Freeze-up warning over condensing boiler pipes

Telford MP David Wright today warned residents to be on their guard against pipes freezing on high-efficiency boilers this winter.

Mr Wright spoke out because pipes from many condensing boilers across the county froze during a cold snap last year in which temperatures plunged as low as minus 20C (-4F).

The politician said last year's freeze resulted in a large increase in the number of calls to boiler manufacturers and heating installers.

He said the calls came from householders with condensing boilers where the condensate drainage pipe had frozen and become blocked with ice.

He said: "This then causes the condensate to 'back up' into the boiler and can cause a complete shutdown of the central heating system. In the vast majority of cases such problems occur where the condensate drainage pipe is located outside."

High efficiency or condensing boilers remove more useful heat from the combustion gases, resulting in extra water vapour which has to be collected in the boiler as condensate and taken to a suitable drainage point via the condensate drainage pipe.

British Standards, building regulations and boiler makers' installation instructions currently allow condensate drainage pipes to be located either internally or externally, or a combination of these.

Mr Wright said he welcomed the publication of guidance from the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), even though the weather so far this winter had not been as harsh as last year.

The guidance can be found online here.

Chris Yates, of the HHIC, said: "Our changing climate has put additional pressures on householders heating systems.

"That is why HHIC is urging households to check their heating systems before winter really kicks in."