Gas Safe highlighting main Boiler problems in winter

Gas Engineer is a monthly publication that is distributed to its 120,000 Registered Engineers.

In last month's edition, there was a feature on protecting heating systems in winter. It highlighted the issues of unprotected external condensates and how they are the most likely cause of boilers/heating systems not working when customers need them the most.

External condensates are not the problem. It is incorrectly protected ones that are !

Why is this so important ?

In the UK, 70% of homes and properties (not including flats), will not have an internal drain/soil stack. All the drains will be external, even on new homes. Every boiler fitted over the last 17 years must be a high-efficiency boiler (a condensing boiler).

Whether it is a combination boiler or a heat-only boiler with a cylinder, this boiler when operating, produces condensate water which has to be taken from the boiler to a drain. If a home or property has only external drains/soil pipes, the condensate is at risk of freezing in winter if not insulated correctly.

Frozen condensate pipes cause problems every year to thousands of homes in certain areas of the country, and every few years the UK sees countrywide freezing conditions like the one we had in 2018 ( THE BEAST FROM THE EAST)

In February 2018 we had continuous freezing conditions for over two weeks, which led to hundreds of thousands of boilers not working. Homeowners were trying to unfreeze the condensates themselves with hot water or hair dryers.... obviously this was VERY dangerous, with many not managing to unfreeze them or they were not able to physically carry out the task.

This is when the papers and media asked the Heating Industry why this was happening.

So why do many freeze ??

If a condensate pipe goes outside and is not protected correctly then it is at risk of freezing.

There are over 10 million unprotected external condensate pipes in the UK .

Either not protected (like below)

Or not protected or fitted with the right products and materials

Why has this happened ?

Yes, there will be some in the heating industry that have not bothered to protect the boilers and their customers.

HOWEVER, in the past, the professional heating engineer has not had the right materials to provide not only the correct protection, but to look right on a customer's home or property.

Many used Class O lagging, which in the past has been recommended by manufacturers and industry, The problem with this is that if it is not painted twice and recoated every two years, it will start to deteriorate and does not provide any real protection.

Even if Class O and other insulation is sealed, if it is not sealed right on joints and angles, it lets in water that then seriously reduces the protection and also deteriorates the insulation.

(A) as new... (B) is after 8 months if not sealed correctly

Industry needed a Total Solution

There are 10 key parts to making sure external condensates have the very best protection.

Condensate Pro has worked for 3 years to make a total solution that...

Condensate Pro is perfect for every external termination

Straight in to drain
Rainwater termination
Soil pipe termination
Soakaway termination

Homeowners will not know until its too late

Usually, the customer/homeowners will not know the condensate is unprotected until it's too late.

They will not know that getting the condensate protected right the first time will make sure they're protected for when the next cold winter came

What do I need to do and how do i do it?

If you're having a new boiler fitted, make sure your condensate is protected correctly. A quality heating professional should know what's needed. Ask, when they are providing you with a quote and are looking at your boiler and system. (Cheap prices will always miss important parts like this off)

Ask them to advise and show you they're a professional.

100% get your boiler serviced by a qualified professional and they will advise what is needed.

Don't think that because you live in a warm part of the country you don't need to bother, as we have seen when we get a really cold spell it can be countrywide so you need to be protected.

If your boiler has not been affected over the years, with climate change we are going to see wetter, warmer and colder weather, so be prepared, as you want to be protected for when the next big freeze comes. It's like wearing your seat belt in a car... you don't just wear it if conditions look dangerous, you wear it all the time just in case.

Many professionals advise their customers dont want it

Protecting an external condensate is part of the Boiler manufacturer's instructions and may invalidate your boiler warranty if not carried out.

It is the professionals' responsibility to fit and service a boiler to the Standards and Regulations. Gas Safe issued a technical bulletin in 2021 after many condensates had issues ( TB155 ). HHIC also issued a guide in 2021 to advise how important condensate protection is on customers' boilers and heating systems.

I can only think the reason why a customer would not want to have their condensate protected correctly once and for all, is that they have seen photos of lagging which has been tie wrapped and is hanging off, that has put them off.

From the photos of condensates that have been protected with Condensate Pro, I am sure they would all say that the problem has now been solved.

Gas Safe highlighting main Boiler problems in winter

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Gas Engineer is a monthly publication that is distributed to its 120,000 Registered Engineers.

