Frozen condensate pipes everywhere you go

[Bankrupt]

With the best will in the world no-one can guarantee an external pipe will not freeze. Even if condensate is connected into a pipe internally that pipe can freeze after it exits the building if exposed to the elements.

Installers have taken all reasonable precautions to prevent frozen condensate drains, but whilst we have 110mm soil pipes freezing up then without either keeping the entire run to the point where it goes underground protected from frost then its difficult to do much more.

Some installers have taken no precautions whatsoever. I've seen several installations where the condensate drains running from Worcester boilers are several metres of uninsulated 21.5mm pipe running externally with almost no slope - Never had a chance once the temperature outside went sub zero.

The Worcester installation instructions clearly state that all external pipework should be insulated or a minimum of 32mm - and that runs should be as short as possible.

 

[lumoruk]

There is no reason why u cannot run condensate into a cast iron stack , providing it is not the highest connection !

If you didn't know the condensate is highly acidic and will break the metal down quickly. They are already badly rusted, only the paint holding them together.

 

[transam]

There is no reason why u cannot run condensate into a cast iron stack , providing it is not the highest connection !

If you didn't know the condensate is highly acidic and will break the metal down quickly. They are already badly rusted, only the paint holding them together.

Thats why the condensate connection should not be the highest connection , every time a bath or wc is used it will wash the cast iron !

Any cast iron svp will out live the person who installed it (& has ?) the building , & any condensing boiler connected to it , I doubt that there is any case on record of a condenste destroying a cast iron s&vp !

There is however several cases of condensate eroding foundations of buildings eg brick work , cement , concrete , when a soak away connection has been used , pictures were published in the trade press !
wrongly connected condensate discharge is also probably damaging septic tanks around the UK ?? may be !

As for the green lobby ??? well when u take into consideration the thousands of gallons of condensate that is being dumped into the ground on a daily basis , the ton's ??? of magnatite dumped into the nearest drain , along with thousands of gallons of flushing chemicals , thousands of gallons of inhibited central heating water dumped ect well ???

 

[ianniann]

I have an external condensate pipe into a soakaway. It is vertical about 70cm from where it comes through the wall. This is an external wall from a garage so not directly heated. Although the installer slapped on a bit of lagging (nicely cover three quarters of the vertical drop!), I re-lagged including a mitre fit around the angle. Although it has been down to -15C and permanently below freezing for a week, the boiler has kept running. My only real worry was the soakaway freezing if the ground froze that deep.

A boiler that operates a siphon on the condensate may help. Or not?

 

[Bankrupt]

There is no reason why u cannot run condensate into a cast iron stack , providing it is not the highest connection !

If you didn't know the condensate is highly acidic and will break the metal down quickly. They are already badly rusted, only the paint holding them together.

Something like concentrated nitric acid is highly acidic - The condensate from a condensing boiler is slightly acidic.

 

[genghis]

I cant believe the tradesmen are still trying to argue that they have no choice but to plumb the condensate pipe outside.

Read the B Regs Section i have already quote on Page 2! You absolutely do not need to plumb the condensate pipe outside.

In fact have a read of the following:

http://www.centralheating.co.uk/sys...ENSATE_DRAINAGE_PIPE_INSTALLATION__FINAL_.pdf

The is the official position of the heating and hotwater council

Secondly read this

http://www.viessmann.co.uk/etc/medi...402.File.File.tmp/Frozen condensate pipes.pdf

Thirdly read section 1.14 on page 8

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADH_2002.pdf

Its says you can definitley connect to internal pipes.

Now read the advice from corgi expert:

http://www.atmos.uk.com/core_files/productDoc(102).pdf

Almost all of the above (the experts/guidance) are saying it saying it can and should be plumbed internally.

Its simply a bonanza for the bioler/plumbing trade, they must be (no change that, 'definitely are'!) getting inundated with calls! So they charge 25 quid for a call out, and simply fix the issue temporarily by thawing out the condensate until next week! lol.

And finally and this already posted in an alternative thread:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342357/Central-heating-break-big-freeze-Heres-.html

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

I cant believe the tradesmen are still trying to argue that they have no choice but to plumb the condensate pipe outside.

Read the B Regs Section i have already quote on Page 2! You absolutely do not need to plumb the condensate pipe outside.

In fact have a read of the following:

http://www.centralheating.co.uk/sys...ENSATE_DRAINAGE_PIPE_INSTALLATION__FINAL_.pdf

The is the official position of the heating and hotwater council

Secondly read this

http://www.viessmann.co.uk/etc/medi...402.File.File.tmp/Frozen condensate pipes.pdf

Thirdly read section 1.14 on page 8

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADH_2002.pdf

Its says you can definitley connect to internal pipes.

Now read the advice from corgi expert:

http://www.atmos.uk.com/core_files/productDoc(102).pdf

Almost all of the above (the experts/guidance) are saying it saying it can and should be plumbed internally.

Its simply a bonanza for the bioler/plumbing trade, they must be (no change that, 'definitely are'!) getting inundated with calls! So they charge 25 quid for a call out, and simply fix the issue temporarily by thawing out the condensate until next week! lol.

And finally and this already posted in an alternative thread:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342357/Central-heating-break-big-freeze-Heres-.html

£25.00 call out, get stuffed, I want £65.00 minimum.

 

[genghis]

£25.00 call out, get stuffed, I want £65.00 minimum.

You're Shameless!

 

[transam]

Condensate pipe is connected to the flue !!!! & I believe BG classify it as part of the flue

 

[Tibbot]

Its simply a bonanza for the bioler/plumbing trade, they must be (no change that, 'definitely are'!) getting inundated with calls! So they charge 25 quid for a call out, and simply fix the issue temporarily by thawing out the condensate until next week!

So as to illustrate the plausibilty of the sh*t you write, Could you describe how it would be easier for the 'bioler/plumbing trade' to install an external condensate line if an internal route is readily available. Furthermore could you explain how those same 'bioler/plumbing trade' will continue an amicable ongoing relationship with their customers and enhance their reputation for future business once it's discovered that this is a deliberate ploy to con them.

 

[silverback18]

Its simply a bonanza for the bioler/plumbing trade, they must be (no change that, 'definitely are'!) getting inundated with calls! So they charge 25 quid for a call out, and simply fix the issue temporarily by thawing out the condensate until next week!

So as to illustrate the plausibilty of the sh*t you write, Could you describe how it would be easier for the 'bioler/plumbing trade' to install an external condensate line if an internal route is readily available. Furthermore could you explain how those same 'bioler/plumbing trade' will continue an amicable ongoing relationship with their customers and enhance their reputation for future business once it's discovered that this is a deliberate ploy to con them.

How can doing the job correctly the first time be a ploy to con them

 

[Tibbot]

What the f*** are you on about? Genghis is implying installers avoid internal routes deliberately to get chargeable call backs.

 

[silverback18]

installers usually take the easiest option, whatever it is, I doubt they would ever run it externally just to try and earn money for call backs

 

[transam]

The majority of condensate pipes I have installed are external , how many have we had down here that have frozen up during this cold spell

Well none that I am aware of

Wonder how many B rated (2nd heat exc) condensing out lets run external have frozen up compared to the A rated pre-mix condensers , run external ???????

 

[Axel]

Lack of in design air-break close to boiler is, to me, a greater issue - rather a blocked condensate waste causes a spillage on the floor / worktop below the boiler than causes 'dry side' of heat exchanger to fill up with water / pi$$ / $hite and possibly damage boiler.