A frozen condensate pipe is a relatively common cause of boiler failure – especially in the winter. But what exactly is the condensate pipe, how can you defrost it, and when should you call a specialist?
What is the boiler condensate pipe?
The condensate pipe runs from the boiler into the household drainage. Its main function is to transport acidic wastewater from the boiler. All modern boilers have this pipe.
Why does a frozen pipe cause boiler shutdown?
If the water in the condensate pipe becomes frozen or is blocked with ice, most boilers will shut down automatically for safety reasons.
What do if it is frozen?
If your boiler has stopped working and you think it is due to a frozen condensate pipe, you can take the following actions:
- Locate the pipe. It comes out of the wall behind the boiler and is usually white.
- Boil a kettle and then leave it to cool for a while so it is warm as opposed to boiling hot. Alternatively, you could use a hot water bottle or heat pack.
- If using water, gently pour it over the pipe. If using a heat pack or hot water bottle, then wrap or apply this to the pipe. Repeat this until the ice inside melts. This should be reasonably quick.
- Reset your boiler and wait for it to switch on. If it still doesn’t work then you can repeat steps 2 and 3.
Boiler Experts
If you feel that you need professional help to deal with your current issues, a boiler expert such as https://www.hprservicesltd.com/cheltenham-boilers/boiler-repair-cheltenham that specialises in boiler repair Cheltenham and the surrounding areas can offer advice and services.
In summary, most people should be able to resolve this issue using the advice above. However, if you are unable to fix the issue, or it keeps happening, then it is probably wise to get a boiler engineer to check things over as there may be an underlying problem/fault or the pipe may need moving or replacing.