In last month's edition, there was a feature on protecting heating systems in winter. It highlighted the issues of unprotected external condensates and how they are the most likely cause of boilers/heating systems not working when customers need them the most.

External condensates are not the problem. It is incorrectly protected ones that are !

Why is this so important ?

In the UK, 70% of homes and properties (not including flats), will not have an internal drain/soil stack. All the drains will be external, even on new homes. Every boiler fitted over the last 17 years must be a high-efficiency boiler (a condensing boiler).

Whether it is a combination boiler or a heat-only boiler with a cylinder, this boiler when operating, produces condensate water which has to be taken from the boiler to a drain. If a home or property has only external drains/soil pipes, the condensate is at risk of freezing in winter if not insulated correctly.

Frozen condensate pipes cause problems every year to thousands of homes in certain areas of the country, and every few years the UK sees countrywide freezing conditions like the one we had in 2018 ( THE BEAST FROM THE EAST)

In February 2018 we had continuous freezing conditions for over two weeks, which led to hundreds of thousands of boilers not working. Homeowners were trying to unfreeze the condensates themselves with hot water or hair dryers.... obviously this was VERY dangerous, with many not managing to unfreeze them or they were not able to physically carry out the task.

This is when the papers and media asked the Heating Industry why this was happening.

So why do many freeze ??

If a condensate pipe goes outside and is not protected correctly then it is at risk of freezing.

There are over 10 million unprotected external condensate pipes in the UK .

Either not protected (like below)

Or not protected or fitted with the right products and materials

Why has this happened ?

Yes, there will be some in the heating industry that have not bothered to protect the boilers and their customers.

HOWEVER, in the past, the professional heating engineer has not had the right materials to provide not only the correct protection, but to look right on a customer's home or property.

Many used Class O lagging, which in the past has been recommended by manufacturers and industry, The problem with this is that if it is not painted twice and recoated every two years, it will start to deteriorate and does not provide any real protection.

Even if Class O and other insulation is sealed, if it is not sealed right on joints and angles, it lets in water that then seriously reduces the protection and also deteriorates the insulation.

(A) as new... (B) is after 8 months if not sealed correctly

Industry needed a Total Solution

There are 10 key parts to making sure external condensates have the very best protection.

Condensate Pro has worked for 3 years to make a total solution that...

Condensate Pro is perfect for every external termination

Straight in to drain
Rainwater termination
Soil pipe termination
Soakaway termination

Homeowners will not know until its too late

Usually, the customer/homeowners will not know the condensate is unprotected until it's too late.

They will not know that getting the condensate protected right the first time will make sure they're protected for when the next cold winter came

What do I need to do and how do i do it?

If you're having a new boiler fitted, make sure your condensate is protected correctly. A quality heating professional should know what's needed. Ask, when they are providing you with a quote and are looking at your boiler and system. (Cheap prices will always miss important parts like this off)

Ask them to advise and show you they're a professional.

100% get your boiler serviced by a qualified professional and they will advise what is needed.

Don't think that because you live in a warm part of the country you don't need to bother, as we have seen when we get a really cold spell it can be countrywide so you need to be protected.

If your boiler has not been affected over the years, with climate change we are going to see wetter, warmer and colder weather, so be prepared, as you want to be protected for when the next big freeze comes. It's like wearing your seat belt in a car... you don't just wear it if conditions look dangerous, you wear it all the time just in case.

Many professionals advise their customers dont want it

Protecting an external condensate is part of the Boiler manufacturer's instructions and may invalidate your boiler warranty if not carried out.

It is the professionals' responsibility to fit and service a boiler to the Standards and Regulations. Gas Safe issued a technical bulletin in 2021 after many condensates had issues ( TB155 ). HHIC also issued a guide in 2021 to advise how important condensate protection is on customers' boilers and heating systems.

I can only think the reason why a customer would not want to have their condensate protected correctly once and for all, is that they have seen photos of lagging which has been tie wrapped and is hanging off, that has put them off.

From the photos of condensates that have been protected with Condensate Pro, I am sure they would all say that the problem has now been solved.

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Vaillant Support Condensate Pro Products and Tools to help professionals

Since the launch Of Condensate Pro, Vaillant Group have supported and approved all the products and tools we have designed and made.

Condensate Pro has also made changes to make sure all our products have what is needed to comply with Vaillant and any other boiler manufacturer's instructions.

