Frozen Condensates
How to unfreeze a frozen condensate pipe
With the cold weather well and truly here to stay for a while, the most common callouts we receive this time of year are related to frozen condensates. Signs of this include a gurgling noise coming from the boiler, and if your boiler has a digital display, you may see an error code, depending on the make and model of your boiler.
Whilst we are always happy to arrange for one of our skilled engineers to come to your property, a frozen condensate pipe is nothing to worry about, and you can usually thaw it safely without the need to call an engineer.
How to safely thaw a frozen condensate pipe:
- STEP 1 - Look for an outside pipe connected to your boiler (it’s usually white plastic connecting to an external drain - see pic)
- STEP 2 - Using a jug or watering can if it is safe to do so, pour WARM water along the length of the pipe, repeating the process until the pipe has thawed (Do NOT use boiling water, as this can crack or damage the pipe). If you’re using a kettle, make sure to cool the kettle for at least 15 minutes once it’s boiled.
- STEP 3 - Reset your boiler. If the pipe is de-frosted, all should start to work as normal. It may take several attempts before your boiler restarts.
We hope this helps, however, if you are experiencing any issues and would like to book one of our experienced and qualified engineers to come and investigate the fault, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01189 303738
