'evening,

I installed a Vent-Axia Kinetic quite a few years ago, but this month I have suddenly had a new problem pop up.

We suddenly noticed a damp patch on the ceiling which turned out to be condensation on the outside of the condensation drain pipe. I originally fitted pipe insulation on the first two meters of pipe, can't easily go any further, and water is dripping out from the end of that.

It's very odd. I wasn't quite sure if removing or extending the pipe insulation would help, but I am more puzzled about why this is suddenly happening.

What should I look for? It's like the condensation water is suddenly colder than normal? Oddly it first happened when there was over-night frost but it is still happening now it is warmer.

Thanks

this is so obvious, I'm slightly reluctant to suggest it, but have you checked that it's not a leak, rather than condensation. I vaguely recall one of my clients having water dripping from their VA kinetic, and it turned out the drain pipe was blocked, so the interior flooded ad so water escaped where it could, or resulted in "carry-over" to the exhaust duct.

I'd open the access panel, pull out the heat exchanger, and have a look inside. Swimming pool?? Foggy memory, but there was quite a narrow drain pipe, which I used a bottle washer long brush on a wire, to rod the pipe, and a clump of gouk came out. Problem solved. Give it a go, it only takes a few minutes, and you could give the internals a clean whilst your there.

I suspect you wouldn't get enough condensation on the outside of the condensation pipe to cause ceiling staining. I personally wouldn't bother with insulating the condensate drain, any more than insulating the drain under my sink for when I run the cold tap but I don't suppose it's doing much harm.