Frozen Condensate Pipe
Repairs in Hull

During cold Hull winters, one of the most common boiler breakdowns is a frozen condensate pipe. When the condensate pipe freezes, your boiler shuts down to protect itself—leaving you with no heating or hot water. We can thaw it, fix it, and insulate it to prevent recurrence.

Modern condensing boilers (installed after 2005) produce condensation as a by-product of their high-efficiency operation. This slightly acidic water is discharged through a plastic pipe (usually white or grey, 22mm diameter) that runs from your boiler to an external drain.

During freezing Hull weather, if this pipe is exposed to the elements or poorly insulated, the water inside can freeze solid. When the pipe is blocked by ice, the boiler detects that condensate can't drain away and shuts down as a safety measure—displaying a fault code like L2 (Ideal) or F28 (Glow-worm).

If your boiler has shut down during freezing weather, you can try thawing the pipe yourself:

1. 1. Locate the condensate pipe outside your property—usually a white plastic pipe running from the wall to a drain.
2. 2. Feel along the pipe for the frozen section (it will be very cold and may be visibly iced up).
3. 3. Pour warm (NOT boiling) water over the frozen section. You can also use a hot water bottle or warm cloth.
4. 4. Once the ice has melted, reset your boiler. It should fire up normally.

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