Boiler filled with water due to backfilling from condensate pipe

[Minibiker]

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.

 

[dancinplumba]

who's going to replace control unit ?

 

[king of pipes]

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

 

[Rob Foster]

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

 

[Harvest Fields]

Do you have a picture of the boiler please mate?

 

[Minibiker]

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.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Engineer you say? Cover you say? On here now I am not. Be going now I will.

 

[oz-plumber]

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.

 

[Rob Foster]

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

 

[Harvest Fields]

Hey KOP are condensers without a trap illegal now. Do all new ones have to have a trap
Cheers Rob Foster aka centralheatking

Centralheatking. Shouldn’t you know the answer to this Given you use the above name?

 

[Rob Foster]

Centralheatking. Shouldn’t you know the answer to this Given you use the above name?

Not sure so I asked an expert , knowing when to ask is a wise mans perogative Chking

 

[Minibiker]

Thanks for the input Harvest Fields, that's probably one of the nicest ways I've been called a liar.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thanks for the input Harvest Fields, that's probably one of the nicest ways I've been called a liar.

It’s nothing personnel @Minibiker. No offence was intended. But we have to be careful when pictures of boilers with no cases are put up in public forums.

 

[Rob Foster]

It’s nothing personnel @Minibiker. No offence was intended. But we have to be careful when pictures of boilers with no cases are put up in public forums.

Too right piccys of inside boilers only encourage unqualified s to have a fiddle and then BANG. Chking

 

[gmartine]

Erm...where's the condensate pipe exactly cos it sure don't look like it ever had one.

https://acwilgar.co.uk/Boiler-Manual-PDF/Potterton/POTTERTON SUPRIMA 30,40,50,60,70,80.pdf

 

[Rob Foster]

Erm...where's the condensate pipe exactly cos it sure don't look like it ever had one.

https://acwilgar.co.uk/Boiler-Manual-PDF/Potterton/POTTERTON SUPRIMA 30,40,50,60,70,80.pdf

This is why I love this place ..I cannot see one but I am blind
Chking

 

[gmartine]

The cast iron hex and open burner could've been a clue.

 

[Minibiker]

Hi @gmartine it's behind the white plastic panel at the bottom of the picture, you can just see the corner of it going down.
@Harvest Fields sorry I assumed you didn't just want a picture of the outside of the boiler.

 

[Rob Foster]

The cast iron hex and open burner could've been a clue.

Nice so where does that leave the op ....hmmm

 

[Minibiker]

@gmartine my boiler is a Potterton Suprima 80 HE - https://www.potterton.co.uk/-/media...hash=40BC4AE61C5AB0A4965E6E4318F5EDAD046C1E28

 

[Minibiker]

@gmartine my boiler is a Potterton Suprima 80 HE - https://www.potterton.co.uk/-/media...hash=40BC4AE61C5AB0A4965E6E4318F5EDAD046C1E28

 

[gmartine]

My mistake, get in an engineer.

 

[Rob Foster]

Erm...where's the condensate pipe exactly cos it sure don't look like it ever had one.

https://acwilgar.co.uk/Boiler-Manual-PDF/Potterton/POTTERTON SUPRIMA 30,40,50,60,70,80.pdf

Humble Pie and tea are words that spring to mind ,Inam having chicken , never mind mr op
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[gmartine]

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.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

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

 

[Harvest Fields]

Your not alone I thought it was the non condensing one

That is why I asked for a picture mate. Especially when he said 2004.

 

[dancinplumba]

secondary heat ex to the right in pic

 

[Chalked]

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

 

[Rob Foster]

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.

 

[Rob Foster]

Spurilous claims hey

 

[dan_the_plumber]

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.