Freezing Condensate Pipe Prevention

danjo-xx

I have about an 8" pipe outside the boilerhouse emptying into a soakaway.

The pipe is of a large diameter, about 1.1/4 and made of pvc like you would use on a hand basin waste pipe.

Most condensate pipes I see around the town are usually copper, and look about 1/2" in dia.

So is my 1.1/4 pvc pipe less likely to freeze than the 1/2" diameter copper pipes? and is there any
prevention measures I could take.

Starscream25

My pvc pipe froze this morning, I'm not a plumber and didn't no what was going on with the the heating, had a guy call out and the simple fix he said was to pour hot water from kettle over the pvc pipe after which a small bit of ice had come out, he advised I get some lagging after this cold spell,the temporary fix he suggested was just to give it a bit of cover, I have a few spare carpet cuts so using them

Tonight is gonna get to -6 or so, so I'd advise anyone who hasn't that external pvc pipe to give it a bit of cover and shelter from the elements for the next few days.

arminkavix

And if it isn't running vertical consider making it so and consider increasing the diameter to 32mm and have a look at the siphon units that clip on to the water return and discharge 1/2 litre at a time of warmed water instead of an easily frozen dribble.

danjo-xx

Starscream25 wrote: »

My pvc pipe froze this morning, I'm not a plumber and didn't no what was going on with the the heating, had a guy call out and the simple fix he said was to pour hot water from kettle over the pvc pipe after which a small bit of ice had come out, he advised I get some lagging after this cold spell,the temporary fix he suggested was just to give it a bit of cover, I have a few spare carpet cuts so using them

Tonight is gonna get to -6 or so, so I'd advise anyone who hasn't that external pvc pipe to give it a bit of cover and shelter from the elements for the next few days.

Great advice thanks.

Was yours a very narrow pipe or a big yoke like mine?

Starscream25

think it's only a 3/4 pipe, maybe a bit easier for the smaller sized ones to freeze over, you might be fine but may as well err on the side with caution.

greasepalm

mine was the small size and froze going over a flat roof but later it was replaced with a much larger bore wash hand basin down pipe so awaiting to see what happens next.

beauf

Does insulating the small bore help?

Do they do this differently in colder countries.

greasepalm

yes it does like using water pipe lagging grey foam with a slit to push onto pipe different sizes to cater for different pipes.

Wearb

beauf wrote: »

Does insulating the small bore help?

Do they do this differently in colder countries.

Insulation will help, but you will need to keep an eye on it. Best option is fitting to regulations with 1 1/4 or 1 1/2” pipe with a short run and slight fall.

beauf

Mine froze, I put hot water on it and then wrapped it in towels then plastic. But I'll have to something more permanent eventually.

agusta

danjo-xx wrote: »

I have about an 8" pipe outside the boilerhouse emptying into a soakaway.

The pipe is of a large diameter, about 1.1/4 and made of pvc like you would use on a hand basin waste pipe.

Most condensate pipes I see around the town are usually copper, and look about 1/2" in dia.

So is my 1.1/4 pvc pipe less likely to freeze than the 1/2" diameter copper pipes? and is there any
prevention measures I could take.

The 1/2 inch copper pipes you see are not condensate pipes but a pipe plumbed from the pressure relief valve.copper would erode from the condensate

greasepalm

meaning its acid and dangerous

DGOBS

@Greasepalm, so is beer, tomato juice and vinegar

Wearb

greasepalm wrote: »

meaning its acid and dangerous

It’s got roughly the same ph as the juice from an orange. So not dangerous in that sense, but will corrode holes in a copper pipe if used as a condensate drain pipe.

K.Flyer

An air gap of some sort should always be left where the condense pipe comes through to the outside.
If the rest of the pipe freezes or blocks for any reason it allows it to temporarily overflow safely.

greasepalm

well cross of beer as i dont drink,but do like ketchup and vinegar but not neat yet.so far heating still working.