Help needed with boiler condensate pipe / trap

rthirlby

Hi hoping someone can help me figure out what is required for fitting a condensate pipe for a new boiler install.

Npower are going to fit a new boiler for us free of charge after failing to fix our old boiler on the breakdown insurance. But they wont do some of the work though so I have to get this done at my expense...

I am having real difficulties getting straight answers from Npower, they tell me I need a condensate trap fitting if I want to connect the condensate pipe to the existing sink drain.

The sink drain runs into an internal waste stack. They want me to remove an elbow from the existing sink drain and add a T piece in its place then run a length of suitable pipework from the T for the boiler to connect to.

I dont know which boiler they are fitting only that it is a Glow-worm, they wont tell me which model for some unknown reason but having checked the glow-worm website it seems the boilers have a built in condensate traps anyway. So why do Npower insist that I need another one on the sink drain?

If they are right what do I need to fit?


I am getting a gas safe man in to do a few other things that is needed so he will be doing the work but he too is stumped as to what they actually want. Trying to get two companies to comunicate is impossible!

HELP!!

macman

All condensing boilers need a waste outlet to drain the condensate into, this can be to an outside drain, or to an existing sink outlet if more convenient. There's no reason why the later cannot be done, as long as the fall is sufficient. If Npower have to provide you with a new boiler under the terms of your contract, it's absurd that this would not include any other work required to install it according to the regs-which means connecting up the condensate drain.
I suggest you check the small print.

ormus

you dont need one. the pipe simply connects to the sink waste or stack pipe.
(preferably downstream of the sink).
the only rule is a 22mm diameter pipe.

rthirlby

Can I ask how you know that I dont need one, what I mean is are you a gas man or plumber etc...

Npower are being really akward with me, they spent 3 months trying to fix the old boiler and failed and it took a hell of a lot of complaining to get them to honour the terms of the contract and replace the boiler.

Now they refuse to do part of the work which includes:

Cleaning the CH system before the new boiler install
Replacing a section of 15mm gas pipe with 22mm
Adding facility for the condensate pipe to drain into the sink waste


They are causing me so much stress having to work out what they want and get someone to do the work for me.

It would be easier to move house !!

ormus

try the glow worm website. it has many diagrams of acceptable methods of connecting the pipe to the outside world.
there are no traps.

keystone

rthirlby wrote: »

Cleaning the CH system before the new boiler install

Will probably invalidate the boiler manufacturers warranty. Thats crazy allowing the carp of ages to circulate round a brand new HX. It'll cause a failure in no time flat and more expense they will have to incur against their contract.

Replacing a section of 15mm gas pipe with 22mm

Oh dear - thats a regulation breach if 22mm upgrade needed.

Adding facility for the condensate pipe to drain into the sink waste

They are fitting a condensing boiler - its part of the install.

Theres more to this story than meets the eye methinks. By your description (and we only have one side of the story) NPower seem to be being quite unprofessional.

Cheers

keystone

ormus wrote: »

the only rule is a 22mm diameter pipe.

Sorry but there is no rule for 22mm overflow pipe. What is used depends entirely on the install and whether the pipework is internal or external. 22mm outside will inevitably freeze in weather like we've had recently.

ormus wrote: »

there are no traps.

The boiler should have its own trap.

Cheers

fred7777

The boiler already has a condensate trap either in the boiler or attached to it. It would never have been approved for sale without one and should not be sold without one.

As far as the customer is concerned they have a condensate pipe coming out of the boiler which needs to be plumbed into the drain. This is part of the installation and should be done by the installer.

gas4you

Whether internal or external, 22mm condensate should ideally not be used for lengths of over 3m.

They may have meant a normal trap, rather than a condensate trap, as there is supposed to be an 'air break' between the condensate pipe and the boiler, so you don't want any smells coming up from your drains.

A HEPVo trap solves all this neatly.

If the condensate is connected to the waste under the sink, then the plug hole becomes the air gap that is needed.

rthirlby

Having checked the Glow-worm website for their current boiler manuals all of them have a built in trap so the Npower guy is talking out of his backside.

To make things clear on the gas pipe situation, the last 2.5m of our gas pipe to the boiler drops from 22mm to 15mm. We have to get rid of the 15mm and fit 22mm instead.

Yes Npower are being very unproffesional about it all putting up barriers in our way at every step, they really dont want to honour the replacement boiler on the contract.

At least now I have amunition against their absurd claims of needing another trap.

Underneath our kitchen sink there is a Y junction one connection is blanked off the other one is connected to the washing machine outlet.
Underneath that Y junction there is a u-bend then it leads off through a few 90 degree bends then into an internal waste stack.

Where on that system is it acceptable to fit a condensate pipe?

At the moment it is being suggested that one of the 90 degree bends is replaced with a T junction. One of the T offs going to the sink waste and the other for the condensate.

I dont understand why I cant just connect to the blanked off connector on the Y junction?

HELP

Canucklehead

Hi.


Google McAlpine ASC10 CO. Condensate trap.






GSR