Did your central heating break down in the big freeze? Here's why...
29 December 2010, 10:33 PM
#31
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I had a WB combi intstalled in October and have had no problem with the recent cold snap. it got down to -10 in Reading and we (personally) didn't have any issues with frozen pipes. Our condensate runs from the back of the boiler straight outside and off to the drain around a 3 - 4m run in total.
We were running our heating through the night though, so this may of helped??
Last edited by Berks-Jack; 29 December 2010 at 10:57 PM. Reason: more info
29 December 2010, 10:44 PM
#32
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Well, I have Worcester Bosch and had no problems, 14 months
I have a pipe that goes into my waste pipe, ground level and in the original boiler room.
I will be posting pics in the morn of my setup, because my gas installer was recommended and do not want this s*** happening to me, if they have done it wrong.
I have a pipe that goes into my waste pipe, ground level and in the original boiler room.
I will be posting pics in the morn of my setup, because my gas installer was recommended and do not want this s*** happening to me, if they have done it wrong.
29 December 2010, 10:54 PM
#33
I've got a gravity fed, old system. Had to replace the ball valve in the storage tank as overflow kept, erm, overflowing. The only thing that puts me of these systems is the disgusting crap you get in the water. Its all covered up. but the ball **** whee it failed, actually looked like it had coral growing off it. also the space it takes up in my house is quite a lot. Airing cupboard and downstairs cupboard for a floor mounted boiler.
29 December 2010, 10:57 PM
#34
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If all of those boilers installed had their condensate frozen then i would think it was a design flaw with the installation. There are minimum pipe size requirements, and pipe drops etc
I had a WB combi intstalled in October and have had no problem with the recent cold snap. it got down to -10 in Reading and we (personally) didn't have any issues with frozen pipes.
We were running our heating through the night though, so this may of helped??
I had a WB combi intstalled in October and have had no problem with the recent cold snap. it got down to -10 in Reading and we (personally) didn't have any issues with frozen pipes.
We were running our heating through the night though, so this may of helped??
My neighbours is in the loft and the condensate pipe is internal and pops through the facial into the upstairs gutter, which froze solid.
My parents is in a downstairs storage room. The condensate comes through the wall at head height in the small bore pipe(21mm I think) and is fed straight into 1 1/4 waste pipe going to drain about 15' away. The whole length of 1 1/4 pipe was frozen solid so it must have frozen at the point where it enters the drain.
All three systems are quite different so maybe it was the -14 temp that was the final straw. Personally, I think if the small tank emptied in one shot, as it should, rather than dripping condensate out it would be ok.
29 December 2010, 11:26 PM
#36
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Well the installation appears to be correct with the WB website recommendations. We did have -14 and to be honest when mine froze I think it was because the fall pipe the condensate feeds into was frozen solid.
My neighbours is in the loft and the condensate pipe is internal and pops through the facial into the upstairs gutter, which froze solid.
My parents is in a downstairs storage room. The condensate comes through the wall at head height in the small bore pipe(21mm I think) and is fed straight into 1 1/4 waste pipe going to drain about 15' away. The whole length of 1 1/4 pipe was frozen solid so it must have frozen at the point where it enters the drain.
All three systems are quite different so maybe it was the -14 temp that was the final straw. Personally, I think if the small tank emptied in one shot, as it should, rather than dripping condensate out it would be ok.
My neighbours is in the loft and the condensate pipe is internal and pops through the facial into the upstairs gutter, which froze solid.
My parents is in a downstairs storage room. The condensate comes through the wall at head height in the small bore pipe(21mm I think) and is fed straight into 1 1/4 waste pipe going to drain about 15' away. The whole length of 1 1/4 pipe was frozen solid so it must have frozen at the point where it enters the drain.
All three systems are quite different so maybe it was the -14 temp that was the final straw. Personally, I think if the small tank emptied in one shot, as it should, rather than dripping condensate out it would be ok.
Strange that 2 of those froze when they were inside. I'm tempting fate now saying mine has been fine and its not even lagged
Out of interest do you run your heating through the night or have you still got it on a timed setting?
29 December 2010, 11:26 PM
#37
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Well, I have Worcester Bosch and had no problems, 14 months
I have a pipe that goes into my waste pipe, ground level and in the original boiler room.
I will be posting pics in the morn of my setup, because my gas installer was recommended and do not want this s*** happening to me, if they have done it wrong.
I have a pipe that goes into my waste pipe, ground level and in the original boiler room.
I will be posting pics in the morn of my setup, because my gas installer was recommended and do not want this s*** happening to me, if they have done it wrong.
29 December 2010, 11:40 PM
#38
http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/hom...iler-enquiries
One thing about WB, you can't knock their customer service
One thing about WB, you can't knock their customer service
30 December 2010, 12:14 AM
#40
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Your probably right with the temperature being the main factor but i think most of the wb boilers are the same as the ones they use in the german market and i'm sure their winters are generally colder than ours?
Strange that 2 of those froze when they were inside. I'm tempting fate now saying mine has been fine and its not even lagged
Out of interest do you run your heating through the night or have you still got it on a timed setting?