This is why you may have noticed that our Connection Kit and Combo Kit have changed to Connection Kit 2 and Combo Kit 2, to provide the products needed to insulate through the wall as required

The original Condensate Pro Connection kit and Combo kit can still be used... you would just omit using the PipeSnug and core a 65mm hole to take the insulation all the way through the fabric of the wall.



With climate change bringing hotter, wetter and colder weather patterns, and the introduction of hydrogen in the future to the gas network which produces more water when burnt, correct condensate protection has never been so important, to make sure we protect our customers and their boilers as and when needed

Over the last 12 months, Vaillant have also changed their manufacturer's instructions to provide more information on what is required of the Professional installer when installing a new boiler/system or replacing the boiler only

Below is the information for condensate protection in the Vaillant manufacturer's instructions for all their range ( You will also find the same or similar in their other Brands, like Glowworm ) showing what is required

Over the last 12 months, Vaillant has alsCondensate Pro has all the products, and also solutions, for all termination scenarios that Vaillant's manufacturer's instructions require. We wanted to provide the professional Installer with a total solution for condensate protection

Condensate Pro is the only product that complies with manufacturer's instructions, BS6798 , HHIC Condensate Guide 2.1 Feb 2021 and the Gas Safe TB155

Drain Termination
Rainwater Termination
Soil pipe Termination use our Condensate Pro Termination Kit
Soakaway

Customers will not know if their Condensate is protected until it's to late and find out there is not and left without heating to then try to unfreeze themselves wich can be very dangerous, Or contact a professional for their help wich, in turn, is very dangerous travelling in subzero conditions

Condensate pro provide the very best protection for the customer and the boiler/heating system, complies with all standards and regulation and look quality on the customer's home or property

Intergas endorsement

Frost protection / condensate protection on a boiler is something homeowners only find they don’t have when it is too late and their boiler stops working just when they need it the most.  Many then try to defrost it themselves which can be very dangerous.

What they don’t know is that it is not only a Regulation and British Standard for the heating installer to make sure all new boilers have the correct protection to stop this happening, but also part of all boiler manufacturer’s installation requirements.

However, frozen condensates and boiler breakdowns have continued to be a very serious issue every year in several areas of the UK.

Sometimes, like we have seen in the past and this February, we see temperatures drop across the whole country. This highlighted just how many boilers there are with either no protection or incorrect protection when its needed.

Climate change we have been warned, will become more frequent with very hot summers, rain causing severe flooding and extremely cold winters.

With this, condensate protection becomes a very important part of the boiler and heating system. Professional heating installers need to have the right products and tools to help protect their customers. In the past this has been a problem for them as what was available was either not fit for the job or was very hard to fit in in the different weather conditions the installer has to work in.

This is why the team at Condensate Pro worked for over 3 years to find the total solution for installer, homeowner and industry.

We wanted to provide all the Condensate Pro products and tools to help installers provide max protection and quality looks on their customer’s homes and properties.

Condensate Pro also understand that Boiler manufacturers need to be protected, as they provide the boilers with 8,10 and now 12 year manufacturer’s warranties.

If a boiler stops working, the homeowner/ customer will think they are covered by the boiler manufacturer’s warranty, however, this only covers the boiler and not the installation, meaning many boiler manufacturers are inundated with warranty calls that are nothing to do with the boiler itself but other parts of the installation.

One fault they receive calls for help is a frozen condensate that stops the boiler; In winter, boiler manufacturers get many calls regarding boilers that have stopped working due to frozen condensates. This is highlighted when we get a severe winter such as the one experienced this February, it was nothing like 2018 as that lasted a few weeks, but we did have the same freezing temperatures that caused thousands of boilers to stop working due to frozen condensates. Many boiler manufacturers added a recorded message like the one below. Customers calling for help thinking their boiler was under warranty were advised that frozen condensate issues are not covered on the warranty and to call their installers or to try to unfreeze this themselves.

Manufacturer's info to customer in winter periods

It is not only very dangerous for homeowners to start pouring hot water on a frozen pipe in freezing conditions, but also for the heating engineers travelling to try and help in very risky driving conditions.

Intergas has been one of the boiler manufacturers to see Condensate Pro is a quality solution to the problems we have seen ever since high efficiency boilers become mandatory.

They knew that asking installers to fit condensates internally was impossible for 70% of properties in the UK as they do not have an internal drain / soil pipe.

