Boiler condensate pipe - after the event.

[Wingedharpy]

Bit late to ask this but, I've chopped it off outside as I couldn't stand the look of it.

Then discovered, it does drain water and that this water can be acidic so DH has temporarily attached a receptacle to collect water which he empties regularly.

Would this have any effect on the function of boiler?

We will get it replaced once Covid settles.

It won't affect the function of the boiler as it's literally a drainage pipe (so long as you don't block it). I'm not sure about acidic water dripping down the outer wall of the house though... Usually these pipes are directed into a sewer waste pipe I believe.

It produces quite a lot of waste water, I guess you risk it filling quickly (I'm sure you'll be able to work out how long between emptying you can go). We had a condensate pipe behind a kitchen cupboard before we had our boiler and kitchen replaced - it was leaking just before we had our kitchen replaced so the plumber said to let it drip into a bowl for a couple of days - it produced an awful lot of water. I guess your biggest problem is making sure it doesn't freeze - was the pipe lagged before? Can you put something round the container to reduce the likelihood of it freezing? It's bitter outside at the moment!

Thanks folks.
Pipe wasn't lagged before.
DH has rigged up a plastic milk bottle with some wire stuff round the top so water doesn't run down the wall at all.
Pipe is located in side return of house so gets a bit of shelter and hasn't frozen....yet, despite frost, snow etc.
I have learned by my mistake.
Can you get this pipework in black?

the condensate is abour as acidic as tomato juice, which may not sound much

but it dissolves limestone, and the cement out of concrete, including mortar and paving stones, and even house foundations. Installers are supposed to run it through a sacrificial tub of limestone chippings to neutralise it is you have no drain.

I used to have a neighbour who left it, and ended up with a puddle-shaped hollow in his yard, full of the sand and stones remaining.

If your boiler is in a kitchen, the best solution is to have the condensate run to a drain. My own boiler is close to the sink for this very reason.

It did run into a drain @PigletJohn - until I hacksawed it off😲

@Wingedharpy no advice, just thanks for making me chuckle: totally the kind of thing I would do - don’t worry: it sounds fixable although you might have to have a slightly red faced conversation next time you get your boiler serviced.

@Gingenius : I shall tell plumber it was " one of the kids messing about".
We don't have any kids but he doesn't know that.
My only concern was if it would affect boiler function and it appears that it won't.

I mean, if you can connect it to the waste pipe for the sink, indoors, it will not freeze.

Once you replace the pipework you can always box it in, paint it and put some pot plants around it then you'll never see it.
My condensate pipe has been run from the boiler in the loft to the top of a nearby 4" waste. It's capped by a rubber cap and siliconed around the condensate pipe and the top of the 4" waste pipe. Needless to say it's a total bodge, the silicone hasn't sealed and water evaporates down the outside of the 4" pipe.