Condensate - Plastic tray, normal practice?

[eleguj]

I recently had a new boiler fitted into my flat and have some concerns about the solution provided for condensate.

When the job was first scoped out I was told that a pipe would be run outside to deal with the condensate, which would be a challenge because of the property but doable.

I stuck with the condensing water boiler because it was going to be a huge hassle to change to combi in my property, which was confirmed by all of the installation companies that gave me a quote. Didn't seem like any real reason to change either, as long as everything worked and my house had a working heating system!

Anyway, the guys I arranged to do the job came out and although there was a couple of visits required to get things working they got everything fitted and the boiler was working perfectly. I noticed there were no pipes going outside, so I did ask what happened to them. I was told at this point that they'd found an alternative solution that meant they didn't need to. I probably should have asked more questions, however I know nothing about boilers so, possibly naively, just accepted what I was told.

However, after a couple of days the system started making a dreadful sound, right underneath the boiler itself, and it just wouldn't stop. I had a look at where the sound was coming from and it was a small contraption inside a plastic box which was filled with water. I took a video and messaged the installer, who said that I just had to remove the plastic box and empty the water. So I did this, but a few days later it just filled up again and the same sound returned. I was then told that I would have to keep changing the box when it fills up with water. At this point I was a bit miffed. Was this normal? I had to yank the contraption thingy (I don't know what it is, you might have guessed) out of the plastic box, pulling some pipes out as well, with condensate dripping on the floor in the process, and take the plastic box and pour the water down the toilet. I'd never heard of anything like it.

Fast forward about 6 weeks and I'm going through this process every 2 days or so, sometimes daily if we are home and have the heating on a lot. I have contacted the fitting company and they have said they'll book someone to come and provide an alternative solution, but that they informed me that there isn't really a viable alternative that follows proper procedure.

My concern here is I feel like I shouldn't be changing condensate manually every couple of days and it just seems like a ludicrous process and I can't quite believe that it was ever fitted this way, without even notifying me at the time that this would be the case. The guys were really helpful and had to deal with a lot of obstacles when fitting the new boiler, which I really appreciated and I feel slightly guilty about raising concerns on a forum. But the honest truth is I know very little about boilers and I just wanted to check if I'm being unreasonable. Maybe it's a normal solution to have a plastic box that the condensate fills up into and then needs changed?

So at this point I'm just looking for some feedback on my situation and whether it all sounds standard or not. As I mentioned, the guys I got in were really helpful on the whole and to be fair they have said they'll come out at some point to look at changing the current set up when it comes to condensate. I'm just a little concerned about what's in place and having spent £2,500 on a new boiler I'd like to know it's all been fitted properly!

 

[oz-plumber]

Obviously something wrong.
Take some pics and find out where the condensate drain runs to.

You shouldn't leave an open condensate drain inside your house.

 

[Scott_D]

Is it a condensate pump?

 

[Tim Watts]

No, you should not have to empty a condensate collector. I too am wondering if it's a pump to get the condensate to a higher drain somewhere else - that could explain the noise. But it should be automatic.

On an aside, personally I think you are better off not running it outside as there are no end of problems each winter with such drains freezing, though some (many?) modern boilers to have siphonic emptying to mitigate that.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any pics ?

 

[gmartine]

Not sure if the regs have changed but the the new guidlines for external condensate are to use 30mm ID (before going through wall) and insulate.

 

[snowhead]

Does it look something like this or is it just a plain box;

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/grundfos-conlift-1-ls-condensate-pump/4895f?_requestid=183633

And have you had any Registration paperwork through for the boiler?

 

[Rob Foster]

I recently had a new boiler fitted into my flat and have some concerns about the solution provided for condensate.

When the job was first scoped out I was told that a pipe would be run outside to deal with the condensate, which would be a challenge because of the property but doable.

I stuck with the condensing water boiler because it was going to be a huge hassle to change to combi in my property, which was confirmed by all of the installation companies that gave me a quote. Didn't seem like any real reason to change either, as long as everything worked and my house had a working heating system!

Anyway, the guys I arranged to do the job came out and although there was a couple of visits required to get things working they got everything fitted and the boiler was working perfectly. I noticed there were no pipes going outside, so I did ask what happened to them. I was told at this point that they'd found an alternative solution that meant they didn't need to. I probably should have asked more questions, however I know nothing about boilers so, possibly naively, just accepted what I was told.

However, after a couple of days the system started making a dreadful sound, right underneath the boiler itself, and it just wouldn't stop. I had a look at where the sound was coming from and it was a small contraption inside a plastic box which was filled with water. I took a video and messaged the installer, who said that I just had to remove the plastic box and empty the water. So I did this, but a few days later it just filled up again and the same sound returned. I was then told that I would have to keep changing the box when it fills up with water. At this point I was a bit miffed. Was this normal? I had to yank the contraption thingy (I don't know what it is, you might have guessed) out of the plastic box, pulling some pipes out as well, with condensate dripping on the floor in the process, and take the plastic box and pour the water down the toilet. I'd never heard of anything like it.

