Water leaking from pipe that sticks out of wall

[THX1138]

I live in a block of apartments. All the apartments have pipes sticking out of the wall (not flues) and the pipe from the apartment above us is leaking water. It's splashing on our window and that of the apartment below us. What is this pipe for and can anything be inferred about their boiler from the fact that water is coming from it? (I've not seen so much as a drip come from the pipes of other apartments).

 

[plumber0808]

It's overflowing because they have a problem based on what system they have.
maybe inform them as they might not know

 

[Scott_D]

Sounds like an overflow or PRV dripping

 

[SimonG]

Could be an overflow, could be a pressure relief discharge pipe, could be d2 discharge pipework from an unvented cylinder.

 

[Keefy]

Some high rise blocks have an overflow coming out at floor level (each floor) for when a flood occurs. Do you have a floating floor (floorboards) on top of concrete? If you do it's likely the neighbour above has a bad leak running under their boards.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

do you have boilers or hot water cylinders heated by immersion heaters ?

 

[THX1138]

In our flat we have a boiler which comes on to heat water on demand (when the hot tap or heating is turned on). I just wanted to have a clue what I was talking about when I went to speak to them. As it happens they weren't in so I've left them a note about it.

 

[Frelon]

Lavatory overflow?

 

[kozak1968]

Is it pointing straight out or turned back to the wall ?

 

[THX1138]

Is it pointing straight out or turned back to the wall ?

Pointing straight out. When an engineer serviced the boiler, he did say that according to current regulations the pipe should now be turned back to the wall (but they're always changing regulations so sod that).

 

[kozak1968]

If it is copper 15mm then its possibily a prv from the boiler, if its plastic its from a w.c

 

[Dotty]

The only thing you honestly need to say to them mate is....

"You've got water peeing out of an overflow or something mate, it's coming in through my window, can you get it looked at please?"

And on an aside, regs change to prevent you getting hurt or killed. The reason a prv discharge pipe would be turned back to the wall is because there's a potential for scalding water to be released from it. It's safer to point it at a wall rather than straight out where it could hit someone.

 

[Dotty]

Oh, and welcome to the forums. Star Wars boy!

 

[THX1138]

The only thing you honestly need to say to them mate is....

"You've got water peeing out of an overflow or something mate, it's coming in through my window, can you get it looked at please?"

And on an aside, regs change to prevent you getting hurt or killed. The reason a prv discharge pipe would be turned back to the wall is because there's a potential for scalding water to be released from it. It's safer to point it at a wall rather than straight out where it could hit someone.

Yeah, that was explained when the boiler was serviced. It's annoying that such an obvious hazard wasn't thought of before these pipes were put in place.

I remember when my parents used to have their boiler serviced, the engineer used to say something about the shape of the flue every year but it didn't really matter.

Oh, and welcome to the forums. Star Wars boy!

Thanks! 😛 THX1138 is actually a different film though; I didn't like Star Wars!

 

[Mike Jackson]

Yeah, that was explained when the boiler was serviced. It's annoying that such an obvious hazard wasn't thought of before these pipes were put in place.

😛 THX1138 is actually a different film though; I didn't like Star Wars!

Unfortunately they were, it's just that whoever installed the boiler didn't bother.

 

[AWheating]

The only thing you honestly need to say to them mate is....

"You've got water peeing out of an overflow or something mate, it's coming in through my window, can you get it looked at please?"

And on an aside, regs change to prevent you getting hurt or killed. The reason a prv discharge pipe would be turned back to the wall is because there's a potential for scalding water to be released from it. It's safer to point it at a wall rather than straight out where it could hit someone.

aswell as what croppie has posted above it should also be noted it should not terminate over a wondow or door for the same safety reasons.