Is this boiler condensate pipe trap past its best? ('07 Warmflow Utility US70HE System Oil Boiler)

[blundell]

Hi! I've been chasing the smell under our stairs/cellar for so long and have had many things fixed one by one, the smell still remains, next investigation is the boiler!

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Here's 4:

The boiler is a condensing boiler, I think it's a "Warmflow Utility 70 HE Oil Boiler", and so has a drainage pipe, at first I thought the issue was that the drainage pipe runs straight into the soil pipe without a trap. Therefore when it rains we get the drain/sewer smell in that room.

However, after reading the manual (Condensate Disposal - WarmFlow Utility U70HE User Manual [Page 29] | ManualsLib - https://www.manualslib.com/manual/922751/Warmflow-Utility-U70he.html?page=29#manual) I learnt that the boiler has an inbuilt trap inside. So I had a look, and took the above pictures.

I have 3 questions please.

1) Looking at the trap, it looks knackered right? Seems like a good idea to me to replace it, but it's still holding water so I'm unsure how/in what way it could be faulty.

2) How does this trap work? From looking at it the water level is way below the drain level so all smells will come up anyway? (doesn't seem very trap like)

3) The manual doesn't give me the part number. Does anyone know what part it is? (And it's best for me to order and buy it, then get a plumber to fit it right? Rather than just ask a plumber to come then go away and order one themselves, to come back again.) ((I did find this link for a replacement trap but I have no idea if all WarmFlow boilers take the same trap Warmflow Condensate Trap W3779 - Anglian Heating Components - https://ahcomponents.co.uk/product/condensate-assy-100mm/)

Thank you for taking the time to read my amateur scribbled thoughts!

 

[SimonG]

Is that a cast iron soil pipe the condensate drain is tapped into?

 

[blundell]

Is that a cast iron soil pipe the condensate drain is tapped into?

No it's just a UPVC (or whatever plastic material) one but a lot of plaster and stuff has fell on it.

 

[exedon2]

Common trap used on many oil boilers
Grant use that pattern as well around £20 try Heating World of spares

 

[blundell]

Thanks @exedon2 that's let me search for a little more information.

I found this post (Condensate cannot go into Foul Drains when a Septic Tank is used - https://www.plumbersforums.net/threads/condensate-cannot-go-into-foul-drains-when-a-septic-tank-is-used.96683/), explaining that the discharge from the trap is acidic. That would explain why the current trap looks so knackered. (and I see why you asked about iron soil pipes @SimonG , thanks!)

Our trap does drain straight to our septic tank, so looks like I need to neutralise that as well, using something like this (Condensafe+ | Sentinel - https://www.sentinelprotects.com/uk/products/domestic/condensafe-plus).

I've now found a diagram of how the trap works and combining that with the acidic fluid it could explain why the smell is being allowed to escape aka the trap isn't working.

Trap: Grant Condensate Trap, VBS02, VBS14 | Buy at H.P.W. - https://heatingpartswarehouse.co.uk/product/grant-condensate-trap-vbs02-vbs14/

Manual: Condensate Trap; Condensate Disposal Pipework; Inspection And Cleaning Of Trap - Grant Vortex Eco Installation & Servicing Instructions Manual [Page 20] | ManualsLib - https://www.manualslib.com/manual/846706/Grant-Vortex-Eco.html?page=20

If the acidity has corroded the float or the valve seal then it's likely no longer working as a trap.

I'm going to get it replaced and also a neutraliser added. Shame there's not a 2 in 1 product, but I guess not because the neutraliser needs replacing annually.

 

[Jeff the lonesome]

Theres nothing so fanciful on these traps. Works on pure water levels. Take it out, take it aopart and give it a damned good clean. Its only got crust on it because the bottom is leaking. Too tight, leak, too slack, leak. Ensure square section rubber seal pushed down in the threads so it doesnt get twisted or deformed when tightening. The trap cannot smell, even when there's no water/condensate in it!!