Don’t let central heating systems get frostbite this winter  

 Frozen condensate pipes were a huge problem last year and many households were caught out during the severe cold weather spell – which in some areas went down to minus 20°C.  This resulted in a large increase in the number of calls to boiler manufacturers and heating installers from householders with condensing (high efficiency) boilers where the condensate drainage pipe had frozen and become blocked with ice. This then causes the condensate to ‘back up’ into the boiler and can cause a complete shutdown of the central heating system.  In the vast majority of cases such problems occur where the condensate drainage pipe is located outside. British Standards, Building Regulations and boiler manufacturers’ installation instructions currently allow condensate drainage pipes to be located either internally or externally, or a combination of these.  The Heating and Hotwater Industry...