I have a condensing boiler, the pipe is run outside and has frozen a couple of times this week, even with it's lagging on

If I re routed the pipe placed it in a bucket below the boiler whilsts it's cold, is this safe to do so?

I am thinking it's just water in the pipe and will never be boiling as it has the other release pipe if it did which is vented outside Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Absolutely no problem with running it into a bucket right below. I always do it in the winter as I get the same problem Ralph
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Ralphk wrote:

Absolutely no problem with running it into a bucket right below. I always do it in the winter as I get the same problem

A frozen pipe (that runs outside) is often a reason why a boiler fails in Cold, Cold weather.
+1 for the bucket - no problems

hey npinks!

We have a maintenance contract on our boiler so they sent out a guy to ours with exactly the same problem you are having.

We don't have any lagging on ours (but we are now buying some) and basically the pipe was frozen solid inside. He took the pipe off completely and used lots of boiling water to melt the ice. Once done he placed some rock salt inside to assist with ice prevention. He told us that if we get the problem again we can simply detach the pipe all together and let the water exit the outlet in the wall and drip onto the slabs below providing nobody is planning on walking over the said slabs . This won't freeze at the exit point cos of the very high heat but it easily freezes further down the pipe.

Hope this helps LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

my condensor pipe runs in the house and taps into the drains internally, never freezes, Another solution is heat tape, wrapped round the pipe takes a small amount of leccy to warm up and keep the pipe frost free. or place it inside the pipe.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trace-Heating-Frost-...895f2ba185 At work
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You should only let the condesate run into a bucket if the boiler you have has an internal trap fitted and then should only be on a very temporary basis, should be reconnected as soon as possible as it can have safety implications. If the internal trap runs dry on the boiler it can lead to fumes entering property and it is not recommended.

Older condensing boilers did not have an internal trap fitted, this can then lead to fumes entering the house and it is not allowed to be terminated into a bucket. Its against Gas regs.

I know British Gas are installing high quality Trace Heaters to the outside condensate pipe, has a sensor outside,wired directly into boiler and will only switch on and heat pipe when outside temp drops below 5c.Also lagged all over.

The main volume of British gas engineer callouts in the last week has been to unfreeze condensate pipes.

Any more advice required let me know.......I'm Gas Safe registered. Lago Grey 2.2 s td4..e