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When it got below zero in the UK in 2010 and 2018, thousands of people with condensing boilers called boilermakers.
The problem was that the condensate pipes in the boilers froze, which shut down the burners. Still, the biggest problem was that the pipe was outside the house.
It is important to understand how a boiler condensate pipe works, even though the untrained eye can’t see it. This will help you avoid problems in the future.
What is a Boiler Condensate Pipe?
A condenser boiler can’t work without a boiler water line. It is the job of the pipe to let boiler waste into the drain.
Every time a condenser boiler works, it makes water. The water that forms when something condenses is known as condensate.
Modern gas heaters can get latent heat back from waste exhaust gases. As a result, carbon dioxide and water vapour give off condensate.
So long as the gas makes enough heat, it will turn back into water. After that, the heat from the liquid is gathered. The extra product can be flushed away through the condenser line.
There is some acidity in the waste water. So, waste water has to go through a line made of plastic.
Most of the boiler condensation line is made up of PVC pipes that stick out from the outside wall.
How to Tell the Condenser Pipe in a Boiler Apart
It’s easier to fix if you know which part of the connection is the boiler water pipe. As was already said, a boiler condensate pipe is made of plastic. So, look through the metal pipes for a pipe made of plastic.
When putting a new boiler, there are some things you should know about HHIC condenser pipes.
The Heating & Hotwater Industry Council is a group in the UK that helps and speaks out for the sustainable home heating and hot water business.
In addition, makers must stick to certain sizes set by UK law when putting combo heaters in the country.
For the drainage system to work, the pipe width needs to be about 22 mm. But for a pipe outside, it needs to be about 32 mm.
The difference in size of 10 mm keeps things from freezing. However, freezing of the condensate pipe can still happen even with the bigger width. It’s also necessary to have a shorter outdoor discharge line that goes straight to the drainage system.
Outside pipes for washing machines and sink trash must be insulated with materials that are waterproof and don’t fade in the sun.
Most frozen pipes happen near the exit, where the water that is being drained freezes or starts to build up ice. For this not to happen, cut the end of a trash pipe at a 45-degree angle. To keep the pipe from freezing, the end should always be pointing down toward the grid.
Fixing the Broken Boiler Condensate Pipe
According to the rules about boiler condenser lines, you should only hire a trained Gas Safe expert. The heater expert is trained to look at the damage to the lines, fittings, and other parts.
You could try to fix it yourself if it’s just freezing. These easy tips will help you deal with a frozen water pipe.
You should fix your broken condenser line right away to stop leaks and other problems from happening.
What Makes Boiler Condensate Pipe Frozen
The main problem with a boiler’s condenser line is that it freezes. It often freezes when the pipe is cold in the winter. Frozen water pipes are a big problem in the winter. What will happen is that you won’t have enough heat at home.
The following are signs that a condensation pipe is frozen:
- Not even heat or hot water
- The boiler shows a problem message or code.
- Strange boiling sounds
Even though you can’t change the highest temperature, you can keep pipes from freezing by taking certain steps.
- Wrap the pipe in something to seal it. It is possible for you to insulate pipes on your own. Use waterproof bridging when you’re insulating. This is very important because materials that can’t keep water out could hurt you more than help.
- The condensation pipe needs to be moved inside. If you move the condensate pipe inside, the temperature won’t drop below room temperature, so it won’t freeze. Even so, this should be done by a heater professional or repair.
- Raise the temperature: You could raise the flow temperature of the radiator, but that could make your energy costs go up.
With a Boiler Condensate Pipe, Can You Save Even More Money?
It is possible for condensing boilers to return gases and get more heat back. It’s a better choice than non-condensing heaters for cutting down on high energy bills. Also, because it is part of a condensing boiler, a boiler condensate pipe does save you money.
Getting a boiler with condensing technology might make it work better and result in lower yearly costs for running your central heating system.
How do Condensate Pumps Work?
A condensate pump is a type of centrifugal pump that collects and moves hot water and other liquids that are made when heat condenses in a heating system.
It is necessary to use a pump when gravity alone is not enough to move the water to the ground-level drains. The condenser pump doesn’t work all the time; it works sometimes.
A holding box is used to hold the vapour. A float switch turns on the pump when the level of the liquid builds up to a certain point. The vapour is pushed out of the tank to make room for another turn of catching it.
There are also condensate pumps with two switches, which can help you see if there is a block. When the vapour gets to the first switch, the pump needs to start and the liquid from the tank needs to be let out.
If the pipe is frozen, though, the pump won’t be able to push the liquid out of the pump. The second switch will trip when the amount of condensate rises, which will either turn off the system or sound an alarm.
Soakaway if No Drain
In places where there isn’t a boiler condensate drain, a soakaway is used to get rid of the waste water.
What is a soakaway and how does it work?
A soakaway catches rainwater and mixes it with lime chips to make it less acidic. It controls the flow of leftover water so that it can safely enter the ground.
Pros of Taking a Soakaway
The water has somewhere else to go with a soakaway, which makes the main draining system less stressed. It’s also very cheap and easy to put in place.
Soakaways are easy to take care of, and if your water company offers them, they might even pay for themselves by offsetting the cost of surface draining.
One more benefit of using a soakaway is that it reduces the amount of acidic waste left in the system. This will make the boiler last longer and make sure that the central heating system always works.
Problems with a Soakaway
If your stove condensation line doesn’t have a drain, even if a soakaway is a great alternative, it might not work. The first thing to know is that a soakaway will not help if it is placed in dirt that doesn’t drain well.
Second, dirt and leaves could get stuck in the soakaway and make it impossible to use. Putting in a silt filter will keep dirt and leaves from getting into the house.
So that the soakaway doesn’t damage the base of the house if there are draining problems, it should also be put far away from the house.
People Also Asked
How much waste condensation water that a condensing boiler produces?
These days, a modern efficient boiler might lose two to three litres of water every hour it works. The water is sent out in 300 mL chunks instead of all at once so that the outside pipe doesn’t freeze.
How hot or cold should the water be in order to melt the frozen water in the pipe?
In order to melt the ice pipe, the temperature should be between 60°C and 70°C. Putting warm water on top of the cold spot might not work the first time, though. You might have to do it more than once until it works, depending on how bad the blockage is.
Does putting warm water in a jar always work?
In the event that it gets below -2°C, pouring warm water over a frozen condensate line several times might not help. If you pour hot water on it right now, it might freeze right away and make things worse.
One way to solve this problem is to use a hot water bottle along with the water pouring method.
Pour the warm water in first, and then use the hot water bottle for as long as you need to. With this method, there is a better chance of getting rid of the blockage.
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