Intergas invited Condensate Pro to come for a meeting and present not only their products but also their findings from over the last 3 years working to provide every termination solution.

Intergas then spent 6 months looking at the products and scenarios we presented. They looked at what impact this had on them as a manufacturer as well as the installer, to help them install maximum protection to the Standards and Regulations required,  while also looking aesthetically pleasing on a customer’s home or property

Condensate Pro is proud that Intergas have not only endorsed Condensate Pro products and tools but also supported an installation technique that not only helps installers on the installation but also helps take the condensate away faster to keep the heat in the condensate water to termination.

Intergas sent the endorsement below and advised that Condensate Pro will be the only   condensate protection they recommend and will be mentioned in all the installation instructions on their full range of boilers.

As heating professionals know, Manufacturer’s instructions are updated when a new boiler is produced and there will be existing boilers in circulation that don’t have the updated Manufacturer’s instructions.

Intergas endorse and support installing Condensate Pro to all their boiler range that are in stock at your chosen merchants, now and in the future.

Condensate Pro main aim is to make frozen condensates a thing of the past, protecting homeowners, installers, boiler manufacturers and industry.

Letter of endorsement from Intergas

Intergas Boiler instructions

Ideal Heating endorsement & product bulletin

We are proud to announce that Ideal Heating have issued a product bulletin endorsing all our Condensate Pro products and tools for their range of boilers.

Ideal Heating has the full range of Combi/System and heat only boilers, and each boiler type has different products to suit the customer and professional installer.

Ideal Heating released this bulletin on the 17th Feb 2021 to advise installers of the best measures to take when condensate waste pipes have to be taken outside, whether straight from the boiler to the outside or to another waste pipe that then goes to the outside. They have evaluated that when fitted, the Condensate Pro range of products and tools will provide the best protection and comply to the installation instructions on all their boilers.

We know as professional heating engineers that condensates are best terminated inside, however 70% of homes and properties don’t have an internal drain and many new homes still only have external drains.

For the professional heating installer, Condensate Pro provides the best solution on the market to protect the boiler and their customer while looking quality and complying with Ideal Heating’s installation and servicing instruction.  

It also helps to upgrade the millions out there that are not protected to the standards they should be.

For the home-owner, please make sure you listen to your professional heating installer on any new boiler replacement or boiler service as is it does need protecting. They want to provide the best and protect you/your boiler and its warranty.

The industry has learnt from 2010 and 2018 when tens of thousands had no heating due to frozen condensates, and also the weather we have seen over the last few weeks in 2021 was yet another wake-up call, it was nothing like we’ve experienced in the past but many did still have problems.

Ideal Heating have evaluated Condensate Pro and found it a quality solution to help make frozen condensates a problem of the past.

Condensate Pro is the ONLY product ‘out of the box’ that complies to Ideal Heating’s installation and service instruction, British Standard 6798 and the new HHIC condensate guide 21 which they released in February 2021.

Why is this so important ?

In the UK, 70% of homes and properties (not including flats), will not have an internal drain/soil stack. All the drains will be external, even on new homes. Every boiler fitted over the last 17 years must be a high-efficiency boiler (a condensing boiler).

Whether it is a combination boiler or a heat-only boiler with a cylinder, this boiler when operating, produces condensate water which has to be taken from the boiler to a drain. If a home or property has only external drains/soil pipes, the condensate is at risk of freezing in winter if not insulated correctly.

Frozen condensate pipes cause problems every year to thousands of homes in certain areas of the country, and every few years the UK sees countrywide freezing conditions like the one we had in 2018 ( THE BEAST FROM THE EAST)

In February 2018 we had continuous freezing conditions for over two weeks, which led to hundreds of thousands of boilers not working. Homeowners were trying to unfreeze the condensates themselves with hot water or hair dryers…. obviously this was VERY dangerous, with many not managing to unfreeze them or they were not able to physically carry out the task.

This is when the papers and media asked the Heating Industry why this was happening.

So why do many freeze ??

If a condensate pipe goes outside and is not protected correctly then it is at risk of freezing.

There are over 10 million unprotected external condensate pipes in the UK .

Either not protected (like below)

Or not protected or fitted with the right products and materials

Why has this happened ?

Yes, there will be some in the heating industry that have not bothered to protect the boilers and their customers.

HOWEVER, in the past, the professional heating engineer has not had the right materials to provide not only the correct protection, but to look right on a customer’s home or property.

