Cold weather can result in a frozen condensate pipe. A condensate pipe is a necessary part of a Natural Gas Boiler installation. The pipe carries away unwanted water created by your boiler. Your boiler can produce up to 2 litres of water an hour caused by cooling gas vapours. When cold weather arrives, the water in the pipe can freeze – even with lagging or insulation in place.  The result is a frozen condensate pipe. The boiler that might not start or only start occasionally. It may even make gurgling sounds.

Solutions for a frozen condensate pipe.

The immediate solution is easy and fast.  Simply warm the pipe with warm water. Either use a bag filled with warm water and applied to the pipe. Alternatively, pour warm (not boiling!) water over the pipe is outside. See our short video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjXyvBsfOpE

A permanent solution to a frozen condensate pipe.

For a more permanent cure, there are a number solutions that you can use to remove the problem of the condensate pipe freezing.

A simple fix during cold weather is to set your central heating on your boiler to maximum. Then just set your over night temperature on your thermostat to around 15 degrees.  Now place the heating on continuous. This will ensure your boiler continues on a low setting overnight.  Return the controls back to normal once the cold snap has passed.

Alternatively, an alternative solution is to use a ‘heat wire’ wrapped around the pipe. The low wattage wire (think of a soil or reptile aquarium warming cable) will keep the pipe warm and prevent the pipe from freezing. Simply plug it in when cold weather arrives or there is a chance of the condensate pipe freezing.   It is simple to apply, easy to use removes the chance of your pipe freezing and boiler failing on the coldest nights of the year.

You can find them by simply typing phrases into Google or Amazon such as ”Water pipe heating cable”, ”Pipe heating cable ” or ”Pipe freeze heat protection cable”

Stay warm this winter with your mind at ease.