Heating systems for Condensate Pipes

During periods of extremely cold weather, condensate pipes can become blocked due to freezing. The U.K. has been experiencing increasingly cold winters that are casuing some unfortunate side effects with the condensate system on new boilers. As the 3 maps below show, the drop in temperatures over a very short period of time is quite dramatic.

This can be overcome relatively simply if your condensate pipe is easy to acess, please see our detiled pages for more information www.centralheating.co.uk/checklists/frozen-condensate-pipes.

However there are solutions that can be used to prevent your condensate pipe from freezing up in the first place, especially if it is fitted on the outside of your property.

These solutions are often called trace heating and normally involve a heated cable running on the inside for your condensate pipe providing heating when the temperature drops below around 3 degrees C.

Two such solutions are:

Frost Sentry from the Teddington Group - The Frost Sentry is designed to prevent Condensate Pipes from Freezing when temperatures fall below 2.5°C. This compact unit consumes less than 10W in standby and 30W when at maximum heating.

Once fitted, this unit will ensure that the Condensate Pipes from your Boiler or Air Conditioning unit will not freeze, even down to -20° C.

Once installed, the Frost Sentry will constantly monitor the external temperature. If it falls below 2.5° C, the Frost Sentry will activate and gently warm the inside of the Condensate pipe. The further the temperature drops, the warmer the temperature in the pipe.

The Frost Sentry comes with 3 metres of Heater Cable, 3 metres of Temperature Probe and 2.75 metres of Clear Plastic PVC tubing. These can be shortened to a minimum of 1m metre.

For more information please go to the webiste: controls.tedcon.com/frost-sentry.php

Raychem Frostguard -Raychem FrostGuard is an energy efficient heating cablekit which is fixed either in or onto the condensate pipe to prevent it from freezing. It includes smart self regulating technology which means in very cold conditions, the heater cable produces more heat and in milder freezing conditions, less heat.

This means you get freeze protection and energy efficiency all rolled into one! The simple Plug ‘n’ Play system requires no specialist electrical knowledge. Simply plug into the electrical socket and fix to the pipe.

For more information please go to the website www.tycothermal.co.uk or download a brochure