Sludge in condensate trap

[stani]

hi lads, went to a Worcester Greenstar HE. Z28 system boiler showing EA, client had disconnected the condensate pipe work but still kept failing, I removed the cond. trap and emptied out at least 1/2 inch of sludge, which was of the consistency of magnetite, when you scrape it off a magnaclean, but grey in colour, this had blocked the trap, boiler ran ok afterward, has anybody seen this sludge before, it's the first time I've come across it .

 

[mfgs]

Its not sludge, its from the heat exchanger. Nothing to worry about.

 

[stani]

Wasn't worried just wondering what/where it came from, as long as it Wasn't metal from the fan etc

 

[mfgs]

Ive been told its the casting sand from the heat exchanger. You always get a fair bit on the first years anual service on the Worcesters and it gets less and less after that. If they dont get serviced for a few years they can block up as you found.

 

[GrahamM]

Dirt/scale/debris form the burner and HEX. In conjunction with condensate produces this gunge type waste.
Completely normal. That is why the condi trap requires cleaning periodically.
Some boilers produce more than others.

 

[stani]

This could actually be 8 years worth of gunge then, thanks all for the replies, WB could,nt help me they did not know what it was!

 

[SimonJohns]

+1 for normal

thats why we have to service them every year

btw this is very comman for alu hex

 

[sheff paul]

hi lads, went to a Worcester Greenstar HE. Z28 system boiler showing EA, client had disconnected the condensate pipe work but still kept failing, I removed the cond. trap and emptied out at least 1/2 inch of sludge, which was of the consistency of magnetite, when you scrape it off a magnaclean, but grey in colour, this had blocked the trap, boiler ran ok afterward, has anybody seen this sludge before, it's the first time I've come across it .[/QUOTE




visited a Baxi 50 he plus the other day,debris in the trap at the top near the contacts was trapping damp and giving a ''fan lockout'' signal.Followed the flow chart,suggested replacing fan or wiring,took out and cleaned and dried the condensate trap,worked a treat.One of my installs from 6 years ago,good customer ,glad i didnt change the fan.

 

[gasmarc]

Result that would have been expensive and made you look a right doughnut lol. I had a customer call me yesterday saying he noticed the condensation trap was clear at night time and the next day it was full of black crud , this is on a intergas combi I installed about a moth ago , its a bit odd that happening after a few weeks stuffed if i know why

 

[sheff paul]

Result that would have been expensive and made you look a right doughnut lol. I had a customer call me yesterday saying he noticed the condensation trap was clear at night time and the next day it was full of black crud , this is on a intergas combi I installed about a moth ago , its a bit odd that happening after a few weeks stuffed if i know why

to right mate,the fan change would would have made me look a right clown,felt a bit superior for a couple of minutes for saving them over hundred quid for a fan... In our game that ''superior feeling'' never lasts long though.....

 

[gasmarc]

Spot on there Sheff as I found out yesterday had a Cus call me for a vaillant breakdown showing F28 fault ,So straight away me thinking ecotec gas problem ,Arrived on job only to find it was a turbomax so recharged boiler got paid and left , Customer calls 30 minutes later saying he has a leak under the sink and can i come back and fix it , I did tell him I had not touched anything under his sink , upshot was went back and capped off filling loop non return valve that failed and charged the guy a £5 he was well Jarred and said it was his beer money God knows when he last went out for a pint