Many used Class O lagging, which in the past has been recommended by manufacturers and industry, The problem with this is that if it is not painted twice and recoated every two years, it will start to deteriorate and does not provide any real protection.

Even if Class O and other insulation is sealed, if it is not sealed right on joints and angles, it lets in water that then seriously reduces the protection and also deteriorates the insulation

There are 10 key parts to making sure external condensates have the very best protection.

All Ideal Installation & Servicing are like the ones below
they state what is needed to comply with MIs and Standards

Professionals then need products to help them not only comply but also help them to fit and look quality

Condensate Pro has worked for 3 years to make a total solution that…


Condensate Pro is perfect for every external termination

Straight in to drain

Rainwater termination

Soil pipe termination

Soakaway termination

Homeowners will not know until its too late

Usually, the customer/homeowners will not know the condensate is unprotected until it’s too late.

They will not know that getting the condensate protected right the first time will make sure they’re protected for when the next cold winter came

What do I need to do and how do i do it?

If you’re having a new boiler fitted, make sure your condensate is protected correctly. A quality heating professional should know what’s needed. Ask, when they are providing you with a quote and are looking at your boiler and system. (Cheap prices will always miss important parts like this off)

Ask them to advise and show you they’re a professional.

100% get your boiler serviced by a qualified professional and they will advise what is needed.

Don’t think that because you live in a warm part of the country you don’t need to bother, as we have seen when we get a really cold spell it can be countrywide so you need to be protected.

If your boiler has not been affected over the years, with climate change we are going to see wetter, warmer and colder weather, so be prepared, as you want to be protected for when the next big freeze comes. It’s like wearing your seat belt in a car… you don’t just wear it if conditions look dangerous, you wear it all the time just in case.

Many professionals advise their customers dont want it

Protecting an external condensate is part of the Boiler manufacturer’s instructions and may invalidate your boiler warranty if not carried out.

It is the professionals’ responsibility to fit and service a boiler to the Standards and Regulations. Gas Safe issued a technical bulletin in 2021 after many condensates had issues ( TB155 ). HHIC also issued a guide in 2021 to advise how important condensate protection is on customers’ boilers and heating systems.

I can only think the reason why a customer would not want to have their condensate protected correctly once and for all, is that they have seen photos of lagging which has been tie wrapped and is hanging off, that has put them off.

From the photos of condensates that have been protected with Condensate Pro, I am sure they would all say that the problem has now been solved.

How the plumbing and heating industry is evolving

All industries in the UK are continually evolving. Technology is accelerating and growing at an incredible rate. And as it gets better, we can come up with more solutions to ease the common problems we experience. 

We’re in the middle of a technology revolution which is making our lives more convenient. And, as an added bonus, it’s making our bills cheaper! Here are some of the best innovations and what they can do for you.

Smart showers

Smart homes are becoming more popular. Companies like Samsung make it their business to boost innovation in heating across home appliances. But an interesting one is the smart shower. 

These come with fun features like voice control, digitally accurate and reliable temperature settings, and safety features for all members of the family. Some even have Bluetooth speakers built into the showerhead so the water doesn’t drown out your favourite tunes.

Heat pump innovation

Traditional methods of heating aren’t perfect. They release carbon which contributes to climate change. Heat pumps aren’t a new invention, but they’re definitely becoming stronger and more effective. 

They’re the most energy-efficient model for heating and cooling, but not always the most practical. Sometimes, extreme temperatures can render heat pumps ineffective. New generations of heat pumps are now equipped with the ability to handle extremes in temperature, drawing heat from dual sources like the air and ground to heat homes. If the UK wants to reach the Net Zero 2050 target, households need to reduce their emissions by 95%. Installing heat pumps could bring the UK closer to this goal. 

Condensate insulation

Frozen condensate in pipes is both a very simple problem to solve with the right equipment, yet incredibly common in the winter. You could unfreeze the pipe using your kettle. But the simpler solution is to insulate the pipes to prevent freezing in the first place.

In the past, pipe insulation has been messy, often using zip ties to attach bulky insulation to pipes, giving it an unprofessional finish. 

There are better tools and pre-insulated pipes out there that solve condensate-related issues. These pipes come with UV- and weather-resistant insulation pre-attached, in handy kits with all the parts you need for a quick condensate pipe installation or upgrade. They also provide all the extras you need to make sure it’s a high-quality job. 

