Condensate pipe freezing

[john4703]

I’ve just had a new boiler installed. It is a condensing boiler and I am concerned about the danger of the condensate pipe freezing. Last winter three friends had no heating because their condensate pipes froze.

The condensate pipe runs for about 1.0m horizontally, then 1.5m vertically and another 1.2m horizontally.

I live in a first floor flat. The boiler is above my porch which has an almost flat roof. I’d like to have the condensate pipe drop vertically about 700mm into a plastic gutter running down the felt covered porch roof, this would then discharge into the rainwater gutter which discharges into the drainage system.

Is there any reason why the condensate can’t run in an open gutter, if it freezes it can simply overflow.

I asked the installer about this and he said to pour hot water over the pipe if it freezes, not easy putting up ladders when the ground is icy.

 

[Gasguru]

Is the pipework compliant with the boiler installation instructions?

Further guidance here https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...4QFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3O3KhHVQAXJJvbKWXcV5em

There should be no reason for the pipework to freeze if installed properly....sounds like the installer has take the cheapest/simplest option.

 

[john4703]

Is the pipework compliant with the boiler installation instructions?

Further guidance here https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...4QFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3O3KhHVQAXJJvbKWXcV5em

There should be no reason for the pipework to freeze if installed properly....sounds like the installer has take the cheapest/simplest option.

Looking at that link it is correctly installed but so were the ones that froze last winter. I am in Scotland so we get some really cold weather.

 

[Madrab]

Well, connecting into a rain water downpipe is normally ok, as long as it's running to a combined sewer and it'll get regularly washed down. Running into a gutter shouldn't really cause any issues either then TBH and I can't remember any advisories specifying it shouldn't be used.

BTW - the condensate pipe, before it heads outside, should be increased to at least 32mm, if that hasn't been done then time to get them back to do it properly.