'Condensafe '+' Helps Protect the Environment by Addressing Growing Condensate Problems from High Efficiency Boilers

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The increasing problem of untreated low level acidic condensate from condensing boilers heading for the drainage infrastructure has been addressed by Salamander, part of Sentinel Performance Solutions, with the release of the new 'Condensafe '+' unit.

This unique and innovative in-line unit, designed to be mounted between the boiler condensate outlet and the drain, contains a special medium that will effectively neutralise acidic waste from condensing boilers before allowing the now harmless waste to be discharged to the drains. The neutralising medium can be easily replaced every twelve months when the boiler undergoes its annual service and the spent medium can be safely disposed of in household waste.

The Salamander 'Condensafe '+' offers a sensible approach to low level acidic discharge management, it's easy to fit, clean and maintain, fits all domestic condensing boilers, has no adverse effect on the operation of a condensing boiler and complies with all relevant standards. The company has applied for a patent to cover the product and its design.

An average condensing boiler will produce around 800 litres of condensate a year at about pH 4.0. It's a simple mathematical calculation to work out that this means there will be millions of litres of low level acidic waste heading for the sewage system, the sewage treatment works and soakaways every year, potentially threatening the biological purification processes in septic tanks and local water treatment plant, and causing significant upset to the drainage infrastructure. And it's a problem that can only grow as the Government has ensured through Building Regulations that virtually all new boilers installed from now on must be high efficiency condensing boilers.

There are an estimated 17 million gas boilers in the UK, with around 1.5 million new boilers installed each year. The amount of acid condensate put down the drain is thought to be growing at a rate in excess of half a million litres per week as more and more condensing boilers are installed. It's conservatively thought that in two years time, we could be adding in the region of 50 million litres of acid at pH 4.0 to our drains each week. There doesn't seem to have been any research or concern expressed about the environmental consequences. Even at a relatively low level of acidity, common sense suggests this must be having an effect on the infrastructure or water treatment process at some level.

“We know that the condensate generated by the growing numbers of condensing boilers installed across the UK is acidic discharge. When you consider the age of many – if not most – of the drainage infrastructures and the huge quantity of condensate being discharged without treatment to the sewers, it seems sensible to consider doing something to neutralise the problem,” says Salamander's Louise Morris. “A much smaller quantity – but still a significant amount – is discharged to 'soak aways' and if the quantity was high enough, it could have an impact on groundwater. Bearing in mind how much of our drinking water is still drawn from boreholes, we feel condensate should be addressed now before it becomes a problem. Using a Salamander 'Condensafe '+' would seem to make a huge amount of sense.”

'Condensafe '+' is available now from merchants across the UK.

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