help - problem with condensing boiler!

shere1

Ups just posted this in another forum but it maybe useful here as it is related.

I was speaking with a friend who fixes boilers so thought I would share one of the common problems people are currently having in this cold weather.

Condensing boilers usually have a plastic pipe which usually just blows out steam (not very hot). With the extreme cold the pipe can get frozen (even if you keep your central heating on all day). The boiler may start to leak water as the steam cannot get out and a reset will not make things better.

Simple solution - if you can get to the pipe that leads from the boiler then clean this out using hot water. The pipe usually comes from an external wall in line with where the boiler is fitted. So if you have an airing cupboard the pipe may be coming out on your garage roof etc.

Pour boiling water on the pipe the ice will soon melt and slide out. Reset your boiler if required and if possible lag your external pipe.

IMPORTANT. Remember when you are pouring the water ice may form so be careful that you do not slip off a rooftop.

shere1

Dave_save wrote: »

My neighbour has just had a condensing boiler fitted by a 'Gas Safe' fitter, with around 10 m of white plastic uninsulated 22mm condensate pipe running along his side wall to reach his drain at the back of his house. I noticed this 'expert' was back today dismantling said pipe. With all the electronics in these boilers I wonder if the manufacturer's warranty will cover this when it goes kaput! I doubt it.

Should use as big pipe as possible for the condensing. Some poor folks have 15mm pipes which will be even more problamatic.

Andy_WSM

These condensing boilers sound like a nightmare!

slipperysam_2

Moneysavingexperts, what can I say but a big thanks to you all:T.

I had this exact same problem today with my Ideal Icos boiler - gurgling from the flue and cutting out with the FL error. Boiled a kettle of water and poured it over the condensate pipe where it comes through the outside wall and hey presto!! Gushes of water and ice coming out of the end of pipe in no time at all. Now working like a dream again. My wife is now a happy bunny. Thanks again. Sam.

magenta4711

I'm so glad I found this, it's happened to my friend and I've been worrying about the same happening to me.

This probably sounds like a really stupid question but my boiler is in my bathroom upstairs so I won't be able to reach the outside pipe if it freezes, could I defrost from the inside - would any heat I put on the pipe on the inside where it goes into my wall melt the ice outside???

I'm so sorry if that sounds really dozy but I hope someone can help

C_Mababejive

The recommended fix is not to use 22mm plastic overflow. Instead,this should exit through the wall and then slot into an air gapped length of 32mm plastic which is also lagged. Many of these problems are caused by inappropriate installation methods.

CFC

Just shows you what rubbish the government is foisting on us in the 'name of progress' with these boilers. The old type lasted for years and never had this kind of problem.

perfect10

Thanks for this
Had been on hold on the phone for ages trying to get through to a service engineer to come out, I have been told the waiting time is about 40 minutes on the phone, I was on for about 2 hours and my call was still in the queue - wonder if everyone has the same problem?
Anyway we checked the outlet pipe after reading this - frozen solid!!
My husband has since disconnected it - thawed it out and boiler now working again - he is now off to buy some lagging!

Dory78

We had a new boiler fitted by BG in the middle of Dec, our old one wasn't broken or anything just not very efficient so I was persuaded to part with hard earned cash to get this new system which included a condensate pipe. On Thursday night/friday morning at around 2am we were woken up by an horrific noise and then after switching off the boiler and spending around 45mins on hold to get through to BG we got told it was most likely a frozen condensate pipe. Due to various health issues we managed to get someone out around midday Friday and he managed to defrost the pipe and get it all working again, however just woken up this morning and its happening again!!! Phoned BG and have been told they have too many people to see and not enough engineers so even with the fact we should be a priority customer they can't get to us till Tuesday!!!! And amazingly their engineers don't work on a sunday unless its a severe emergency, but apparently having no heating or hot water isn't classed as a severe emergency so I have no idea what would be! We've attempted to resolve it ourselves but as it exits the house over a conservatory and then joins the main down pipe at the front of the house, access is difficult despite pouring endless amounts of boiling water over it.

When I called BG they asked if I had another means of heating the house, which we don't, and then suggested that we go out to buy an electric radiator or something!!! And there was me thinking the whole point of a central heating system was to keep you warm when it was cold! :mad: :mad: :mad:


/end rant
sorry

leew

Hi guys,

Hope someone can help us. We've had no heating for 2 nights now and its i think down to this problem.

We have a Worcester 28i Junior boiler and its making a gurgling noise first then the flame light comes on then it gurgles and its quite loud once more than it goes out :mad:

We are freezing and no one can come out to it.

Can anyone tell me which pipe i should be looking at? i have two coming outside - smaller one goes into a drain and another larger one just comes straight out into the air.

Please help us!!

Ta.