As a company we have experienced major problems this past week with the
condensing pipes freezing up. Solution going forward is to either have pipe
plumbed internally into waste pipe or, as British Gas are suggesting,
install trace heating on the external pipe. Apparently informed that
condensing boilers are a relatively new phenoman in UK. They have been
installed for many years in Europe where they always keep the pipes inside
the property where they drain into waste. Personally I have a 24 year old
balanced flue with a heat exchanger, thermocouple and gas tap. That is all
there is to go wrong. May not be as efficient as the new ones but until the
heat exchanger gives out I have been advised by many gas engineers to stick
with it as the condenser boilers have a limited life cycle average of 10 -
12 years. Most have pcb boards that fail within 5 years at a cost to
replace of £250. The joys of new technology and no pilot light.

Roger
"John Nice" johnDOTniceATbtinternetDOTcom wrote in message
...

"John Nice" johnDOTniceATbtinternetDOTcom wrote in message
...

"gareth2701" wrote in message
...
Just thought I would share this to try and stop unnecessary call out
costs

I have a Bosh Worcester boiler and it is just coming up to a year
old. This week the boiler has switched itself off twice. My mother
has the same boiler as does a colleague of mine and have all failed
this week.

On further inspection the condenser pipe from the boiler to outside
has frozen as all the drips have mounted up in the plastic pipe to the
drain and frozen and the boiler switches off,

A boiling kettle poured over the black pipe outside loosens all the
ice and the ice flows out of the black pipe into the drain. Just
press the boiler reset button and bingo it fires up and all is well.

Guess I will be doing that alot this winter!!! My work colleague had
the gas engineer who did the same thing and charged him £80!!

I guess British Gas will be making a small fortune for a 15 min call
out. My mothers boiler was the same, at least she has a sevice
contract!!

I recall hearing that condensate pipes running in the open are supposed
to be 22mm, to avoid freezing. Any plumber/heating engineer care to
comment?

John
Actually, quote from Worcester-Bosch FAQs:

The condensate pipe is a plastic pipe (black, white or grey), coming from
the bottom of your boiler. If this pipe is less than 32mm in diameter and
runs outside of the property or through a non-heated area then it should
be fully insulated with waterproof lagging. If it is not fully lagged and
the 3 criteria (in step 1 above) apply then it is likely that it is frozen
and needs to be thawed