Now we are deep into the cold winter months, the issue of frozen condensate in pipes can be a real cause of concern. PBM speaks to Dave Smith, inventor of the Condensate Pro, who outlines the opportunities his solution presents for merchants.
Frozen condensate pipes are the cause of a substantial amount of boiler breakdowns in colder months. During these times, the number of heating engineer call-outs spike as people struggle to get access to heating and hot water in their home. Two years ago, the Beast from the East had a significant effect on boiler breakdowns and the heating industry was targeted for criticism in the national press.
Longer manufacturer warranties are now being offered with new boilers, but that can be a major issue if the boiler is not installed to the correct standards. In 2018, thanks to the freezing conditions, tens of thousands of customers found their boilers weren’t working due to frozen condensates and because they were advised about the manufacturer’s warranty, called them for help.
Similarly, the Daily Express reported that in the midst of the 2018 freeze on March 2, British Gas engineers fixed a record 17,000 broken boilers in a single day and the company saw calls for assistance come at a rate of 104 calls every second — 13 times its usual call volumes.
Recent research has however shown that despite these risks and industry guidance released since 2018, some 60% of boiler installers ‘never’ or ‘only sometimes’ insulate condensate pipes. Dave Smith, a heating installer and inventor of Condensate Pro — a kit solution to protect condensate pipes — says that part of the reason almost two thirds of survey respondents said they are not always following industry guidance is because it is very difficult to practically carry out.
“The industry guidance is slightly flawed as it is very difficult to achieve practically on site — mainly in terms of the angles it requires to be drilled into cavity walls where the pipe passes through,” Dave explains. “It also adds significant time onto an installation, can be quite intrusive to the fabric of a home and is both hard to cost up and difficult to explain to a homeowner.”
Gap in the market
Consequently there was a gap in the market for a condensate pipe protective product that is quick and easy to install, can be retrofitted if necessary, is UV and weather resistant and comes in a stockable kit form. Dave says his experience as a boiler installer has helped him produce a smart, aesthetically pleasing product in Condensate Pro.
He is now looking to expand his network of merchant distribution as demand increases for the product.
“My aim was to develop both a product and the tools to allow installers to increase long-term customer satisfaction and boost productivity, save time on installation and limit wasted resources on unnecessary call-outs,” he explains. “But I have also designed the product to be easy for the merchant to stock and sell and take advantage of the opportunity this gap in the market presents.”
To develop the best product, Dave talked to the trade, trialed several designs and carried out on-site tests. After research, investment, and securing the patents, he has established the Condensate Pro range to help installers reduce the time needed to complete a professional condensate pipe installation in any weather.
Condensate Pro fits any condensate pipe installation, with specially designed UV/water resistant lagging and bond and seal adhesive. All products fit perfectly onto 32mm or 21.5mm overflow pipes and the connection and terminations are pre-insulated to make life easier when fitting.
The products are designed to offer a complete solution for every external termination — gully waste, soakaways, rainwater and soil pipes — making it easy to price the cost of installation.
Dave has also manufactured a drift kit and grinder head, to help achieve a clean, faultless fitting on existing installations and uneven masonry. The Condensate Pro drift kit is described as the ideal product for installers when upgrading existing condensate pipes whilst a 76mm grinder head is also available, designed to grind a 3 inch flat face against irregular faced stonework to create a perfect surface for the connection kit.
“There are millions of boilers fitted with substandard external condensate pipe protection with pipes that freeze easily and cause boiler breakdown, which makes this a huge opportunity for merchants,” says Dave. “We provide installers with professional tools to ensure easy upgrades, replacement boiler installations, or service calls. Everything comes neatly packaged in sturdy cardboard boxes to allow safe transportation and storage.”
For more information on the Condensate Pro, visit https://condensatepro.co.uk/
