Condensate pipe

[Spark123]

Hi,
My boiler is in the loft and during the Beast from the East cold spell I had the condensate pipe freeze causing it to backup and drip through the upstairs landing ceiling. The bathroom is not far from the boiler above hence I was wondering if it viable to run a new 22mm plastic condensate pipe down and connect up with the bath waste pipe? Is there any reason why this is a bad idea? Any do’s and don’ts, such as can I use compression waste fittings for the bath waste connection or are solvent weld ones required? Or would it be better to keep the outside and insulate / trace heat it. The pipe work outside is 5-6m up in the air, around 6” of 22mm plastic inc a 90 bend where it exits the house, a few ft of 32mm plastic and then into a downspout.
Thanks for any advice.

Paul

 

[muggles]

It's always best to run a condensate internally if possible, but it's classed as being part of the flue system and as such should only be altered by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer

 

[Spark123]

Spot on thanks, I wasn’t aware that it is part of the flue system so will ask my boiler service guy for advice.

 

[heatservice]

Technically it is part of the flue as stated but your boiler should have a condense trap so no products of combustion should be able to pass the trap, that said I have worked with engineers who have shut down boiler as unsafe for no other reason than a small drip from a joint in the condense waste.

 

[bernardgreen]

but it's classed as being part of the flue system

When the condensate drain is connected to the sink waste pipe ( or similar internal waste plumbing ) does the sink waste become part of the flue system ?

Does that mean that strict adherance to the regulations would require a GasSafe plumber to clean out the trap under the sink ?.

 

[heatservice]

When the condensate drain is connected to the sink waste pipe ( or similar internal waste plumbing ) does the sink waste become part of the flue system ?

Does that mean that strict adherance to the regulations would require a GasSafe plumber to clean out the trap under the sink ?.

Look around as some of them would like you to think that

 

[Razor900]

Of course it's part of the flue!!


Mind you as the flue discharges to outside them obviously all the air in the world also forms part of the flueway by the same logic doesn't it? It's the fundamental interconnectedness of the universe innit?

As far as im concerned the appliance finished at the outlet of the condensate trap

 

[Dan Robinson]

I consider it the flue until the air break

 

[Spark123]

I’m glad I asked, I’ll see what the service guy says as I dont like the idea of having fumes coming back into the bathroom. It is something I’d like done in the summer as getting up a ladder with a kettle in gale force winds isnt really a good idea. I ended up with a washing up bowl and a piece of alcathene as a temp measure when it happened. Plan B (trace heating) is looking favourable but he may have another idea.

 

[bernardgreen]

I dont like the idea of having fumes coming back into the bathroom.

There is a trap in the boiler's condensate drain which prevents fumes escaping via the condensate drain. In simple terms this is a U bend with condensate water in. Hence there is a very low risk of fumes into the bathroom, it can only happen if the trap in the boiler dries out after a long period of the boiler not being used.

Connecting directly and air tight into a waste pipe has the risk of suction in the waste system pulling the water out of the trap in the boiler.

An air break prevents that suction in the waste pipe from affecting the trap on the boiler but if the trap in the boiler dries out then, when the boiler is next fired up, some fumes might escape from the air break until enough condensate has been produced to fill the trap in the boiler.

 

[heatservice]

I’m glad I asked, I’ll see what the service guy says as I dont like the idea of having fumes coming back into the bathroom. It is something I’d like done in the summer as getting up a ladder with a kettle in gale force winds isnt really a good idea. I ended up with a washing up bowl and a piece of alcathene as a temp measure when it happened. Plan B (trace heating) is looking favourable but he may have another idea.

You wont have fumes in the bathroom from the condense waste not unless those fumes can find a way through the boilers trap and to do that they would have to defy the laws of physics & logic for starter, so balancing on top of a ladder 5 to 6 mtrs high in a gale pouring boiling hot water from a kettle wasn't dangerous lol

 

[Razor900]

I consider it the flue until the air break

There's one built into the exit of the trap on better quality boilers as you well know

 

[Dan Robinson]

There's one built into the exit of the trap on better quality boilers as you well know

If it has a little alone time with Mr Hacksaw.

 

[Razor900]

If it has a little alone time with Mr Hacksaw.

It also has a smaller slot built into it Dan that acts as an airbreak that's open all the time

 

[Dan Robinson]

That'll be why the bar steward that froze was leaking