Neighbour's boiler overflow

[wendyhouse]

Hi, I am new to the forum hope someone on here can help. My next door neighbour's boiler has been installed in an outside brick built cupboard which is adjacent to my outside cupboard. There are 2 pipes coming out of the neighbour's cupboard wall, one is a copper pipe which is upmost, below is a white plastic pipe feeding into the shared gutter downpipe. The upper copper pipe sprang into life the other day issuing steam and hot water at a high pressure, which resulted in my cupboard being flooded with hot water, penetrating through the brickwork. My question is, is this vent pipe legal in very close proximity to my property (it's about 10 inches away)? Should there be a t-piece or bend directing any venting downwards or away from the properties? :shocked3:

 

[Dotty]

Welcome to the forums Wendy.

The copper pipe is the discharge pipe from the boiler safety valve and should be piped to discharge at low level not only to prevent the problem you're experiencing but also to prevent scalding and injury to anyone passing by.

The white plastic pipe is the condensate pipe which may only be piped into a rainwater downpipe IF you have combined foul and surface water drainage system. Not only that it should be piped in a much larger (32mm) pipe to overcome the possibilities of freezing.

And also the safety valve shouldn't be lifting on such a new install. I would never employ their plumber if I were you..... Is it a gas installation?

 

[AWheating]

speak to your neighbour, tell them about the flood and that the pipe was running. Ask them when the engineer comes around to check why it was running to ask him/her to drop the copper pipe down to floor level to stop any future leaks.

 

[wendyhouse]

Thanks both, Unfortunately this is a let property and the landlord is abroad, however I have contacted the letting agent and the pressure reducing valve has been "fixed". However my concern is about the where they have sited the copper pipe - is this legal? The hot water and steam will cause damage to my property when this happens again. The white plastic pipe is about 20mm - so is that wrong? I will try and get a picture posted to illustrate....

 

[AWheating]

a picture would help pleeeeeeeese 🙂

 

[wendyhouse]

The property on the right is mine - neighbour is on the left, see the 2 pipes protruding from the wall.

 

[Rickster123]

Where is the flue? Please say not on the same wall?

 

[AWheating]

the copper pipe should be turned back to the wall it comes from and the condense is very poor, it should be a larger size and have an air gap and only there if your drains are combined.

get on to the agency or if not helpful contact local building control.

 

[wendyhouse]

There is no flue - it is gas by the way. This picture shows my vent to the right as this cupboard has my electricity meter, electrical points and a new freezer just behind that vent. I am really worried!

 

[mountainman]

As a minimum the copper pipe should turn back on itself and terminate 15mm from the wall it came out of, or as has already been said, terminated close to the ground.

The condensate pipe shouldn't really worry you as when it freezes it's your neighbour who will be without heating etc.

Perhaps you could contact Gas Safe and get them to have a look.

 

[Dotty]

No flue???

You're worried? So am I! This looks like it was put in by a builder! Go and have a chat with your neighbour, it's not their fault but they need an engineer out sharpish!

And that engineer must be gas safe registere!

Whereabouts are you?

 

[Destroyer2813]

It may be me cos I'm on my phone but the copper pipe looks like 22 could be unvented blow off hence lack of flue ?

 

[AWheating]

prob a vertical flue?

 

[snowhead]

I see there are no clips on the right hand down pipe, well there wouldn't be would there with only a brick and a half to get a drill in?

Looks like a new build of a few years ago (3 -5 years?) and the subby stuck the discharge out the wall with full intentions of finishing it off later, which never happened.
It'll be one of the chcuk it up fast National developers.

I'd guess the O.P's boiler is on the other side of a similar cupboard and is of equal install quality.

 

[wendyhouse]

Thanks all - Snowhead houses were built 19 years ago and neighbour had boiler installed only about 12 to 18 months ago as a replacement to an internal boiler. Dont think the outside cupboard was designed to take a boiler? Dont think the copper pipe could be flue - or why would there be hot water/steam coming out?

 

[wendyhouse]

There is a new flue on the roof of the house - not sure how they get that from the outside boiler? Anyway my concern is the copper pipe & how to get rid of the problem.

 

[Dotty]

First of all your neighbour has a problem with the heating system which is causing the safety valve to discharge, they need an engineer visit.

Ask the neighbour, while he's there and providing there's room for him to get at it, if he can fit a bend and a stub of pipe to force the discharge down safely.

 

[wendyhouse]

There is a flue on the roof of the house, so not sure how that connects from an outside cupboard as no flue pipe visible up the wall. Also the gas mains pipe feeds from the other side of their front door, up the wall and along probably 15 foot in lenght, but has no protection, just bare copper pipe.

 

[AWheating]

bare copper pipe is ok unless its in a position that could be damaged easy.

i would phone the letting agency a advise them that the copper pipe is dangerous and if its not sorted you will report it to gas safe and building control.

 

[wendyhouse]

Many thanks to all who have answered on this, it has been very helpful. I had already contacted the Letting Agency as they have since arranged for the fix of the valve but nothing about the offending pipe. I have also emailed GasSafe and Building Control to get some wheels in motion. According to the Letting Agency this will never overflow again, so what is the pipe for?

 

[TBServices]

Many thanks to all who have answered on this, it has been very helpful. I had already contacted the Letting Agency as they have since arranged for the fix of the valve but nothing about the offending pipe. I have also emailed GasSafe and Building Control to get some wheels in motion. According to the Letting Agency this will never overflow again, so what is the pipe for?

It's a safety feature of the boiler to prevent over-pressurisation of the heating system. It's a fairly common fault for the pipe to expel water, but the pipe work arrangement outside should have the pipe facing the neighbours wall. Not yours.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[AWheating]

next time they make a statement like that ask the Letting Agency to put it in writing along with there gas safe qualifications so if it happens again you can give the letter to your insurance company to deal with the damage.

when they refuse tell them to stop talking pants about things they are not qualified to talk about.

 

[Howsie]

Spot in AW. I hear do much ****e from agencies.