Fast forward about 6 weeks and I'm going through this process every 2 days or so, sometimes daily if we are home and have the heating on a lot. I have contacted the fitting company and they have said they'll book someone to come and provide an alternative solution, but that they informed me that there isn't really a viable alternative that follows proper procedure.

My concern here is I feel like I shouldn't be changing condensate manually every couple of days and it just seems like a ludicrous process and I can't quite believe that it was ever fitted this way, without even notifying me at the time that this would be the case. The guys were really helpful and had to deal with a lot of obstacles when fitting the new boiler, which I really appreciated and I feel slightly guilty about raising concerns on a forum. But the honest truth is I know very little about boilers and I just wanted to check if I'm being unreasonable. Maybe it's a normal solution to have a plastic box that the condensate fills up into and then needs changed?

So at this point I'm just looking for some feedback on my situation and whether it all sounds standard or not. As I mentioned, the guys I got in were really helpful on the whole and to be fair they have said they'll come out at some point to look at changing the current set up when it comes to condensate. I'm just a little concerned about what's in place and having spent £2,500 on a new boiler I'd like to know it's all been fitted properly!

This is quite simply not right op has paid for a proper job, whatever the explanation it does not work and is still within guarantee and subject to gas and building regulations let alone consumer rights . Very poor Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[eleguj]

Does it look something like this or is it just a plain box;

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/grundfos-conlift-1-ls-condensate-pump/4895f?_requestid=183633

And have you had any Registration paperwork through for the boiler?

Yes, this is exactly what it is!

The bottom part fills with the excess water and when it gets to the top, every 1-2 days, it starts screaming/whirring loudly and I have to empty before it stops and the system returns to normal.

 

[Scott_D]

Yes, this is exactly what it is!

The bottom part fills with the excess water and when it gets to the top, every 1-2 days, it starts screaming/whirring loudly and I have to empty before it stops and the system returns to normal.

It's trying to pump the water away
It should stop after a few seconds
Where does the clear hose pipe coming from it go?

 

[eleguj]

It's trying to pump the water away
It should stop after a few seconds
Where does the clear hose pipe coming from it go?

It definitely doesn't stop that quickly, first time it happened it went on for at least 20 minutes - even when I shut the whole system down it was still going crazy. When I disconnect the top part to empty the tray it also sometimes sounds like it's going to explode, but it's a bit fiddly as I have to take that out, as well as the pipes, and squeeze it out of the corner of the cupboard that it's in without spilling the water everywhere.

I'm not at home just now so can't remember exactly where each pipe goes, but I know there is a clear one that comes from the water tank itself, under the floor and goes into the pump directly and then there is also a more solid pipe that comes in from the boiler itself, above the pump. I can confirm more precise details later.

The water certainly doesn't seem to go anywhere though, and when I contacted the fitter he confirmed I'd have to empty the tray/pump when it fills up.

 

[Rob Foster]

It definitely doesn't stop that quickly, first time it happened it went on for at least 20 minutes - even when I shut the whole system down it was still going crazy. When I disconnect the top part to empty the tray it also sometimes sounds like it's going to explode, but it's a bit fiddly as I have to take that out, as well as the pipes, and squeeze it out of the corner of the cupboard that it's in without spilling the water everywhere.

I'm not at home just now so can't remember exactly where each pipe goes, but I know there is a clear one that comes from the water tank itself, under the floor and goes into the pump directly and then there is also a more solid pipe that comes in from the boiler itself, above the pump. I can confirm more precise details later.

The water certainly doesn't seem to go anywhere though, and when I contacted the fitter he confirmed I'd have to empty the tray/pump when it fills up.

That is plain stupid, a 30kw condensing boiler running in cold weather will produce up to 2 litres of condensate every 24 hours so the boiler has to be nannied ....I would state that the installation is not fit for purpose. What boiler is it ? What are the recommended condensate arrangements, unless this boiler comes from noddyland this set up will not be in the fitting orvopetating instructions ...get installer back, report the outfit if no dice, and get it sorted by a professional installer Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[Gasmk1]

i would say that there is a kink in the clear palstic somewhere they need to come back and trace it to make sure it empties they normally empty pretty quick probably 5 to 10 seconds

 

[Rob Foster]

It definitely doesn't stop that quickly, first time it happened it went on for at least 20 minutes - even when I shut the whole system down it was still going crazy. When I disconnect the top part to empty the tray it also sometimes sounds like it's going to explode, but it's a bit fiddly as I have to take that out, as well as the pipes, and squeeze it out of the corner of the cupboard that it's in without spilling the water everywhere.

I'm not at home just now so can't remember exactly where each pipe goes, but I know there is a clear one that comes from the water tank itself, under the floor and goes into the pump directly and then there is also a more solid pipe that comes in from the boiler itself, above the pump. I can confirm more precise details later.

The water certainly doesn't seem to go anywhere though, and when I contacted the fitter he confirmed I'd have to empty the tray/pump when it fills up.

You might have to empty the tray IF IT FILLS up ie if the outside pipe freezes up on odd very cold nights NOT every day
1 or 2 x you are being suckered Chking

 

[sammathias]

My bet is what ever wastepipe it's bossed into hasn't had a hole cut into it for the water to discharge...that is if the pumps been wired up and the water not just backing up into the burner causing the noise.