Best practice guide to preventing frozen condensate issues

Gas engineers should ensure that condensate discharge pipes are installed correctly where they have a risk of freezing in extreme cold weather, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has said.

With cold temperatures predicted across Europe, some households could experience issues with the condensate discharge pipe freezing and becoming blocked with ice.

HHIC has released an updated best practice installation and maintenance guide for condensate pipes, and is urging engineers to make homeowners aware of the simple steps to thaw a frozen condensate pipe.

The guide includes instructions for installing a condensate pipe that will provide maximum protection to the boiler and the customer. It also outlines the alternative of condensate pumps and how to overcome the challenges associated with existing installations. Multiple diagrams to assist with external connections are followed by a list of other considerations, like the type of insulation materials, air breaks in condensate discharge pipes and the issue of unheated areas in buildings.

Steve Sutton, Technical Manager of the HHIC, said: “This winter, we are determined to make frozen condensate a ‘thing of the past’. By following our guide’s main installation requirements, such as sufficient insulation, this will reduce the likelihood of further callouts to homes with no heating due to a frozen condensate pipe.

“In recent years, however, the UK has seen temperatures drop to minus 12 centigrade and below in many areas, meaning that even with this guidance, a risk of pipes freezing still remains. We highly recommend that homeowners get a professional to assess their installation of their condensate discharge pipe and make improvements where required.

“We urge engineers to advise homeowners to take care when thawing frozen condensate pipes owing to the risks associated with the weather conditions. This includes a range of considerations, such as it being essential that boiling water is not used when thawing the pipe.”

The HHIC’s condensate discharge pipe installation guide can be viewed here.