Boiler condensate to surface drain?

DominicH

Boiler guy proposes running condensate pipe to the same drain that the gutters go into, because the soil stack is hard to reach from the boiler's location.

I thought this was only allowed if the surface drains and sewers were in a combined system, so I phoned Thames Water to check.
Their drainage people seemed confused by the question, claiming that they had never been asked if before, which surprised me considering that condensing boilers have been mandatory for years. Anyway, they said the drains are not combined where I live, but that there are no rules prohibiting running the condensate to the surface drain, and anyway it would be a "minuscule" amount of water.

This doesn't sound right to me. It could be several litres a day, and I have heard tales of potential fines, and of Thames Water themselves warning people who had run condensate into surface drains. So who's right? Is there anyone else I can try for a definitive answer, like at the local authority?

Alex1983

What boiler you having fitted, it will tell you in the instructions, most manufacturers allow it. You can make your own soak away as long as it's at least 500mm away from the house.

DominicH

Worcester Bosch Greenstar 29CDi Classic.

It was more a question about water company regulations though. I imagine you can't just put anything you like down surface drains, and I thought there were rules against putting condensate down them in some cases.

Alex1983

Worcester allow it, will need to terminate below the grate.

Install your own if you have concerns. Just dig a hole put a condensate trap in the ground and fill the hole with lime chippings. Just make sure your 500mm away from the house.

DominicH

I don't want to do a soakaway really. It's at the front of the house and I can't see a good place to put it. And I'd be worried about maintenance and weeds.

chrisw

Condensate should either go to soak away or foul/ combined sewer due to it's acidic nature.

Surface water only sewers tend to discharge directly into watercourses - if you cause pollution of the watercourse and it can be traced back to you then you may be prosecuted and fined by the Environment Agency.

Alex1983

Your technically right but as your water coming any say it's such a small amount there not worried I wouldn't let it worry you but if it does that much you can only do one of three things.

You can pump it to a soil pipe.

You can build your own soak away.

Or you can get neutralisers, in a condense pump or a fitting that goes on the pipework.

DominicH

OK, it's more or less in line with what I thought.
I did mention the possibility of a soakaway to the boiler engineer because somebody else had suggested that, but he reacted like "why would you do that? There's a drain right there" (pointing to the base of the pipe from the gutter.)
I now have my doubts about his advice. He also wants to run the gas and condensate pipes under the first floor, which will look neat but involves notching joists. But I don't think the regs allow sufficient notching to get the necessary drop for the condensate pipe.

southcoastrgi

If that's the most important thing you have to worry about then you are one of the luckiest people in the world, it's no worse than tango or acid rain so stop worrying & let your installer connect it where he originally wanted too

DominicH

Do you ever post anything helpful, or just limit yourself to snarky, badly written rubbish?
I didn't say anything about it being the biggest thing I have to worry about. This is a forum for questions about home improvement issues, and I had such a question. On another forum, someone mentioned the possibility of sizeable fines for doing this, so I was wondering about it.

tacpot12

Did you get Thames Water's advice in an email? If so, I would say you can rely on it. If. It, go back to them and ask them you send you an email.