The size of an idea isn’t what matters; it’s the impact which is important. These three innovations are just a few examples of the developments keeping the plumbing and heating industry on its toes and heading in the right direction. It’s exciting to see what comes next!

Condensate Pro has the perfect condensate pipe insulation for you. You can invest in our products or tools on our website. See how our condensate kits and tools can save you time and money, and give you the space to focus on what matters most - delivering the best customer experience.

Two essential tips for starting your own plumbing and heating business

There are around 120,000 registered plumbing and heating engineers in the UK, and a large portion of them are self-employed. You would think the high level of competition would put people off starting their own plumbing and heating company. However, in the UK, we rely on keeping the hot water pumping through our homes so we’re always looking for great plumbers. 

Sometimes, it can seem like even with all the choices, it’s hard to find a plumber that does a great, professional job, for an affordable price. So you might think, hey, why can’t this be you? Well, it can be. But like when starting any business, there will always be a few bumps in the road.

Find your niche

The heating and plumbing industry is broad. If you’re just starting out, you might be tempted to apply all your knowledge of plumbing and do everything all at once. But getting ahead of yourself often leads to high overheads which you may struggle to keep up with. It can take between six months and several years for a small business to generate a profit. 

In this case, it might be better for you to find your niche. Focus on the thing you are good at, enjoy, and can do efficiently.

This might be anything from boiler repairs to complete pipe fit-outs on new builds. But if you choose your niche with these three things in mind, you’ll be offering a high-quality product that you’re passionate about. All while keeping your productivity high because you complete these jobs quickly and professionally. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t offer other services, but your customers should know where your strengths lie and so should you. Once you nail your niche - and you’re making a profit - you can branch out into new ventures and watch your business expand. 

Write a good business plan

A good business plan means more than checking whether you have enough money to start your company and designing a trendy logo. That won’t cut it. Your business plan needs to be a detailed look at where your business will go in the next few months, years, and even as far as ten years into the future. 

You should have clear, measurable goals, and be able to show why your business will work and what its unique selling point is. All of your plans need to be based on thorough market research. Your plan should cover your financial resources, number of employees, their salaries, office space, equipment you need, marketing plans, and all available resources. It should also detail how you plan to grow your business over time.

It’s essential you have a quality business plan in place and know what areas you will specialise in before you fully commit to being the owner of a small business. Being a small business owner might not be easy, but it will definitely be rewarding. Perhaps, one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. 

Condensate Pro started as the brainchild of one plumbing and heating engineer and has now grown into a company which provides game-changing solutions to installers and heating companies across the UK. Our products make installations easy, quick, and simple and protect customers from frozen condensate blockages. Visit our website to see our range of products and tools.

How to unfreeze your pipes

In late 2018, scientists said Britain should brace itself for the coldest winter in a decade. While weather forecasts made months in advance aren’t always the most accurate, it certainly fits in with trends of more extreme weather across the UK. This winter - particularly in January and February - could bring temperatures lower than when we were hit by the Beast from the East, which caused huge levels of disruption. 

Even though the weather can change suddenly, it’s always good to be prepared. Knowing how to defrost the condensate in your boiler pipes is essential if you want to keep your boiler up and running through a harsh winter. Otherwise, you might feel the chill. 

Why does condensate freeze?

While your boiler is inside your property, the condensate drain line runs outside. This means it’s exposed to icy temperatures in the winter causing the condensate to freeze and block pipes. Condensate is a by-product of the combustion process your furnace uses to create heat. It flows out of the system via the condensate drain line and exits the home or building. But when the pipe is blocked, it can cause water to back up into the home as it obstructs the exit. This can lead to a fault or malfunctioning boiler which you can solve by following our guide. 

Our guide to fixing frozen condensate

Here are some steps to follow:

This should get you back up and running so you can ward off the cold temperatures. But wouldn’t it be better if you could prevent these problems in the first place? Ask your heating engineer to install effective, UV- and weather-resistant pipe insulation. This will prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place, reducing time-consuming breakdowns and keeping you cosy. 

Condensate Pro has come up with innovative solutions to prevent blockages from frozen condensate. Our pre-insulated pipe kits and tools come ready-to-use, making installation fast, simple, and professional. Take a look on our website to find out more.

