Hi,
I would be grateful for some advice on the following problem.
The condensate pipe from my boiler is currently dripping whenever the boiler is running. On investigation the leak appears to be coming from a joint in the part of the pipe which runs from the boiler to the wall
See the following pictures for information
The first image shows the joint where the leak is occurring (though it's at the back of the joint nearest the wall).
Second image shows the rear of that joint shot from across the wall and you can also make out the screw fitting where it comes out of the boiler. The arrow shows where the leak is forming.
Third image isn't much use but shows the drip that forms on the bottom (i.e. it runs down from the joint as seen in the first image)
I've got separate boiler and plumbing cover with D&G so had a heating engineer out today who attempted to seal the joint with sealant/solvent. This didn't work but I have noticed with a mirror that it's possible the sealant has been missed slightly at the back where it is still leaking from
Now on to the questions I've got :-
(1) Upon calling D&G again after the sealant fix didn't cure it they are now trying to avoid helping any further by saying my boiler cover doesn't cover the condensate pipe as it's not part of the boiler whilst my plumbing cover doesn't cover it as it IS part of the boiler. They obviously can't have it both ways so I've escalated it and apparently getting a call back tomorrow. The wording on my boiler cover mentions I'm covered for the "System" including "above the ground pipework directly associated with the provision of central heating" whilst my plumbing covers "internal plumbing and/or drainage system" and external "drainage pipes". The only relevant exclusion is in the plumbing cover which excludes repairs to central heating systems (which is obvious as that's what the boiler cover is for) however it does elsewhere state the same exclusion but with "except pipework" which to me would suggest pipework for the central heating system is therefore not excluded. To cut a very long story short, am I being unreasonable to consider the condensate pipe to be covered by one or the other of these policies?
(2) In terms of fixing the problem, assuming another go at sealing the joint doesn't fix it (or sealing it causes water to back up into the boiler and trip that) then what would be considered the correct fix. The current condensate pipe runs from the boiler and into the wall as can be seen on the first image. From there I can only assume it runs internally in the wall and I believe it may come out under my sink into the waste pipe from my sink (there is certainly a white plastic tube coming in from the wall which joins to the main waste pipe for the sink with a rubber seal but I have no way of telling if that is the boiler condensate or something else such as the washing machine waste pipe - though the washing machine is further round the kitchen on a different wall so would make much less sense for it to be that). There is no visible external pipework. Access to the parts of the pipe in the wall is obviously a problem (it's tiled further down but the initial bit where it goes into the wall is just plaster so maybe could be accessed easier) but with either end potentially accessible is that a major showstopper? The engineer was talking it maybe requiring the running of a new condensate pipe externally (which I'd obviously like to avoid) but is that overkill? I'm thinking it must be possible to maybe replace the exposed parts of the existing pipe (as in the images) unless the glue makes that impossible? And if it's a blockage then that may be accessible from the other end under my sink? I guess I'd really just like some advice on what the right way to tackle it would be and to confirm or otherwise whether the extreme measure of a new external pipe is required just because the existing one runs in the wall. Would it not be possible to just replace the leaking joint in the image rather than the entire pipe?
Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post!....
I would be grateful for some advice on the following problem.
The condensate pipe from my boiler is currently dripping whenever the boiler is running. On investigation the leak appears to be coming from a joint in the part of the pipe which runs from the boiler to the wall
See the following pictures for information
The first image shows the joint where the leak is occurring (though it's at the back of the joint nearest the wall).
Second image shows the rear of that joint shot from across the wall and you can also make out the screw fitting where it comes out of the boiler. The arrow shows where the leak is forming.
Third image isn't much use but shows the drip that forms on the bottom (i.e. it runs down from the joint as seen in the first image)
I've got separate boiler and plumbing cover with D&G so had a heating engineer out today who attempted to seal the joint with sealant/solvent. This didn't work but I have noticed with a mirror that it's possible the sealant has been missed slightly at the back where it is still leaking from
Now on to the questions I've got :-
(1) Upon calling D&G again after the sealant fix didn't cure it they are now trying to avoid helping any further by saying my boiler cover doesn't cover the condensate pipe as it's not part of the boiler whilst my plumbing cover doesn't cover it as it IS part of the boiler. They obviously can't have it both ways so I've escalated it and apparently getting a call back tomorrow. The wording on my boiler cover mentions I'm covered for the "System" including "above the ground pipework directly associated with the provision of central heating" whilst my plumbing covers "internal plumbing and/or drainage system" and external "drainage pipes". The only relevant exclusion is in the plumbing cover which excludes repairs to central heating systems (which is obvious as that's what the boiler cover is for) however it does elsewhere state the same exclusion but with "except pipework" which to me would suggest pipework for the central heating system is therefore not excluded. To cut a very long story short, am I being unreasonable to consider the condensate pipe to be covered by one or the other of these policies?
(2) In terms of fixing the problem, assuming another go at sealing the joint doesn't fix it (or sealing it causes water to back up into the boiler and trip that) then what would be considered the correct fix. The current condensate pipe runs from the boiler and into the wall as can be seen on the first image. From there I can only assume it runs internally in the wall and I believe it may come out under my sink into the waste pipe from my sink (there is certainly a white plastic tube coming in from the wall which joins to the main waste pipe for the sink with a rubber seal but I have no way of telling if that is the boiler condensate or something else such as the washing machine waste pipe - though the washing machine is further round the kitchen on a different wall so would make much less sense for it to be that). There is no visible external pipework. Access to the parts of the pipe in the wall is obviously a problem (it's tiled further down but the initial bit where it goes into the wall is just plaster so maybe could be accessed easier) but with either end potentially accessible is that a major showstopper? The engineer was talking it maybe requiring the running of a new condensate pipe externally (which I'd obviously like to avoid) but is that overkill? I'm thinking it must be possible to maybe replace the exposed parts of the existing pipe (as in the images) unless the glue makes that impossible? And if it's a blockage then that may be accessible from the other end under my sink? I guess I'd really just like some advice on what the right way to tackle it would be and to confirm or otherwise whether the extreme measure of a new external pipe is required just because the existing one runs in the wall. Would it not be possible to just replace the leaking joint in the image rather than the entire pipe?
Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post!....
That's overflow pipe - possibly a Worcester boiler?
