Gas Boiler Soakaway Query

daveoc22

My neighbour has told me that British Gas are installing a new boiler next week and that they would be putting in a soakaway, but they could not give me any more information.


When BG came to give me a quote a few years back they said I would need a soakaway and they were going to run it down my garage and into my other neighbours lawn.


I ended up using a local supplier and they fitted a pump to get rid of the water.


As my neighbours house is the same as mine I'm thinking that BG may be intending to do the same thing with their soakaway and put it into my lawn.


I have no idea if this is ok or could there be a problem for me---would it effect the grass---or are there other things I should be concerned about. Or perhaps it is no problem at all and I can leave them to get on with it.


I'd appreciate some advice.


Thanks

roneik

I had one fitted two weeks ago . It consists of a hole about 18 inches deep by about a foot square. Then a tube holder with a filter is placed into the hole. The tube from the heating boiler which carries the surplus water from condenser is soaked up by what looks like gravel . I cant remember what they are called the pebbles , but they are very absorbent. The hole took 5 minutes to dig and we cut a small section of a slab to accommodate it. Looks neat and like I said it;s no more than about a foot in diameter .:jIt's not a reservoir or a swimming pool . Just a diddy hole. Try to get it as near as possible to the boiler outlet , so less unsightly tube on show. Oh and don't have white tube , have brown as I did it's not so intrusive with a background of bricks. It's not much water that gets condensed , compared to rainfall it's a trickle

peachyprice

roneik wrote: »

I had one fitted two weeks ago . It consists of a hole about 18 inches deep by about a foot square. Then a tube holder with a filter is placed into the hole. The tube from the heating boiler which carries the surplus water from condenser is soaked up by what looks like gravel . I cant remember what they are called the pebbles , but they are very absorbent. The hole took 5 minutes to dig and we cut a small section of a slab to accommodate it. Looks neat and like I said it;s no more than about a foot in diameter .:jIt's not a reservoir or a swimming pool . Just a diddy hole. Try to get it as near as possible to the boiler outlet , so less unsightly tube on show. Oh and don't have white tube , have brown as I did it's not so intrusive with a background of bricks. It's not much water that gets condensed , compared to rainfall it's a trickle

But would you have been happy if the same hole had been dug in your garden for your neighbours boiler? I don't think I would, suddenly a 'diddy' 18" x 12" hole seems pretty big (seems big to me anyway).

zaax

Silly putting it outside as the pipe will freeze on the oldest nights

https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/cache/file/63/hhic-condensate-guidance-to-the-industry.pdf

Jonesya

Without seeing a plan of the houses it's hard to understand, but my starting point would be no one is digging up my garden without my agreement and I wouldn't agree until I knew exactly what and why they were doing it and with me agreeing it was reasonable.

Condensate from boilers isn't very nice - it's acidic so you have to be careful where you get rid of it. It can eat through materials - they use limestone chips to neutralise it, it gradually dissolves them so you don't want it near your foundations.

I'd be asking:
A - why can't the soak away be in the neighbours own garden?
B - why can't the neighbour have a condensate pump fitted, they can pump the condensate through a small pipe to use the drains within the neighbours house. Much better for you than a soak away in your lawn.
C - how is the condensate going to be neutralised? Something in the neighbours house - what if they don't refill or service the neutralised? Limestone in the soak away - how often will it need digging up and replacing?

Make them get rid of their condensate on their own property!

roneik

If you look again at this thread you will see that at this point the op does not know that the neighbors pipe will go in op s lawn. Also I did mention I cut away half a slab below the outlet for the boiler. In the case of mine the boiler is in the porch and there is a outside storage cupboard that sits below the boiler . The pipe for condensing and soak away is only exposed at ground level less than 2 feet of pipe . It's also sheltered by shrubs very nearby. Wish I hadn't bothered answering now . Life is too short to argue the toss. Hell houses are all laid out different and I was giving a run down on my set up. Not looking for some armchair expert to argue with

Biggles

daveoc22 wrote: »

I'm thinking that BG may be intending to do the same thing with their soakaway and put it into my lawn.

It's entirely your choice. I wouldn't give permission, simple as that.

daveoc22

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.


As I said at this point I'm only guessing that the idea is to put the soakaway on my lawn based on the fact that all our houses are identical and, when BG gave me a quote a few months back, they talked about putting my soakaway in my other neighbours garden.


I've had a look and the bit of lawn the soakaway would go is about 5 feet from my house front brickwork, but at the top of a small slope leading down to the brickwork. Could the water going into the soakaway seep down to my bricks?.


I get on really well with my neighbour and I'm loathe to do something to spoil that relationship, especially if there is nothing to especially worry about. I'm guessing that a soakaway is an established system used by BG for many years which, normally, is not a problem.


However, the thought of having it in my lawn for, probably 20 years plus, and what potential problems it might cause the lawn or house, is worrying me.


I'd be happy to here any more thoughts.


Thanks

DRP

Biggles wrote: »

It's entirely your choice. I wouldn't give permission, simple as that.

^^if you are concerned, then this is the answer you're looking for.

If you know you will be at home when BG are doing the install, then you will be able to check what they are doing (on your property, if at all). If you're not around , then i would seek clarification.

To be clear, BG/neighbour would need to seek your permission to discharge the boiler onto your land.

daveoc22 wrote: »

I've had a look and the bit of lawn the soakaway would go is about 5 feet from my house front brickwork, but at the top of a small slope leading down to the brickwork. Could the water going into the soakaway seep down to my bricks?.

Just read your latest post - i thought you had no details about the soakaway location?

Is this area '5 feet from my house front' on your land or not?

peachyprice

roneik wrote: »

If you look again at this thread you will see that at this point the op does not know that the neighbors pipe will go in op s lawn. Also I did mention I cut away half a slab below the outlet for the boiler. In the case of mine the boiler is in the porch and there is a outside storage cupboard that sits below the boiler . The pipe for condensing and soak away is only exposed at ground level less than 2 feet of pipe . It's also sheltered by shrubs very nearby. Wish I hadn't bothered answering now . Life is too short to argue the toss. Hell houses are all laid out different and I was giving a run down on my set up. Not looking for some armchair expert to argue with

It was a simple question, 'would you be happy if a neighbour put it on your land', that's all. There are many things we would do to our own properties that we wouldn't want neighbours taking the liberty to do.

I don't know where you've got the idea that anyone is arguing with you, I guess you were a little tetchy yesterday.

Biggles

daveoc22 wrote: »

However, the thought of having it in my lawn for, probably 20 years plus, and what potential problems it might cause the lawn or house, is worrying me.

You need to consider the fact that you couldn't change the use of that part of your garden at any point (eg landscape it, or turn it into a flower border or vegetable patch, or anything else that might involve something as simple as digging) without consulting your neighbour (who, by that time, may be a different one) and potentially paying to relocate his soakaway.

But BG can't put it there without your permission. So just say, 'No'.