs trimmed back and a new section glued in.

oldbuffer · 25 Oct 2019

1. It requires the fitting to be cut off.
2. If both ends of the pipe are accessible, replace both lengths with new pipe (likely to be be "overflow" pipe, 21.5mm, solvent weld, white plastic).
3. For any end not accessible, cut pipe further back from existing elbow, join to a new piece of pipe with a straight solvent weld coupler.
4. You will need a hacksaw, tub of solvent weld cement, a new 90 degree elbow, 1 or 2 straight couplers.
5. Any paint / dirt on existing pipes will need to be cleaned off down to the plastic before solvent welding.
6. The most likely reasons for the existing elbow splitting are mechanical shock or freezing.
7. If caused by freezing, then there is something wrong with the way the condensate drainage has been run. Should be internal to the thermal envelope of the property.

just pumps · 25 Oct 2019

Looks like 32mm pipe to me comparing it to the grey push fit pipe.

HawkEye244 · 28 Oct 2019

Thank you oldbuffer for taking the time to write a step by step tutorial. I appreciate it very much.

We've noticed the condensate pipe is leaking perhaps 2+litres of water per day. It's only become obvious since the pipe has cracked. Is this amount of water normal ?
Is it worth me lagging the pipe with 22mm insulation ?

The pipe runs through the external wall of the property, turns at the elbow (as pictured) and then runs through a single brick wall into a gulley below.

Hugh Jaleak · 28 Oct 2019

The amount of water is pretty normal I think if boiler is working. Check pipe size first, then repair as described. If it is 32mm waste pipe, then obviously 22mm pipe lagging wont be any good, but it would be prudent to try and insulate it, or the same will happen again. Frozen condensate pipe will also stop the boiler from working, so it really is vital you give it as much frost protection as possible to avoid any further damage elsewhere.

Razor900 · 28 Oct 2019

That’s overflow/condensate pipe.

The other one is 15mm Hep2O

Madrab · 28 Oct 2019

Measure the pipe for us?

That looks like a mechanical break, somethings been rested on that. if it was freeze break it would look different, it would have bulged first or cracked straight at the join. Either way it needs trimmed out and replaced.

Tidy up the pipe run while you're at it & run it against the back and side wall. A cutter, 3 elbows a bit of pipe and some solvent weld and it's sorted.

It it's 32mm I wouldn't worry to much about lagging. You can get 32, 42 & 48mm armaflex though, just browse for it, if you really want to lag it.

HawkEye244 · 29 Oct 2019

Madrab said:
Measure the pipe for us?

That looks like a mechanical break, somethings been rested on that. if it was freeze break it would look different, it would have bulged first or cracked straight at the join. Either way it needs trimmed out and replaced.

Tidy up the pipe run while you're at it & run it against the back and side wall. A cutter, 3 elbows a bit of pipe and some solvent weld and it's sorted.

It it's 32mm I wouldn't worry to much about lagging. You can get 32, 42 & 48mm armaflex though, just browse for it, if you really want to lag it.

Thanks Madrab, it's 21.5mm. I think the elbow was leaking for a while, but yes it is puzzling as the frost hasn't been hard enough in the last few months to cause it to shear so much. Perhaps someone took their foot to it, or someone dropped something on it, I don't have any way of knowing. Maybe the meter reader did it?..

I replaced the length of pipe which was very brittle and lagged the pipe. I used cable ties to pull everything tightly.
Fortunately I have an insulation saw which I used to cut the pipe insulation. The cut would have been a lot messier using a normal wood saw.
I'm happy with it.
Thanks again all of you.

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Fractured pipe - brittle and needs replacing

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