Prevent frozen condensate with our new device

Prevent frozen condensate with new Worcester device

In response to the harsh temperatures experienced in the UK during the winter of 2010 – 2011, we are unveiling a brand new device which helps prevent external condensate pipes freezing, even in the harshest winter weather conditions found in the UK.

Our CondenseSure product is entirely flexible allowing it to be fitted with any condensing boiler, either at the time of installation or in retrofit scenarios.

Download the CondenseSure brochure

See our CondenseSure video

How it works

CondenseSure consists of a syphonic trap and insulation, which connects to the condensate outlet pipe of the boiler and can then be attached to the heating flow pipe of the boiler.

As the condensate discharge pipework leaves the boiler, the condensate is collected in the CondenseSure syphon. The condensate subsequently discharges automatically in 500ml quantities through the externally run discharge pipework to drain outside.

The volume of the condensate discharged, together with the additional free ‘parasitic’ heat from the boiler flow-pipe produces the anti-freezing effect.

Unlike some of the other devices on the market, no electricity is required to prevent the condensate from freezing.

Intensive testing

Intensive laboratory test work by Worcester proved that an uninsulated 32mm diameter condensate discharge pipe would not freeze, even when subjected to -15°C for over 48 hours.

All the testing took place in a specially created climate controlled chamber, which identified the precise point at which the condensate starts to freeze.

Testing also included simulating a week of freezing conditions using a weather pattern from December 2010, based on the town of Pershore in Worcestershire, which achieved overnight temperatures as low as -19°C and daytime temperatures as low as -6°C.

The analysis also concluded that by emptying the condensate in large volumes and leaving the pipework empty of condensate for longer periods, was the most sure-fire way of preventing freezing taking place.

The majority of condensing boilers have internal syphons of around 100ml and a typical condensing boiler when running in full condensing mode can generate approximately two litres of condensate an hour.

Therefore in these instances the internal boiler syphon can discharge every three minutes, meaning the pipework is rarely fully emptied of condensate which of course means it is susceptible to freezing.

With Worcester’s new CondenSure product, the syphon empties approximately every 15 minutes resulting in the pipework not having any condensate within it to freeze for long periods.

Alongside this, it is important to have the correct fall, or incline, on the pipework so that it does empty, this should be set at at-least a 2.5 degree angle.

Our latest energy-free device is compatible with any gas condensing boiler on the market

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, comments: “After the UK experienced the coldest winter on record for 100 years at the end of 2010, a plethora of anti-freeze type gadgets were introduced to prevent external condensate pipes becoming clogged in cold spells.

“These included a variety of fans and electrical-based products, which prompted Worcester to introduce our own energy-free device that is not only compatible with our award-winning Greenstar range of gas-fired boilers, but also with any other condensing boiler on the market.”

As the name suggests, a condensing boiler produces ‘condensate’ which has to be dispersed out of the boiler and into the waste water system.

Following the best practice guides set by the HHIC Freezing Condensate Working Group, Worcester still recommends routing the pipework internally wherever possible to prevent problems.

However if it is a financially prohibitive to do this then this latest safeguard solution from Worcester will allow installers and homeowners to fit an externally run pipe with additional confidence.

Download the CondenseSure brochure

Date published: 25th September, 2012

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