Do I really need a plumber urgently/emergency?

[waterpanic]

Really worried. Single parent for context with zero support so I’m really on my own. The condensate pipe (I think it’s called) is dripping constantly outside the house. It seems to stop for a few hours then starts again. The boiler was new when I moved in 2 years ago (mortgage so no landlord).

I am almost completely broke. I have no knowledge of pipes etc don’t even know what this is is for? Do I need to call a plumber immediately? I don’t want to make anything worse by leaving it but this is causing huge stress.

Is the water cold or warm? Do you have a condensing boiler?

Is the pressure high on your boiler?

Look for the boiler make and model, do you have an instruction manual?

The first easy and free check, is whether the pressure is too high or too low.

@Umbongowasyuk condensing boiler

It could be the ball valve in the hot water tank. You need @pigletjohn

The condensate pipe is meant to release waste water!

If it’s a condensing boiler it drips water outside to get rid of the condensation. That’s what the pipe is for.

Ours did that during lockdown for about 9 months before we could get someone out.
On it's own it wasn't a problem but we did have to have the porch roof replaced shortly. I think it would have needed doing though, but it hurried it up a little.

I understand your worries OP I am exactly the same.

Could you get on Youtube to look for some tips there are hundreds of tutorials on there.

If this happened to me I think I would probably wait until after the bank holiday week-end and then ring a plumber.

Being a single woman you need to have contact details of a good plumber and a good electrician. What I do is save up all the little non urgent fiddly jobs like dripping taps and light socket changes and then when there is an emergency, I deal with the emergency and the other jobs at the same time to save money on the call out charges.

Also, British Gas has a thing where you can pay a small amount monthly and have a plumber/electrician come out if needed. Other companies might offer this too, although I have to say I wasn't very impressed with British Gas service. It might be better in your area.

Best of luck and try not to worry.

If it's the condensation pipe dripping then that's condensation. It's doing what it's supposed to do.

Here

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/boiler-and-heating-cover.html?source=chc-google-ppc&cid=PPC.cid_cname=BG-PPC_Homecare_Drive-Action_Conversion_Brand_Core_Always-On_BAU_Exact&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwudexBhDKARIsAI-GWYX4vnZIAN6YxCMaDoAphlxyKsX6hMXnoHa6ODTsT5i5oRqF44Ux8PkaAr_MEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

At least this allows you to budget and you know they'll come out in an emergency. Try them.

You need to ascertain exactly what pipe it is.

Condensate pipe from a boiler is plumbed into a waste pipe. Ours is plumbed into the waste pipe under the kitchen sink and drains out that way. It doesn't go straight out through the wall and drain onto the ground.

Then there's a vent from the boiler out through an external walk, usually high up. That vents warm air that condensates in cold weather and sometimes looks like a cloud of steam. Ours dribbles water sometimes - I think the vapour gathers in the bottom and trickles out. Maybe the angle isn't right. I just put a bucket underneath.

Those are the only boiler pipes that I know of. Another type of external pipe is an overflow pipe, from either a water tank in the loft or from a toilet cistern. Not sure if modern plumbing still has those. Very narrow metal pipe. If that's dripping it means the tank or cistern is overfilling, probably because the ball valve isn't working.