Condensate pipe

[Babybirddog]

Hi, I am after some advice.

Just been to visit my 92 year old mother. Didn't realise that British Gas were replacing her boiler. All the internal stuff looks OK but a bit concerned about the condensate drain that has just been placed in a downpipe branch. Not fixed just resting in there. Ignore blue cloth, protection from stripping paint.

Thanks. Karen.

[SimonD]

Yeah, that's not great. It should be fully insulated and the insulation should go all the way through the wall. Just resting like that isn't good either. I would personally probably have 2 clips - one just after the bend as it exits the wall and the second before it enters the down pipe. Also, wtf were they thinking with the black? Just looks crap. Not very good standard at all and enough to question the rest of the installation, frankly. Get them back to sort it out as it doesn't comply with the regs or with the manufacturer's instructions on condensate drainage for a start. They should know better. 

[Nickfromwales]

British Gas are just shite on toast, and their forte is ripping off pensioners.

 

Be lucky if she got a Worcester, more likely they've gone bottom shelf and fitted a glow-worm.

 

The above is exactly what I would have drawn if someone asked me  to sketch a typical BG condensate arrangement. Just shocking.

 

I went to one pensioner that had become another victim, and as they hadn’t brought a ladder, above 2m around the side of the house, the copper gas pipe just wasn’t clipped, literally flapping in the wind.

 

They put a combi in and left the old boy with a manual mixer shower, so he was getting scalding hot water from it; you can’t leave anyone infirm with a non-thermostatic shower fed from and instantaneous hot water heater.
 

List of this goes on and on, from what I’ve seen over the years from BG.

 

Great adverts, even better sales-people,  then the most dogshit plumbing you’ve ever seen.

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, SimonD said:

They should know better

They couldn't give 2 (expletive deleted)s mate.

[Gus Potter]

3 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

They couldn't give 2 (expletive deleted)s mate.

I agree how on earth can this be justified. 

 

Now they might say well ok we are following the gas regs we have the right tun dish inside so the over pressure is discharged. 

 

Putting my SE hat on I'll say if that pipe freezes you can't have water pouring into the structure. Now the building regs support my statement. 

 

It's a disgrace. Between you and I @Nickfromwaleswe could make hay with this compliant! And to do this to a person of this age is appalling. My own view is that there needs to be a bit of punishment element to discourage others. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Babybirddog said:

Hi, I am after some advice.

The way you actually win this argument is to use a technique that I deploy against say the NHBC for example. You might have a valid case for saying it's a structural safety issue. Then your case will get elevated up the chain. The structural issue is that if the pipe freezes water will potentially get into the structure and cause structural damage. You might argue that it might stain your flooring..but that is subjective, but as an SE if I argue the safety case they start to maybe wake up and smell the coffee.

 

Karen, be persistent. What is happening here is gate keeping, they deny, delay, defend. 

 

 

 

[Gus Potter]

Ok @Nickfromwales and

2 hours ago, Babybirddog said:

Hi, I am after some advice.

Karen. To expand, my mum is 95. The following happend to my neighbour. 

 

The rainwater down pipe got blocked and the water backed up. The water then flooded back up the discharge pipe, over flowed the tundish inside, soaked the electrical fuse box, soaked the floors.

 

Karen. You are right on this. If you need some help then happy to chip in with a draft text to support a complaint as I'm sure @Nickfromwales will also do.