Strange that 2 of those froze when they were inside. I'm tempting fate now saying mine has been fine and its not even lagged
Out of interest do you run your heating through the night or have you still got it on a timed setting?
30 December 2010, 10:43 AM
#41
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We've got a WB Greenstar, as has my Mum. I've lost count of the number trips up a ladder with a kettle of water. The output is about six inches (with one 90 degree turn) of external pipe taking the condensate into a drain pipe. Would replacing the plastic pipe with some (suitable) flexible hose, giving the condensate a near vertical path work?
30 December 2010, 11:04 AM
#42
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Installed all new rads and Vaillant Ecotec plus condensing boiler 4 years ago. Condensate runs into a mini soakaway as its not good to let it go straight onto the flower bed !
The condensate pipe which runs vertically down the oustside of the kitchen wall froze a couple of times so the boiler leaked the condensation run off onto the kitchen worktops
Just poured hot water down the outside pipe and it released the frozen bung - job done.
Bit worrying if you are away and left the heating on !!
Good news is that the boiler companies are coming up with a fix - a heated wire which runs down the condensate pipe. Hope its triggered by an outside temp sensor so its not on 24/7 !
Boiler has been excellent so far ...
The condensate pipe which runs vertically down the oustside of the kitchen wall froze a couple of times so the boiler leaked the condensation run off onto the kitchen worktops
Just poured hot water down the outside pipe and it released the frozen bung - job done.
Bit worrying if you are away and left the heating on !!
Good news is that the boiler companies are coming up with a fix - a heated wire which runs down the condensate pipe. Hope its triggered by an outside temp sensor so its not on 24/7 !
Boiler has been excellent so far ...
30 December 2010, 11:29 AM
#43
We've got a WB Greenstar, as has my Mum. I've lost count of the number trips up a ladder with a kettle of water. The output is about six inches (with one 90 degree turn) of external pipe taking the condensate into a drain pipe. Would replacing the plastic pipe with some (suitable) flexible hose, giving the condensate a near vertical path work?
My thinking that using larger bore pipe, and using thicker walled pipe (such as fresh mains water plastic piping) in addition to insulating it would cure the problem.
Alternative idea is a based tank condensate pump (these are commonly used for air conditioners). Boiler condensate fills a tank mounted inside the property (can be in a cupboard below the boiler etc), when full, it triggers a microswitch which then empties the water into where ever you like. The fact it is pumped and empties alot of water (up to a gallon) in one go and water which can be directed wherever you like (up, down, over any length), should avoid freezing issues. Only issue here is the pump is something else to go wrong, so needs to be flushed through and checked for correct operation at least once a year. I used to fit "Little Giant" pumps on many air conditioners installations and they gave little hassle...they do make units specifically for boiler condensate too.
Last edited by ALi-B; 30 December 2010 at 11:31 AM.
31 December 2010, 07:02 PM
#44
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Oh look. Questions were raised in the Commons last winter regarding this very issue. Guess what? Nothing happened, even though condensing boilers were introduced on Nu Labia's watch .....
... http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/201...l-emerges.html ...
From ... http://www.publications.parliament.u...00225-0003.htm ...
"... 25 Feb 2010 : Column 440
Mr. Dunne: I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. I am not surprised, and I am encouraged to hear about the take-up, but is she aware that, when condensing boilers are retrofitted, the water run-off pipe is often fitted on the outside of a building? When those pipes freeze, as is happening in the current freezing conditions, the boilers break, with the result that households have no heat or hot water. What are the Government doing to stop that happening?
Joan Ruddock: From what the hon. Gentleman has said, perhaps Ministers ought to be taking a course in plumbing, although I must tell him that I have no plans to do so. I have a condensing boiler myself, and my external run-off pipe has not frozen, but he may be correct about this being something that we need to look into. However, I hope that he will not want to detract in any way from the great success of the boiler scrappage scheme and the huge savings in CO2 emissions-and therefore the good effects on climate change-that it is achieving. ... "
Aaaarrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! When are these pygmies going to vacate the HoC for the (very old) Tower down the road? The Ravens are waiting ......
Dave
... http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/201...l-emerges.html ...
From ... http://www.publications.parliament.u...00225-0003.htm ...
"... 25 Feb 2010 : Column 440
Mr. Dunne: I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. I am not surprised, and I am encouraged to hear about the take-up, but is she aware that, when condensing boilers are retrofitted, the water run-off pipe is often fitted on the outside of a building? When those pipes freeze, as is happening in the current freezing conditions, the boilers break, with the result that households have no heat or hot water. What are the Government doing to stop that happening?
Joan Ruddock: From what the hon. Gentleman has said, perhaps Ministers ought to be taking a course in plumbing, although I must tell him that I have no plans to do so. I have a condensing boiler myself, and my external run-off pipe has not frozen, but he may be correct about this being something that we need to look into. However, I hope that he will not want to detract in any way from the great success of the boiler scrappage scheme and the huge savings in CO2 emissions-and therefore the good effects on climate change-that it is achieving. ... "
Aaaarrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! When are these pygmies going to vacate the HoC for the (very old) Tower down the road? The Ravens are waiting ......
Dave
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