What is this pipe, please?

CatLady87

Thanks all. So if I have the pipe work replaced where it’s visibly leaking I guess that should do the trick? I’m confused about the two external pipes (the black elbow pipe and the little nobbly pipe sticking out). I’m guessing the condensate pipe must run into that black elbow pipe otherwise where’s the water coming from?! 

Doozergirl

I've edited my last post a bit, but to repeat, this is a basic leak of water that should be leaving the house, and is easily fixed by someone on site.   Don't worry.  

Apodemus

A couple of thoughts:
In cold weather it is possible for the condensate flow to freeze, leading to a blockage and a leak further up the drain.  I don't know if it has been cold enough for that where you are.

Sometimes the first sign of a leaking condenser in the boiler is increased discharge out of the condensate drain, coupled with a reduction of system pressure.   Cheaper boilers may have easily-corroded condensers in order to ensure built-in obsolescence.  Hopefully none of this applies in your case.

Doozergirl

Apodemus said:

A couple of thoughts:
In cold weather it is possible for the condensate flow to freeze, leading to a blockage and a leak further up the drain.  I don't know if it has been cold enough for that where you are.

Sometimes the first sign of a leaking condenser in the boiler is increased discharge out of the condensate drain, coupled with a reduction of system pressure.   Cheaper boilers may have easily-corroded condensers in order to ensure built-in obsolescence.  Hopefully none of this applies in your case.

Just to add, it's a nice big pipe, the leak seems to be at the join with the 4 inch which won't freeze, and the smaller pipe doesn't have a large outside run, so the set up there is hopefully a lot less likely to freeze 😬.   

CatLady87

Thanks folks!

Noted re the wet chipboard - feels dry as a bone though so I’m guessing it’s staining from an old leak?

Doozergirl

CatLady87 said:

Thanks folks!

Noted re the wet chipboard - feels dry as a bone though so I’m guessing it’s staining from an old leak?

Good news

CatLady87

Thanks Doozergirl, most definitely good news

The chap who is replacing the pipe work does plumbing so I’ll see what happens when he’s replaced the pipe outside as I don’t think he deals with internal pipes!

Doozergirl

CatLady87 said:

Thanks Doozergirl, most definitely good news

The chap who is replacing the pipe work does plumbing so I’ll see what happens when he’s replaced the pipe outside as I don’t think he deals with internal pipes!

There's not much of a career in only dealing with the outside pipes on a house! 

A plumber deals with all inside pipes apart from the ones containing gas and the appliances associated. 

Jeepers_Creepers

CatLady87 said:

There’s a pipe from the boiler than disappears through some chip board? I’ll post a photo. I assume this runs down through the ceiling and out but I assumed the little black pipe was the condensate pipe?

D'oh! I didn't see the copper pipe before :-(   

That all makes sense - the copper pipe is the safety discharge pipe and ends outside, pointing backwards like in N Castle's post. That ain't leaking - good! (That would mean some attention required to the boiler)

The white condensate pipe ends up in the larger black pipe outside - also good, as less likely to freeze as mentioned before.

This is just a small task of sorting a poorly-made connection.

Apodemus

Doozergirl said:

Apodemus said:

A couple of thoughts:
In cold weather it is possible for the condensate flow to freeze, leading to a blockage and a leak further up the drain.  I don't know if it has been cold enough for that where you are.

Sometimes the first sign of a leaking condenser in the boiler is increased discharge out of the condensate drain, coupled with a reduction of system pressure.   Cheaper boilers may have easily-corroded condensers in order to ensure built-in obsolescence.  Hopefully none of this applies in your case.

Just to add, it's a nice big pipe, the leak seems to be at the join with the 4 inch which won't freeze, and the smaller pipe doesn't have a large outside run, so the set up there is hopefully a lot less likely to freeze 😬.   

You clearly live in a more benign climate than I do!    In my experience this sort of slow dribble of water is very good at freezing in any size of pipe and over time builds up to a blockage - think icicle formation on a leaking gutter, except inside a downpipe.  Once the end of a pipe is blocked, it is a just matter of time before the next weakest link is being tested.