Electrics and gas
What is a condensate pipe, and why does a survey mention it freezing?
A condensing boiler produces condensate that has to drain away, usually through a plastic pipe. If that pipe is poorly routed outside it can freeze or leak. A home survey can see a pipe that discharges onto a path or into a hopper. It does not test the boiler and it does not prove last winter’s freeze. A visible leak is a plumbing defect. A hypothetical freeze is only a risk if the route is obviously exposed.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
The repair may be a reroute by a Gas Safe engineer, because the boiler is gas, or a plumber working with one. The survey should not specify a new boiler because a pipe drips. Ask the engineer whether the boiler itself is sound. There is no RICS condensate price.
Do not confuse this drip with rising damp. A puddle under a boiler cupboard has a local cause. The wall behind it may be stained. That stain is not a damp-proof course diagnosis until someone has stopped the leak and seen what remains.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Where does the condensate pipe end?
- Is it leaking now, or only routed outside?
- Are you recommending an engineer, not a new boiler?
What are the typical next steps?
- Photograph the termination of the pipe.
- Ask a Gas Safe engineer to include it in a service if the boiler is gas.
- Do not rebuild the cupboard until the drip is explained.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Is condensate the same as a pressure-relief discharge?
No. They are different pipes. The survey may not identify which is which if both are plastic. An engineer should.
Does an internal condensate pump get tested?
Not by a home survey. If it is leaking, say so. If it is only present, it was not proved.