To want my frozen boiler pipe fixed?

[cornflakegirl]

In April, we had a new combi boiler fitted. Over the last couple of weeks, it has stopped working a couple of times because the discharge pipe (for getting rid of the condensate) has frozen (it runs externally because it wasn?t really practical to keep it inside). The first time the boiler stopped working we called the installer ? he told us it was probably a frozen pipe, but suggested it was due to leaf blockage in the downpipe that the discharge pipe connects to. DH checked, and the downpipe was clear.

The discharge pipe is 32 mm, so I think the installer has done things properly. However, it isn?t lagged. From the googling I?ve done, that seems to be the next logical step. Would it be unreasonable to expect the installer to do this free of charge?

Sounds reasonable to me!

I think nearly all the new combi boilers have the same problem with the condensing pipe- because by law it has to go to the outside, it freezes (ours chose to do this at 5pm last christmas eve! I was weeping, as all I knew was -12 outside and no heat!) You can disconnect the pipe in the winter, so the water drips into a bucket instead (in our case, in our garage) Not a great solution, but given the extreme temps outside, it worked best for us. In fact we have been talking about disconnecting it in advance this year (soon!)

Not sure that lagging would even fix it, as its the water dripping to the outside which freezes as it drips, backs up the pipe which then causes the boiler to shut down. But you should be able to disconnect the bit that drips to the outside

lagging fixed ours last year. Took 5 mins to do - easier to do yourself than go to the hassle of getting the installer out again-although yes, I agree, I did wonder why our installer didn't just lag it at the beginning..

YABU pay for your own lagging! It's not the installer's fault that the temp is so low at the moment. I can't use my car at the moment but I don't expect the dealership to come and grit my drive or instal snow tyres for free!

get to a diy shop and get some of this

www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9273770&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=catalog01/en_GB&fh_search=pipe+insulation&fh_eds=%C3%9F&fh_refview=search&ts=1291824591973&isSearch=true

We have the same problem, at the moment, we're having to defrost the condensate pipe every morning, due to the length of sub-zero temps and the fact it doesn't rise above 0 all day, there's really not much you can do, apart from pour hot(not boiling) water over it, till it defrosts.

The above linked pipe lagging will help a bit though.

Can you afford the 77p OP or do you still expect your installer to pay for it?

Thanks everyone. (Except mogwhistle, who appears to be taking the question very personally...)

We've got the pipe disconnected at the moment, with the water just running down the outside of the house (the boiler is in the airing cupboard, so the outlet is halfway up the house).

moonmother - does that sort of pipe lagging really work? I wouldn't have thought it would withstand the weather? Actually, thinking about it, I'm not sure if it would even fit round the pipe - think it's pretty flush with the brickwork. Will have to check later.

Not taking it personally at all
I do hope you get it sorted though.

as with joolyjoolyjoo our condense pipe kept freezing up even though all inside pipes lagged and the outside connection too - kept
defrosting it with hairdryer etc and then on the 4th time spoke to boiler specialist who told us worcester were telling people, that, under the extreme weather to cut the pipe
inside and let the water feed into a bucket or some other container - will pint out that boiler in outside, unheated boiler room, with 2 external walls - the cut pipe problem can be sorted later but at least there is now heating - hope this helps

That's the same lagging that's on my outer pipes and so far no freezing probs this year.

We have a yearly boiler check with British Gas, and thats what the Gas man told us to get.

You can get it in varying sizes.Our pipe only sits about an inch away from the brickwork, but we've got some on there.

As I said earlier, to be honest with the temps as they are at the moment, nothing really will stop it freezing, but it will give a bit of added protection. Haven't tried it but apparently bubble wrap works as well.

Dp is a bit of an expert on frozen condensate pipes after ours first froze last week . He's scoured the interweb looking for answers .

Sadly we cant disconnect the pipe inside on ours, so it's just a case of keeping an eye on it, and defrosting it daily.

So not looking forward to defrosting it every day of the winter , if it keeps being this cold

Thanks all - will give it a try.