British Gas - Condensing boiler freezing up

DickieMint_2

My elderly mother had a problem with her new boiler freezing up last winter and I wrote the velow letter to British Gas on her behalf. I've also chased this up but have so far had no response whatsoever. Anyone else got the same problem?

I write to you with reference to a problem I had with my boiler earlier this year which was fitted by yourselves last year.

On the morning of 9th January, my boiler stopped working and I phoned to report this and also mentioned that reference LF was showing on the boiler display. The telephone operator advised that an engineer would come out on the afternoon of 11th January. No other advice was given but it has now become clear that the external condensation pipe had become frozen. To resolve this problem, it has been suggested in the press (Sunday Telegraph 17/01/2010), that hot water can be poured over the condensation pipe. Although not a satisfactory permanent solution, if I had been advised of this, it would have prevented me from being without heating as I could have asked a neighbour to assist me.

I would add at this point that I am in my mid-70’s and suffer with severe arthritis and am totally reliant on my heating all year round, not just during the winter, as the cold exacerbates my condition. As you can imagine, 2 days without any heating was a painful experience!

As you will understand, for health reasons alone, I cannot allow this situation to re-occur and should be grateful if you could advise as to remedial action you intend taking to prevent this. I would add that current regulations state that “any external condensate pipe work must be insulated to minimise the risk of freezing”. There does not appear to be any insulation on the pipe that has been installed with my boiler. Regulations also state that “external pipe work must be kept to a minimum and not more than 3m in length”. I’ve not actually measured this but would say that my pipe is very close to this maximum.

I look forward to receiving your intended plan of works to resolve this problem, by return.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

macman

If no insulation was fitted, then the boiler has not been correctly commissioned and the warranty would be invalid. I suggest you call them and insist that they come back and correct this before the onset of cold weather. It's a five minute job.

penrhyn

Shirley you could have put some insulation round the pipe when the problem first occurred?

ziggyman99

penrhyn wrote: »

Shirley you could have put some insulation round the pipe when the problem first occurred?

BG fitted the boiler (very expensive!) so should have insulated it. Having said that, last winter was very severe and even short runs of condensate drain froze.
What diameter is the pipe? When I fit a boiler I tend to expand the pipe to 32mm as soon as I can after exiting the property. This reduces the likelyhood of it freezing. Of course, were possible, the best solution is to keep the condensate inside the house.

DickieMint_2

I'm not sure as to the diameter of the condensation pipe. I will check and as someone else has pointed out, I will insulate it myself if need be. Thing is, we paid a lot of money to have this boiler fitted and I want BG to admit their error and make good but I can't even get a reply out of them!

As the wall the pipe is fitted to is an exposed wall, I personally feel that the correct fitting would have been internal and drained away through the sink?

lamplighter2

you are not alowed to put it into the drains as it is midley acidic it has to go into a soakaway to percolate into the ground wrapping the pipe up in a thermal tube should stop it from freezing

ziggyman99

lamplighter2 wrote: »

you are not alowed to put it into the drains as it is midley acidic it has to go into a soakaway to percolate into the ground wrapping the pipe up in a thermal tube should stop it from freezing

You are allowed to discharge into drains. The rules on discharging into a soakaway exclude their use in clay soils. Does that mean you can't fit a condensing boiler in clay soil areas? No because you discharge into the drains.
I've not heard of thermal tube but if you use pipelagging it must be waterproof (i.e. expensive) and it looks horrible. I would just upsize the
pipe to 32mm, or if it is a really long run, 40mm.

BG will do it the cheapest way possible. If that means going outside they will. Often, getting onto a sink waste means awkward access through the backs of kitchen cabinets. Time is money to BG. Well it is to all of us but I have professional pride.

Pincher

The condensate can go into PLASTIC pipes, not metal, which will corrode. If you can get the pipe run to under the sink, then you are OK. Condensate pumps are OK until they stop working, so gravity is best.

A toothbrush mug wall mounted under the drip is simplest, but odd looking. Just pour it away like a condensing tumble dryer.

ziggyman99

Pincher wrote: »

The condensate can go into PLASTIC pipes, not metal, which will corrode. If you can get the pipe run to under the sink, then you are OK. Condensate pumps are OK until they stop working, so gravity is best.

A toothbrush mug wall mounted under the drip is simplest, but odd looking. Just pour it away like a condensing tumble dryer.

Actually, condensate MUST be in plastic. Copper will corrode within 2 years.

Toothbrush mug? Drip? To capture your boiler condensate? Your not serious? At 1 to 2 litres an hour you'd be sat there all day in winter when the heating was on. Plus boilers discharge in bursts, not drips.

lamplighter2

ziggyman99 wrote: »

You are allowed to discharge into drains. The rules on discharging into a soakaway exclude their use in clay soils. Does that mean you can't fit a condensing boiler in clay soil areas? No because you discharge into the drains.
I've not heard of thermal tube but if you use pipelagging it must be waterproof (i.e. expensive) and it looks horrible. I would just upsize the
pipe to 32mm, or if it is a really long run, 40mm.

BG will do it the cheapest way possible. If that means going outside they will. Often, getting onto a sink waste means awkward access through the backs of kitchen cabinets. Time is money to BG. Well it is to all of us but I have professional pride.

thanks for the info that you can drain it into the drains i stand corrected this was info i was given but i am on chalk so as you say it is different for differen area,s lamplighter 2

C_Mababejive

If the boiler and its condensate drain was fitted in accordance with the manufs instructions,then BG /installer/whoever has no liability.