Condensing boiler advice please... Brrrrr!

waveydavey48

Hi all. Just when the freezing weather is forecast to return our boiler has packed in! We have no heating or hot water. It's a 4 year old house with a condensing boiler. The boiler was leaking for a while, we called an engineer who said he needs to get to the drain but it seems the builders have fed the drain pipe from the boiler into the wall between the utility room and dining room and from there presumably to a drain or soakaway.

Does anyone know if the drain should be easily accessible? If so, surely the builders (a well known national housebuilder) shouldn't have put it in a position where walls have to be knocked down to get access?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Dave

anotherbaldrick

Not totally sure of your predicament here ! Has Plumber :-
1 ) Said he needs to get to the condense pipe and has gone away to get a big hammer ?
2) Said he needs to get to the condense pipe and has gone away to think about it ?
3 ) Said he needs to get to the condense pipe and has gone away because he has another job to get to ?

In all honesty there is no need for the pipe to be totally accessible but I would like to see some access for inspection and disconnection before if finally disappears below ground to drain or wherever .

I am though puzzled if the so called plumber appears to have left you without heat because of this perceived problem. At the very least he could have got you up and running again by making a temporary condensate drainage pipe into a bowl or bucket. The condensate will amount to less than a half liter a day and it is pure distilled water and you could use it in the steam iron. Suggest you take him by the veritable's and while you have his undivided attention propose he sorts it.

Cardew

It is simply good practice to have access to the pipe, however if the boiler has just packed in, it can't be frozen.

waveydavey48

Sorry I didn't explain properly. Boiler was leaking, engineer came, said he thought it was probably a problem with condensate draining but as pipe appeared to disappear into wall it would be a big job as he'd have to knock part of wall in to get access. At this stage the boiler was still working, leak seemed to be less bad and we left it, in hindsight foolishly. Now, a couple of weeks later the boiler has packed in altogether. I'm a total layman but guess the water may have shorted out some electrical component in the boiler.
I've since spoken to plumber who installed the boiler 4 years ago. He says there's no need to get access to the whole pipe, just disconnect at the boiler and also where the pipe comes back in through the wall at the sink which is adjacent to the boiler but lower down and it can be flushed.
I must admit I can't see how the pipe could be blocked and it can't be frozen as all within the house, not outside. The engineer who originally came didn't inspire confidence so I suppose we need another one... but how does anyone know who to trust?

anotherbaldrick

but how does anyone know who to trust?

go to Chackatrade http://www.checkatrade.com/ you can check their feedback ratings and it's genuine.