Condensate pipe trace heating from B Gas

heating-eng

Pincher wrote: »

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.

Best practice would be to run internally but this is not always possible.
Trace heaters seem like a good idea if there is no other choice.

SeanR_3

Trace Heating is quite cheap to run, If the heater is fitted with a stat that only brings it on when the temp falls below 3 degres C then it will probably hardly ever be on except when needed. Trace heaters are rated at a few watts per metre depending on the brand and type used.
If you have trace heating installed make sure it is on a proper controller for the job with a control probe fitted to detect the external temperature. In this event it will cost next to nothing to run and will only ever come on if its needed, Saving call outs and disruption to your lives in winter. Contact a repitable heating/Electrical contractor for information.