Boiler condensation pipe into a shared gutter down pipe

[Geraint091270]

Hi Guys just after a bit of advice..
I own a mid terrace house that has a shared gutter down pipe. The pipe is approximately 45cm inside the border of my property.
Would anyone know if my neighbour is allowed to have his condensation pipe running into this gutter
Many thanks

 

[Stigster]

secondly with the condensation pipe penetrating the down pipe will it be more prone to blocking

As long as the installer doesn't do something so daft as to push the condensate pipe right through the boss connection and into the bore of the downpipe it'll not make blockages any more likely.

You'd think that people were smart enough to not do that but I've seen it done sadly.

 

[Darren Jackson]

I would like to see how they have joined the condensate pipe into the downpipe. You being concerned about possible blockages makes me think they have just drilled a hole in the side of the downpipe and pushed it into the hole actually penetrating the downpipe and restricting the bore of the pipe. It should be fitted into a suitable fitting designed to take the condensate pipe without restricting the downpipe. Any chance of a picture. It needs to be done right as gas safe are very strict on condensate runs and how they are terminated.

 

[Ric2013]

I would like to see how they have joined the condensate pipe into the downpipe. You being concerned about possible blockages makes me think they have just drilled a hole in the side of the downpipe and pushed it into the hole actually penetrating the downpipe and restricting the bore of the pipe. It should be fitted into a suitable fitting designed to take the condensate pipe without restricting the downpipe. Any chance of a picture. It needs to be done right as gas safe are very strict on condensate runs and how they are terminated.

Agree. The plot thickens. The first post suggested the neighbour was merely running a pipe into his or her own gutter that discharges into the OP's downpipe, but this does not agree with what is said in subsequent posts.

 

[Geraint091270]

Again thanks guys..
I will get over there this weekend and take some pictures to upload, I’m sure the down pipe was drilled and the condensate just pushed in though. But I’ll confirm with some pictures..
[automerge]1575049963[/automerge]

 

[Ric2013]

Well, if I were the OP and someone had done that to my pipe I'd be severely cheesed off. Apart from anything else, the downpipe may well leak during heavy rain.

Absolutely not the way to do it. Drilling a hole into the side of a pipe and shoving a pipe in does not constitute a connexion even if they have used sealant. No doubt the gas guys will be on shortly to comment on whether that contravenes gas legislation.

 

[Darren Jackson]

Thanks for the picture. You are right to be concerned that is not the correct way to terminate a condensate pipe and is not acceptable and will compromise the bore of the down pipe leading to be prone to blockage. A tee joint should have been cut into the down pipe with a square to round 30mm reducer fitted to the tee joint. Also the external run of 30mm condensate should be insulated. So no this is not to regs and requires doing properly or reporting or both.

 

[Ric2013]

Thanks for the picture. You are right to be concerned that is not the correct way to terminate a condensate pipe and is not acceptable and will compromise the bore of the down pipe leading to be prone to blockage. A tee joint should have been cut into the down pipe with a square to round 30mm reducer fitted to the tee joint. Also the external run of 30mm condensate should be insulated. So no this is not to regs and requires doing properly or reporting or both.

Would you actually reduce to 30mm and can you even get a 30mm reducer for rainwater pipe?

The impression I got from a display on the wall in a Worcester Bosch training centre is that the 'correct' way is to have the condensate pipe dropping into a hopper or socket (one size larger than the condensate pipe) coming off a tee such that there was an air break at the end of the condensate pipe and no possibility of rainwater inducing a vacuum on the condensate pipe. Perhaps it depends on the boiler manufacturer?

I suppose you'll say that the simple answer is for the OP to contact Gas Safe and request that they come and inspect the installation?

 

[Geraint091270]

Again thanks for your help guys. I know what course to take and have some good advice to follow.
Great forum, and a Merry Christmas to you all.

 

[Chuck]

The impression I got from a display on the wall in a Worcester Bosch training centre is that the 'correct' way is to have the condensate pipe dropping into a hopper or socket (one size larger than the condensate pipe) coming off a tee such that there was an air break at the end of the condensate pipe and no possibility of rainwater inducing a vacuum on the condensate pipe.

Another reason for doing it this way is to consider what happens if the downpipe gets blocked below the point of the condensate entry. The entire pipe can fill with water to a level above the boiler...

I had this happen in at my own home (the drainpipe full of water, not the condensate). I'd noticed a gutter spilling during rain so took a look at the gully at the foot of the downpipe. While thinking about the problem, I pulled on a weed growing out of the gulley. Won't make that mistake again. In less than a second the ca 50 litres of freezing cold water that was being supported by a plug of sand/silt and weed roots had crashed down and I was soaked from head to toe.

 

[AWheating]

Should have an air gap between condense waste and rwp.