We are currently experiencing a lot of calls regarding tenants not having heating or hot water as the temperature has dropped.

If your boiler shows up a fault code like an E10 (Vokera) and you also hear water gushing during this cold freezing spell, check to see if you have an external condensate pipe like in the video below.

A condensate pipe for a boiler is designed to take the water vapour away (steam) when the boiler is running at high efficiency, the water is slightly acidic and must terminate to a drain, preferably internally due to freezing or to an external drain. It must be made of a plastic pipe, usually white/black in colour the size of 21.5mm/22mm internally and usually 32mm/40mm externally. Your boiler will lock out if your external condensate pipe for your boiler is frozen and will no longer work.

• Boil the kettle and mix with a bit of cold water so it isn’t scolding hot.
• Do not use boiling water as this will melt the pipe.
• Pour over the pipe which should defrost.
• You will need to repeat this on a daily basis during the coldest of weather.