Condensate Pipe Blockages

[Rob Foster]

I am looking into the frequency, causes and general opinions about condensate pipe blockages from Ice, Leaves and heavy rain. Any opinions or anecdotes gratefull received. Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[king of pipes]

Yep does happen and will happen again this year anything under 11/4",3m long unlagged and run externally will freeze, condense pipe work connected into a rainwater down pipe then into a soakway, which should absorb the rain water and return it to the water table becomes fully flooded or blocked allowing rain water to back up into the boiler heat exchanger.
Aluminium heat exchangers deposit aluminium oxide into the boiler sump then into the condense pipework so blocking it solid if not serviced and the sump cleaned and flushed through regularly not really had a problem with leaves other than blocking a open drain . Cheers kop

 

[Last Plumber]

I am looking into the frequency, causes and general opinions about condensate pipe blockages from Ice, Leaves and heavy rain. Any opinions or anecdotes gratefull received. Rob Foster aka centralheatking

My opinion is that if the thing is installed correctly it should be fine. There is always a possibility of anything freezing in extreme conditions of course and when we have a situation whereby the temperature barely rises above freezing point over a number of consecutive days, even 32 mm pipes can freeze, although I do think the termination point has a strong bearing.