Overflow Pipe For Condensate Discharge!

[SimonG]

Went to a leaking Worcester Greenstar Heatslave, upstairs and stained the ceiling below.

Going in thought I knew exactly what it was, leaking brass Sika flow switch. Bingo, pithing out, new washers and tighten up.

Then I heard drip drip drip. Condensate pipe in back corner. Soon as I touched it the elbow split clean in two.
Luckily enough pipe to cut back and get a new elbow on.

Is it just me or is anybody else finding more and more leaks on condensate pipework?

 

[Old Account]

Went to a leaking Worcester Greenstar Heatslave, upstairs and stained the ceiling below.

Going in thought I knew exactly what it was, leaking brass Sika flow switch. Bingo, pithing out, new washers and tighten up.

Then I heard drip drip drip. Condensate pipe in back corner. Soon as I touched it the elbow split clean in two.
Luckily enough pipe to cut back and get a new elbow on.

Is it just me or is anybody else finding more and more leaks on condensate pipework?

I th8nk over time the condensate causes the seal to fail. In most cases it will be the solvent cement. I have seen so many fail and I highly doubt that most of them don’t know how to use the solvent cement.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yep condy pipe isn’t that good can’t deal with the acidic

 

[rpm]

Go on enlightened me, can't use copper or plastic then?
Can't see how the solvent weld cement is to blame as it fusion welds and how simple is it to use.

 

[Old Account]

Go on enlightened me, can't use copper or plastic then?
Can't see how the solvent weld cement is to blame as it fusion welds and how simple is it to use.

Fusion weld? Isn’t fusion welding a different type of connecting pipes? However, I mean, I have seen so many times the condenser pipes fail and basically the joints come apart. I don’t want to argue but to me it seems that is due to the acid... I cannot see any other reason for it to fail unless you don’t know how to use glue.

 

[Best]

Part of the problem could be that the condense pipework is just seen as less important and just thrown in, often at last minutes of boiler install.

I notice any condense pipe that are push fit 21mm seem to leak slightly at joints (evident only by a dirty stain around the joints)
I now only use solvent weld 21mm pipe

 

[WaterTight]

If it's anything like overflows on toilets I think as Best says it's seen as not important and thrown in, not that unusual to not see any glue used at all on some joints I've found.

 

[Stigster]

Fusion weld? Isn’t fusion welding a different type of connecting pipes?

"Because this fusion occurs at the molecular level, when the solvent evaporates, the joint actually becomes one uniform piece."

Taken from here - What Is Solvent Cement and Why Is It Used for CPVC Piping Systems?

It's quite an interesting read for us plumbers! Most normal people would probably be as bored as sin reading it but I thought it was good.

I believe that this process is relevant for all the types of PVC piping.

 

[townfanjon]

Personally I have never seen a problem with a coni pipe , however I have heard this a few times now and think it is potentially another check to do on a service .

 

[hammers4spanner]

I actually get quite alot of this.
Its great fun on new builds trying to repair when the conny is behind kitchen units lol

 

[rpm]

Personally I have never seen a problem with a coni pipe , however I have heard this a few times now and think it is potentially another check to do on a service .

Better than the "You touched it last" phone call I guess.

 

[Stigster]

Better than the "You touched it last" phone call I guess.

I once had an old lady call me up the day after a boiler service and tell me that her TV wasn't working properly since I serviced her oil boiler. I went back because she was nearly blind (she listened to the TV for company) and a nice lady and found her cleaners must have knocked the aerial out the back of the TV. Even after I told her, she was insisting that I must have done something to cause it but she was still very grateful I went back at least!

 

[WaterTight]

Did you help her feed her parrot who no longer talks like it used to for some reason?

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