Condensate pipe trace heating from B Gas

yrwyddfa

Good afternoon everyone
After two winters of having the condensate pipe freeze up (along with countless others) I was pleased to receive a com from B Gas offering trace heating installed for £199.
My question is - "Does anyone have any experience with this solution and how much does it cost to run?"
TIA

Pincher

Cut corners when installing the boiler, and it costs you ten times in time and money in the end. I spent a lot of effort running the condensate pipe internally, overruling my plumber, who just wanted to drill a hole through the wall.

Put the effort in now, and you won't waste money running a heater, and it will be easy to swap the boiler next time.

gas4you

Any external condensate pipe should be 32mm waste. This won't freeze.

Chances are BG cut corners and fitted overflow externally, then all you have to do is wait for it to freeze.

Owain_Moneysaver

yrwyddfa wrote: »

Good afternoon everyone
After two winters of having the condensate pipe freeze up (along with countless others) I was pleased to receive a com from B Gas offering trace heating installed for £199.
My question is - "Does anyone have any experience with this solution and how much does it cost to run?"
TIA

Typically about 15W per metre of heated length. Here's a 2.5m trace heat cable for £35.00 (part number 625815-8V if the link expires). You'd need to cut the German plug off, and use a separate frost-stat if you wanted thermostatic control.

Here's a UK supplier of similar, but they cost more. Useful instructions though. And still a lot cheaper than BG.

ollski

gas4you wrote: »

Any external condensate pipe should be 32mm waste. This won't freeze.

Chances are BG cut corners and fitted overflow externally, then all you have to do is wait for it to freeze.

Bet it's not what is specified in the installation instructions though. Fwiw I have seen 32mm freeze on the worcesters with their trickle condensate discharge.

dwraith1

gas4you wrote: »

Any external condensate pipe should be 32mm waste. This won't freeze.

Chances are BG cut corners and fitted overflow externally, then all you have to do is wait for it to freeze.

Not always the case im afraid, in fact thre are some schools of thought that suggest larger pipe is worse for freezing as it has a bigger surface area, ive had 36mm waste freezing, Best option is always to pipe internally, but if this is not possible trace heater and waterproof lagging are a must,
in response to OP the BG trace heaters supposedly only cost a couple of pounds a year to run but is obviously dependant on how much cold weather you get in the year!

heating-eng

get ready for winter.
http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/homeowner/customer-service/worcesters-videos/listings/watch/230-Boiler-videos?video_id=30
how to unfreeze a condensate pipe

ihateyes

gas4you wrote: »

Any external condensate pipe should be 32mm waste. This won't freeze.

Chances are BG cut corners and fitted overflow externally, then all you have to do is wait for it to freeze.

Firstly, where has it been suggested BG fitted this boiler.
The pipes have been fitted in most cases to manufacturers instructions..... the pipe freezing isnt the fault of BG or any other installer, but crap design by the manufacturer.

Also in ref to another poster, correct me if im wrong.... but if manufacturer says pipe goes through wall, and you over rule the plumber and run it inside, could this be classed as an installation fault if you claimed of any kind of insurance....

Also most companies didnt attend to froen condensate pipes last year.... give BG their dues, they went against the t&c's and went out to homes to fix (albeit in mot cases temporary fix!)

[Deleted User]

yrwyddfa wrote: »

Good afternoon everyone
After two winters of having the condensate pipe freeze up (along with countless others) I was pleased to receive a com from B Gas offering trace heating installed for £199.
My question is - "Does anyone have any experience with this solution and how much does it cost to run?"
TIA

My MIL just had this installed by BG after a winter of standing on ladders with boiling kettles... She was more than happy to pay the £199 for a very neat professional job.

heating-eng

jeepjunkie wrote: »

My MIL just had this installed by BG after a winter of standing on ladders with boiling kettles... She was more than happy to pay the £199 for a very neat professional job.

£199 sounds like a good price to me.

Pincher

Since you have to run a power supply to the trace heater anyway, is it any more work to install a condensate pump which will pump the water to anywhere you feel like?

In a lot of cases, it's possible to run the pipe internally, with or without a condensate pump.

Trades people are afraid to disturb anything, because they get blamed if anything goes wrong. You have to take charge to get it done right. Trace heater is shooting yourself in the foot and then put a bandage on.