Had a repeat of a problem that first occurred last year and so knew what to do to cure it, but a friend had to call out the engineer who fitted her system (same guy who did ours) to sort it when hers stopped working last week.

Having my sarnies in the van yesterday and listening to Radio 4 'You & Yours', what should come on but a feature about this very problem.

You can listen to it here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/coming_up.shtml

... Just choose the Monday edition (yesterday, 18th) and it's about an inch in on the playing time - you can always click back or forward to find the beginning of the feature.

What really pissed me off was that the guy our friend called out actually charged her for sorting the problem, when it had happened as a result of his not fitting the outlet pipe properly. Coincidentally, I'd actually modified our pipe when it went this time, shortening the drain pipe.

I've suggested she phone the guy and get him to listen to this broadcast if he refuses to give her money back.

The pipe should be 32mm when outside, lagging is not stipulated for extreme conditions, but advisable.

thescruff wrote on Jan 19^th, 2010, 8:49pm:



you can use 22mm pipe outside ,if you do it should be lagged.

best pratice is to use 32mm pipe but to be honest i have been to loads over the cold spell that have been fitted correctly and still frose up ..