Boiler condensor pipe leaking on plastic L joints
Discussion
I noticed a small pool of water under my boiler and on investigation I found the 3 x L joints on the run of the plastic condenser pipe from the boiler out of the house were leaking, not a massive amount just drips. The plastic piping appears to be push fit but I cant pull them apart, do they tend to be glued, if so if there anything I could use to stop the leaking, or as this is a boiler condenser pipe should I just get it replaced and leave it to a proper Corgi heating tradesman ?
cheers
cheers
There's condensate running down there pretty much all the time the boiler's running, so the question's why is it leaking now, when it never has before?
Is it running down the pipe from the boiler, and that's just where it's dripping?
Is the drain partially blocked, so the water's backing up?
Is it running down the pipe from the boiler, and that's just where it's dripping?
Is the drain partially blocked, so the water's backing up?
Depends what you mean by push-fit.
If it's relatively large diameter and the elbow is simply a right-angled plain pipe then it sounds like solvent-weld pushfit, which you won't get apart. If there is plain pipe but the elbow is a more-complicated thing with rings that twist, then it'll be some sort of Speedfit-type pushfit. If so, you need to twist the chunkiest part of the fitting a quarter-turn or thereabouts, then push the plastic collets inwards as you pull on the pipe. Check Youtube, I'm sure there'll be how-to videos there.
If it's relatively large diameter and the elbow is simply a right-angled plain pipe then it sounds like solvent-weld pushfit, which you won't get apart. If there is plain pipe but the elbow is a more-complicated thing with rings that twist, then it'll be some sort of Speedfit-type pushfit. If so, you need to twist the chunkiest part of the fitting a quarter-turn or thereabouts, then push the plastic collets inwards as you pull on the pipe. Check Youtube, I'm sure there'll be how-to videos there.
Edited by Risotto on Monday 5th March 13:00
TooMany2cvs said:
There's condensate running down there pretty much all the time the boiler's running, so the question's why is it leaking now, when it never has before?
The cold snap. Thousands of people calling plumbers over the last few days with the same issues - condensate pipe froze up.OP - is it still cold where you are? Have you tried defrosting it? It may have expanded during the cold and cracked. Yes some push fit plastics are glued / together and it should be a fairly easy repair, no need for gas safe as not touching the gas
I'd imagine it's solvent welded. If it is, turn the boiler off and let it all dry and then slather a good dollop on each joint. Might fix it.
Worst case cut the pipe and re-do with new solvent weld. You'll need a bit of pipe, a couple of couplers and a couple of elbows.
What size is the pipe? Do you have a picture of one of the joints?
Worst case cut the pipe and re-do with new solvent weld. You'll need a bit of pipe, a couple of couplers and a couple of elbows.
What size is the pipe? Do you have a picture of one of the joints?
See attached pic of 2 of the joints black tape is a bodge I tried.
It looks like it had been leaking a while the top joint had been for a few months but was managable but I noticed back of cupboard was damp so pulled that out revealing the other joint that also appeared to be dripping. There is a 3rd elbow joint again abit further along again checked that and was dripping too and looks like it had for a while. May be had been glued but this has now failed or may be not glued at all as its all 3.
What size mm pipe does it look like?
It looks like it had been leaking a while the top joint had been for a few months but was managable but I noticed back of cupboard was damp so pulled that out revealing the other joint that also appeared to be dripping. There is a 3rd elbow joint again abit further along again checked that and was dripping too and looks like it had for a while. May be had been glued but this has now failed or may be not glued at all as its all 3.
What size mm pipe does it look like?
Edited by PostHeads123 on Monday 5th March 13:29
Edited by PostHeads123 on Monday 5th March 13:29
Edited by PostHeads123 on Monday 5th March 13:31
That doesn't look like solvent weld. Might be FloFit push fit.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/flofit-flo-fit-fb22-pus...
Hard to see. Is there a collet where the pipe enters that you can pull back towards the fitting?
If there is pull it back and the pipe (and hopefully insert) should come out.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/flofit-flo-fit-fb22-pus...
Hard to see. Is there a collet where the pipe enters that you can pull back towards the fitting?
If there is pull it back and the pipe (and hopefully insert) should come out.
Ah condensate pipe. To be honest, overflow pipe is so cheap you mights as well remake the entire run. It’s cost you about a fiver.
If the external condensate pipe freezes you can get away with disconnecting the pipe and having a collection bucket....
Am I wrong in thinking that solvent weld is mandated on condensate waste?
If the external condensate pipe freezes you can get away with disconnecting the pipe and having a collection bucket....
Am I wrong in thinking that solvent weld is mandated on condensate waste?
B17NNS said:
stanwan said:
Am I wrong in thinking that solvent weld is mandated on condensate waste?
I've only ever seen solvent weld before."1.14 Condensate drainage from boilers may be connected to sanitary pipework. The connection should be made using pipework of minimum diameter 22mm through a 75mm condensate trap. If an additional trap is provided externally to the boiler to provide the 75mm seal, an air gap should be provided between the boiler and the trap.
a. The connection should preferably be made to an internal stack with a 75mm condensate trap.
b. If the connection is made to a branch pipe, the connection should be made downstream of any sink waste connection.
c. All sanitary pipework receiving condensate should be made from materials resistant to a pH value of 6.5 and lower. The installation should be in accordance with BS 6798."
Its not blocked I do see water coming out of the end it just dripping at every elbow joint.
I don't think its the push fit ones on the Screwfix link the bulge at the end is less raised.
I've only been in house a few years and boiler fitted just before I moved in, the fact all three are leaking and I remember noticing the elbow outside was leaking when I moved in makes me think its probably always been leaking, I've just not noticed as the boiler been drying it out. I'm going to try pulling it a apart again, if no luck will try and glue around the outside of joint if that doesn't work replace the run.
cheers
I don't think its the push fit ones on the Screwfix link the bulge at the end is less raised.
I've only been in house a few years and boiler fitted just before I moved in, the fact all three are leaking and I remember noticing the elbow outside was leaking when I moved in makes me think its probably always been leaking, I've just not noticed as the boiler been drying it out. I'm going to try pulling it a apart again, if no luck will try and glue around the outside of joint if that doesn't work replace the run.
cheers
PostHeads123 said:
Its not blocked I do see water coming out of the end it just dripping at every elbow joint.
I don't think its the push fit ones on the Screwfix link the bulge at the end is less raised.
I've only been in house a few years and boiler fitted just before I moved in, the fact all three are leaking and I remember noticing the elbow outside was leaking when I moved in makes me think its probably always been leaking, I've just not noticed as the boiler been drying it out. I'm going to try pulling it a apart again, if no luck will try and glue around the outside of joint if that doesn't work replace the run.
cheers
But is the water dripping at the exit ice melting from further up?I don't think its the push fit ones on the Screwfix link the bulge at the end is less raised.
I've only been in house a few years and boiler fitted just before I moved in, the fact all three are leaking and I remember noticing the elbow outside was leaking when I moved in makes me think its probably always been leaking, I've just not noticed as the boiler been drying it out. I'm going to try pulling it a apart again, if no luck will try and glue around the outside of joint if that doesn't work replace the run.
cheers
Hi, going to tackle fix this weekend, I had a look at the piping and its fixed in place Talon hinged clicks same as this https://www.screwfix.com/p/talon-28mm-hinged-pipe-... . Is there a technique for opening the clips, I tried and couldn't get open easily but if I forced hard it would probably open, issue I have is the condenser pipe runs right next to the gas pipe to the boiler I fear damaging gas pipe trying to price open the Talon clip.
thanks
thanks
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