Solutions you can offer your customers to get them through the winter

Winter

As heating engineers and installers, we know winter is the busiest time of year when it comes to residential and commercial boilers. People aren’t expecting the sudden breakdowns the icy weather brings. So we get called out in wind, hail, sleet, and snow to get people’s homes back up and running. 

It might keep business tiding over, but there are ways to help your customers before they get into trouble with their heating. And the best part is this can still be great news for your business. 

Boiler cover plans

Most boiler breakdowns (over 15%) happen in January. As winter gets into full swing, we’re expecting the number of call-outs to rise. Most residents with broken-down boilers are taken by surprise. But offering a boiler cover plan can help them avoid surprise high repair fees in the winter. It’s like Netflix for their boiler.

Boiler cover plans require a monthly payment from clients ensuring full coverage on their boiler all year round. You can create a tiered pricing plan including services such as emergency call-outs, checkups, and maintenance, or create them bespoke for each client. This means clients can benefit from annual check-ups to pre-empt any sudden breakdowns for an affordable monthly price. 

This gives your business a steady income to focus on bringing value to your clients. You won’t have to wait for late payments from clients struggling to pay large bulk sums as they can spread the costs out. And they’ll get a better service in exchange. 

Educate your customers

One of the main reasons people’s boilers break down in January is because of frozen condensate in their pipes. If clients knew this, it would cut down on the number of call-outs we get each winter as customers will know how to prevent and fix the problem. 

This isn’t only the case for condensate. General knowledge on boiler and heating maintenance, repair, and installation is concentrated among professionals. Customers aren’t always aware they can easily fix minor problems on their own, saving them money. 

Most customers probably don’t realise they can prevent problems in the first place. If you ever go on any call-outs, pass on some tips like telling them to turn their taps on to keep water flowing through the pipes. Or, in the case of frozen condensate, let them know they can insulate their pipes to stop any potential freezes.

These solutions are a win-win for you and your customers. They can save your clients thousands while helping you improve the value of your service and increase your revenue. But, this winter, one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to help clients is use condensate pipe insulation that looks great, lasts for a long time, and works well. 

Condensate Pro offers a range of connections and pipes that come pre-insulated to create a simple, quick, and professional installation process. With UV- and weather-resistance, they’ll look amazing for longer, helping you give your clients the ultimate service. Take a look at our products via our website.

We shouldn’t ignore mental health issues in plumbing and heating

mental health

We shouldn’t ignore mental health issues in plumbing and heating

It’s brilliant that the UK is becoming more open to talking about mental health. Those removed from the subject may not know how prevalent mental health conditions are among the general population. 

Around one in four people (25%) experience mental health problems each year. But, shockingly, statistics from the Office for National Statistics show men working in skilled trades, like plumbing and construction, are at a higher risk of suicide. They’re 35% more at risk of suicide than the general population. 

We spend a substantial part of our lives at work, so it’s easy to see how occupation and mental health may be linked. But what other factors are at play?

Mental health in skilled trades

People working in plumbing and heating may be at a higher risk of poor mental health for several reasons, including:

However, these reasons by themselves don’t seem to provide a full explanation. 

Men are significantly more likely to die by suicide than women. Heating and plumbing are hugely male-dominated industries and this could partially account for some of the disparity. However, this leads to further questions. Why are men more prone to suicide and how can the heating and plumbing industry help tackle this issue?

People who die from suicide are often not in contact with health services and often push through in silence as their health deteriorates. Men are particularly prone to suffering in silence. Our society tells us that being a man means being strong and being masculine means being able to hide your emotions, otherwise you’re weak. The plumbing and heating industry is sometimes prone to forwarding this culture of traditional masculinity which can lead to terrible results.

How can the industry address these issues?

Things clearly need to change in the industry. It starts with creating a culture where workers feel supported and where they can be open about how they’re feeling. We could save a lot of lives if people had somewhere they could turn without judgement, as easily as they would if they had a physical illness. 

To build this environment we can:

As occupational mental health becomes an increasing concern in the UK, it’s time the industry acted. We can become part of the change simply by providing more support to those in need. If you need someone to talk to, we would recommend MENTalk, one of the many great groups growing on Facebook, whose page you can find at this link.

Condensate Pro’s products are designed by professionals with years of experience in the industry. We want the industry to improve and become more supportive of the people who make it what it is. If you’re struggling with your mental health, the NHS has a list of resources where you can get immediate help. To see how our products can make your staff’s lives a little easier, visit our website.