NHBC certificate and condensing flue

monkeyblonde

We have a house built 6 years ago and covered by an NHBC warranty. Reading their website it says that this covers flues. We have had a drip coming from the condensing flue for a while now. On instructing a couple of heating engineers neither has been able to fix the problem and say that the issue is the angle of the flue-there is not enough drop to send the condensated water back to the boiler so instead it just permanently drips when the boiler is running. They say the only solution is to rehang the boiler.

Has anyone on here any experience with this type of issue and responsibility of the developer to resolve under NHBC cover?

Appreciate any advice.

Furts

Check the wording of your NHBC warranty. They vary with different years, but it may be along the lines of... claims can only be made for major damage, or the following categories...e.g breach of Building Regulations. A registration fee of £500 has to be submitted with the claim. This may be refunded if the claim is found to be within the warranty terms, but a minimum value of claim applies in all cases.

It could be that even if you are covered it is not worth making a claim.

If you do make a claim then you need to think carefully and be professional in your approach - otherwise you will get NHBC running rings around you.

Dealing with NBHC is a nightmare scenario, but there are people who have succeeded. Best of luck!

Plumber90

Is it coming from a joint in the flue or from the terminal outside?

Andehh

The NHBC Warranty is worse then useless for the majority of issues Homeowners will face. Unless the damage is structural/substantial then don't bother with them.

My dealings with them in the past have proved them to be nothing but !!!!less, unhelpful oiks who barely have the care or interest to shrug, let alone explain out their ''warranty'' and why it doesn't help much.

Take it on the chin and get it done yourself, IF it is actually a problem worth dealing with?

firefox1956

Not worth bothering about, either the NHBC or fixing the drip........
But thats my opinion only of course.

Seronera

Because of the nature of condensing boilers there is often a drip, even though there should not be. If you really must do something about it why not investigate carefully chipping out the flue opening above the flue to allow the flue to adopt its design angle. with careful workmanship it need not look unsightly. It just needs a bit of planning by somebody with an eye to what is required and the skills to do it.

The other alternative is to buy the plume management kit and take the part of the terminal where the steam/drips come out upwards. This will force any accumulated water back into the boiler. Now plume management kits are not exactly sightly in my opinion, but it will cure the dripping!