Condensate Boiler Pipe Frozen

ic

Arfa__ wrote: »

I've also got a copper pipe leading off from the boiler onto roof, along side the 32mm white plastic one. What's that for?

I believe that's pressure relief, should the pressure inside the central heating get to high, water will be released through that pipe. The pipe should curl back at the wall so that it doesn't spray down on anybody unsuspecting beneath.

silvercar

C.C.L. wrote: »

Our condensate pipe was frozen yesterday morning too, Worcester boiler.It's the 3rd time in as many weeks, but yesterday we couldn't thaw the pipe out no matter what we tried.We ended up doing what a few on here did, and cut the pipe from the boiler so it could go into a bucket.Short term soloution, but when the installer came out we asked him to fit something so we could bypass the exterior pipe in the future if the weather like this continues, and he said he will sort it so we have this option.

We've had the same problem. The condensate pipe falls into the main guttering as that is the only outlet on that side of the house. The main guttering pipe froze and the snow melting off the roof backed up into the boiler and has damaged the diverter valve.:mad:

SailorSam

Arfa__ wrote: »

Does such a product exist, some sort of electric element wrap for the pipe, to warm it gentle in below 0°C conditions. Might even conduct enough to warm parts of pipe further along outside?

They've just been talking to Heating Engineer on the radio (Radio Merseyside). Although i didn't understand a lot of what he was saying he was explaining why modern boilers had a tendency to freeze. He said they were starting to fit a small sensor wire that would heat up once the temp dropped. He said the cost was between £100/£150 but it was a long term solution so could be worth it if people had had problems in the past.

Sensemaya

I had a new Worcester fitted last January. just after the really bad weather and had read up about the freeze problems with external pipework.

The boiler is in the airing cupboard.

I've got this syphon box ( don't know the proper technical descripton of it ) at the bottom of the boiler and when it expels the water it makes a noise that lasts for about 5 secs. Then the pipework runs under the floorboards and a bit of this pipe then pokes outside the property.

This box thing did away with the need to have a pipe outside.

I haven't explained this very well, but it may well solve the problem of the pipe freezing and people having no heat.

dan23uk

British Gas supply and fit trace heaters for condensate pipes for around £200. But if you have had a boiler installed by them recently (in the last few years possibly) and are having issues with frozen condensate they will install one free of charge.

Dan