Leaking Condensate Drainage Pipe- Advice Please

[PhoenixServices]

Install of the boiler doesn't look too bad. Just a shame he couldn't finish off the making good neatly. What did you get for your £2800? You say boiler install and some rads, was it a whole new heating system?

 

[spanner]

Apprentice and Sir Alan Sugar @ 9pm...
Will the plumber win it!!

 

[nnightingale85]

Thanks for your replies! I will try and get a pic up of the moving radiator. The £2800 got us 6 new radiators, the new boiler, all the pipe work upstairs as we only had heating downstairs, a chemical flush, and relocation of an outside tap. I'm glad the install looks good!!

 

[Worcester]

You have rights, in fact they are really hard on us as tradesmen!

It's all part of the new Consumer Rights Act 2015

There are clear rules for what should happen if a service is not provided with reasonable care and skill

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/a...e-consumer-work/the-consumer-rights-act-2015/
and
Consumer Rights Act 2015 - Which?

You have the right to expect a system that works and that it should have been installed with reasonable care and skill, a 'wonky' radiator is an example of something that is not done with 'reasonable skill' a botched up wall and a leaking condensate pipe are both examples of something not done with reasonable care or skill.

If he doesn't respond within a reasonable time and put it ALL right then you have rights to reclaim costs - see above - DON'T be a pushover for bad workmanship.

See also how it affects us from our point of view
Consumer Rights Act 2015: How will it affect trade? | The CPA

 

[PhoenixServices]

To be fair you got a good amount for £2800 that would of probably just been a flush and boiler install from me. But if that's the price he quoted he should of done everything to a decent standard.

 

[kay-jay]

The outside tap is shocking. The pipework should be sleeved as it passes through the wall.

 

[Worcester]

Only one screw holding the tap on, and I bet there's no double check valve on it either...

Trouble with all these threads is the OP describes problem, gets a few replies and tips and then doesn't come back to tell us the final outcome (No specific criticism to the OP here, just venting my frustration!)

 

[nnightingale85]

Sorry Worcester, I have been away for Christmas. At the moment we're waiting to hear from the plumber...who is still ignoring us. We thought we'd give him the benefit of the doubt over Christmas. But tomorrow I'm going to be ringing another plumber to come and do the job, I will then be sending a strongly word complaint to the original plumber, and ask for some money back for the cost of the repair (optimistic I know, but it's worth a shot!)

We're getting a conservatory built in a few weeks, so I'm hoping the builders might sort the brickwork at the front.

Kay Jay, what do you mean by sleeved? That tap was originally at head height! We complained that its a bit dangerous as its right on the corner, he 'dropped it down'. I was imagining he would somehow drop it down inside and pass it through a a reasonable height!

It's so difficult living in a new place with no friends or family to recommend tradesmen.

Will keep you updated on the outcome!

 

[nnightingale85]

I've just realised that the outside tap picture is the old one. I complained about it being at head height, and the shoddy brick work.

He has since filled the brick with cement and extended the pipe outside so the tap is at knee height, but there is now a big long exposed pipe outside to the tap.

He has ignored us since this!

 

[kay-jay]

When I say sleeved I mean the copper pipe should be run through the wall in a sleeve made from plastic overflow pipe. This is a regulation and prevents chemicals in mortar and plaster from reacting with the copper pipe which over time causes pinhole leaks

 

[nnightingale85]

Aaaah, thanks. Another thing to add to the list!! Would you recommend this is done soon?

I think I will ask the plumber who comes to fix the leaking pipe!

Any recommendations for a reliable and decent plumber in Tameside

Thanks

 

[FunkyOstrich]

Oh this just sound miserable! Poor you. I agree £2800 for all that work is a good price. How many days was he busy with it? Changing a boiler, fitting a few pipes and wiring it up is easy. Doing it neatly and keeping the customer's needs in mind is sometimes too much to ask for some plumbers and gas engineers. I'm very curious to see what the radiators look like. Please send pics!

 

[nnightingale85]

I know!

It is a good price, but we had a few similar priced quotes, so went with an 'Ideal Boiler Installer' from their website. I am so angry that they would recommend a workman with such little care and attention.

I'm so tempted to complain to them.

I will post some pictures of the radiators when I get home from work.

He literally did it in one day, I think half the problem was he was rushing. But when we called him back he said 'I'm not a bricky'. That's not really the point! Now I have had some advice from this forum, it is clear that the condensate pipe is inadequate, and he should have sleeved the copper pipe.

I don't trust him to come back to do the work, but it's all added expense that we also can't afford.

It's all a learning curve though.

 

[nnightingale85]

I am writing the plumber a complaint letter and requesting a refund for the work that needs doing as I don't trust him to do it.

Please could you advise me of an approximate cost (up north) for the repair of the following:

Leaking Condensate Pipe replacing

Radiator securing to wall (it moves from side to side)

Copper pipe to outside tap sleeving (ideally the pipe running inside, and then coming outside at knee height so the 3ft of copper pipe isn't exposed outside).

Repairing shoddy brick work to the front of the house

Thanks in advance, and thank again for all of your advice

 

[stevetheplumber]

if the rad is moving side to side on the brackets i doubt he has fitted the plastic inserts to the brackets sometimes a blob of silicon will cure it

 

[kay-jay]

Hard to say without seeing it in the flesh so to speak but I would imagine a couple of hundred quid

 

[nnightingale85]

Thanks, it's just an estimate. Hopefully he will refund us, but doubt it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Leaking Condensate Pipe replacing : £100 - £150

Radiator securing to wall/ movement : £30

new outside tap : £100

brick work : about £150

 

[nnightingale85]

 

[nnightingale85]

Photos of radiator as requested. Also slightly concerned because the installation manual states that the external condensate pipe must be a minimum of 30mm before it passes through the sleeved wall.

My pipe seems smaller. The list is never ending :whatchutalkingabout

 

[ShaunCorbs]

yours is fine as it increases outside to 1 1/4

 

[stevetheplumber]

Rad is moving because its piped in ten mm a bit of silicon will help

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Rad is moving because its piped in ten mm a bit of silicon will help

plastic as well

 

[GrahamM]

View attachment 24366View attachment 24367

Photos of radiator as requested. Also slightly concerned because the installation manual states that the external condensate pipe must be a minimum of 30mm before it passes through the sleeved wall.

My pipe seems smaller. The list is never ending :whatchutalkingabout

As mentioned yours is 30mm by looks of it. Out of interest read a few lines down as the current Logics state external condensate pipework should also be insulated with weather proof insulation (type o) as a further precaution against freezing.
I have came across a few 30mm condensates freezing solid over the years.

 

[thompsonbrown]

Hello,

This is my first post and I hope you could offer me some advice please.

We recently had a new boiler fitted, the boiler and radiators are working well, but the finish is awful.

The Condensate Drainage Pipe runs externally to the soil pipe, not ideal, but were having a conservatory fitted over it.

This pipe is now leaking from the joint where it meets the soil pipe and also the elbow and other joints. The plumber is avoiding our messages and to be honest I would rather ask someone else to do the job.

I have attached a picture of the pipe, I'm no expert but should it not be one pipe at an angle?

Please could you offer advice on what I should be asking a plumber for, I need this pipe to be water tight, as its going to be boxed in in the conservatory which is supposed to be getting done in the first weeks of January.

Thank You in advance (sorry I couldnt rotate it!)

Nat View attachment 24249

Looks like a plumber who forgot to bring solvent weld glue.