Frozen condensate pipe

CrazyG

I had the pipe freeze on my Combi in the recent cold weather, mainly due to my boiler being
in the loft and the 21.5 mm plastic condensate pipe was then run out and down the outside wall for about 20feet into a ground level 'soil trap'. (There was no way this pipe could have been routed 'inside' the house when the boiler was installed back in 2010). I ended up cutting the pipe inside the loft and collecting the condensate in a bucket.
I then found the perfect solution to this, and it is a product that is selling like 'hot cakes' !
It's called the BB-1 Boiler Buoy Condensate Bypass valve....made by PumpHouse; part number 610675; and it sells for approx £26. Most plumbing suppliers do not have this listed on their websites, but if you call and tell them what you are after they will know and recognise it immediately.
The unit looks similar to a Tee piece, and comes with a length of clear plastic tubing to vent the condensate. It has a red visual warning display to show when the pipe is starting to freeze, and a valve that you then open to allow the the condensate to drain off (via the clear plastic tubing) into a bucket.

To fit/install this you must cut out and remove a slightly shorter section of the original plastic pipework.
The BB-1 then fits in between the cut pipe ends. (It is NOT necessary to solvent weld the unit into place according to Plumb House). Ideally the BB-1 should be fitted in a vertical pipe run, although Plumb House say it will work just as well if fitted to an inclined pipe or a horizontal pipe, but that the red ball indicator will not show/function, HOWEVER that does not stop the unit from working as it should.
The bucket for the condensate that is drained off should be checked and emptied; if necessary; every day, but once the cold snap/weather has passed, the valve should be closed and the condensate will then vent as normal down the original pipework.

I fitted mine after that first freeze, and it has performed faultlessly over this weekends 'fast freeze'.

SuzieSue

CrazyG wrote: »

I had the pipe freeze on my Combi in the recent cold weather, mainly due to my boiler being
in the loft and the 21.5 mm plastic condensate pipe was then run out and down the outside wall for about 20feet into a ground level 'soil trap'. (There was no way this pipe could have been routed 'inside' the house when the boiler was installed back in 2010). I ended up cutting the pipe inside the loft and collecting the condensate in a bucket.
I then found the perfect solution to this, and it is a product that is selling like 'hot cakes' !
It's called the BB-1 Boiler Buoy Condensate Bypass valve....made by PumpHouse; part number 610675; and it sells for approx £26. Most plumbing suppliers do not have this listed on their websites, but if you call and tell them what you are after they will know and recognise it immediately.
The unit looks similar to a Tee piece, and comes with a length of clear plastic tubing to vent the condensate. It has a red visual warning display to show when the pipe is starting to freeze, and a valve that you then open to allow the the condensate to drain off (via the clear plastic tubing) into a bucket.

To fit/install this you must cut out and remove a slightly shorter section of the original plastic pipework.
The BB-1 then fits in between the cut pipe ends. (It is NOT necessary to solvent weld the unit into place according to Plumb House). Ideally the BB-1 should be fitted in a vertical pipe run, although Plumb House say it will work just as well if fitted to an inclined pipe or a horizontal pipe, but that the red ball indicator will not show/function, HOWEVER that does not stop the unit from working as it should.
The bucket for the condensate that is drained off should be checked and emptied; if necessary; every day, but once the cold snap/weather has passed, the valve should be closed and the condensate will then vent as normal down the original pipework.

I fitted mine after that first freeze, and it has performed faultlessly over this weekends 'fast freeze'.

I know that this is advertising, but it is also useful. I am thinking of getting one.

Clairabella

We had this problem a few years ago when the condensate pipe in the garage froze. We bought a trace heater, and this solved the problem.