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Discuss Boiler filled with water due to backfilling from condensate pipe in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

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Hello,

I was hoping some one can give me some advice, Sunday morning I came down to a wet floor and no heating or hot water. I initially thought that the heat exchanger had gone in the boiler. After a lot of clearing up and drying out I managed to get some one to look at the boiler and they suggested as the boiler was old, it's a Potterton Suprima 80 he which appears to have been installed in 2004, the heat exchanger had gone.
However thinking some more about it the condensate pipe is connected to a rainwater downpipe and there was a lot of rain over night. So my thinking is that the soakaway has become blocked and the rainwater has backfilled into the boiler, there's no air break in the condensate pipe. To test this theory I've refilled the system to see if the boiler leaks again.

So my question is if the boiler doesn't leak would it be safe to use? I know the control unit needs replacing as this shorted out when it filled with water. Until this happened it all seemed to be working ok.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
I have been called out several times for this not a great idea to a put condense into a rainwater down pipe soon as you have a freak downpour the soak away can't cope and water backs up into the boiler as you have found , you will need a GSI to visit and try and save your boiler consider rerouting the condensate waste also , if it's all dried out parts replaced you may well salvage it . Kop
 
Hello,

I was hoping some one can give me some advice, Sunday morning I came down to a wet floor and no heating or hot water. I initially thought that the heat exchanger had gone in the boiler. After a lot of clearing up and drying out I managed to get some one to look at the boiler and they suggested as the boiler was old, it's a Potterton Suprima 80 he which appears to have been installed in 2004, the heat exchanger had gone.
However thinking some more about it the condensate pipe is connected to a rainwater downpipe and there was a lot of rain over night. So my thinking is that the soakaway has become blocked and the rainwater has backfilled into the boiler, there's no air break in the condensate pipe. To test this theory I've refilled the system to see if the boiler leaks again.

So my question is if the boiler doesn't leak would it be safe to use? I know the control unit needs replacing as this shorted out when it filled with water. Until this happened it all seemed to be working ok.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
There is soon to be a new unit on the market CondenserMate
which collects backed up condensate water and gives an audible alarm when it is operating. Details from me I have designed it Rob Foster aka centralheatking
 
Thanks for the replies.

It's good to know my theory wasn't completely out there.

Well the boiler is still as dry as it can be this morning, it's located in the garage and there obviously isn't any heating.
So I guess the next step would be to see if I can get some one that is gas safe registered to come and take a look and hopefully replace the control unit and save the boiler otherwise it looks like the only Christmas present I'm getting this year is a new boiler :(

I will get the condensate pipe redone anyway as it's far from ideal and needs doing regards of what boiler we end up using.

I've attached a picture of the boiler when the engineer removed the cover.

20181112_085118.jpg
 
I'd have a look at my insurance policy.
Boiler damaged due to storm damage.

The insurance company might get you a Christmas present or at least contribute partially to a Christmas present.
 
I have been called out several times for this not a great idea to a put condense into a rainwater down pipe soon as you have a freak downpour the soak away can't cope and water backs up into the boiler as you have found , you will need a GSI to visit and try and save your boiler consider rerouting the condensate waste also , if it's all dried out parts replaced you may well salvage it . Kop
Hey KOP are condensers without a trap illegal now. Do all new ones have to have a trap
Cheers Rob Foster aka centralheatking
 
Humble Pie and tea are words that spring to mind ,Inam having chicken , never mind mr op Rob Foster aka centralheatking

Oh dear, perhaps some humility is something you should care to learn. I looked through this thread again wondering exactly what your contribution was considering the number of posts and other than some spurious claims about inventing stuff there was not a great deal. Correct me if I'm wrong though as I'm humble like that.
 
Oh dear, perhaps some humility is something you should care to learn. I looked through this thread again wondering exactly what your contribution was considering the number of posts and other than some spurious claims about inventing stuff there was not a great deal. Correct me if I'm wrong though as I'm humble like that.

Your not alone I thought it was the non condensing one :D
 
Thanks for the replies.

It's good to know my theory wasn't completely out there.

Well the boiler is still as dry as it can be this morning, it's located in the garage and there obviously isn't any heating.
So I guess the next step would be to see if I can get some one that is gas safe registered to come and take a look and hopefully replace the control unit and save the boiler otherwise it looks like the only Christmas present I'm getting this year is a new boiler :(

I will get the condensate pipe redone anyway as it's far from ideal and needs doing regards of what boiler we end up using.

I've attached a picture of the boiler when the engineer removed the cover.

View attachment 35483
 
Oh dear, perhaps some humility is something you should care to learn. I looked through this thread again wondering exactly what your contribution was considering the number of posts and other than some spurious claims about inventing stuff there was not a great deal. Correct me if I'm wrong though as I'm humble like that.
 
I’ve had boilers full of water because of backed up or blocked Condensate pipes. But of these boilers they’ve never leaked out over the floor.
I have had boilers leak out of their casing because of rain water entering via the air intake.
 

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