Q. How do I prevent my condensate pipe from my condensing boiler freezing?

We had a new boiler and complete new central heating system fitted earlier this year and until now has all worked fine however this afternoon the system stopped working and the reset button was flashing. I phoned the manufacturers advice line and was told that it was probably the condensate pipe frozen. I then spent an hour pouring hot water over it and managed to get the system working again but it is obviously going to play up again. I tried to contact the person that installed the system but as usual just kept going straight to voicemail so am thinking this will be probably quicker to sort myself rather than get the run around off of him again.
Reading other advice on the net I have read that you should change the condensate pipe to 35mm as soon as it need to go horizontal outside whereas I have an 8 foot length of 22mm pipe running horizontally along the wall before it turns vertical again and then goes into a 35mm pipe.
Can I just lag the 22mm pipe to stop this from happening or will I need to cut out all of the outside 22mm pipe and replace it with 35mm.
Any advice appreciated as it is going off really cold at the moment and I have a young family to try and keep warm.

A. 21.5mm condensate pipe should be lagged if external however this does looks naff so as soon as it exits the external wall it should be increased to 32mm plastic waste pipe. This can then be insulated with 35mm Armaflex SelfSeal . To further prevent the possibility of this ever happening again a length of Heating Cable can be added. For any awkward bends or valves etc. a roll of Armaflex Insulation Tape should do the job.

Q. How do i prevent my 32mm MDPE blue water pipe from freezing outside?

A. The correct bore size of insulation is 35mm and we would recommend 19mm wall thick outdoor UV resistant Armaflex HT. This will protect down to -50. 19mm thick wall will protect the pipe from freezing for up to 25 hours of constant below freezing temperatures. To be safe from freezing a heater tape can be run with the pipe. If the Pipe is to be run on the surface a PIB Rubber sheet can be applied to cover the insulation or a Armaflex Tuffcoat product can be used.

Q. What is Microban that is exclusively used in Armaflex Pipe Insulation?

A. Armaflex Class O highly flexible low-temperature insulation contains Microban for an added level of protection against bacteria, mould and mildew.
Health hazards due to air pollutants in buildings. As a recent study by the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown, the air inside buildings can be up to ten times more contaminated with air-borne pollutants than the air outside. Excess moisture in combination with dust and dirt particles provides an ideal breeding ground for microbial growth. The microbes themselves then release spores, cells, particles and volatile organic compounds (VOC) and thus may also contribute to sick building syndrome. Among the most serious consequences are an increase in respiratory, allergic and asthmatic illnesses and disturbances of the immune system.
Active antimicrobial protection provides added security. Suitable building materials can prevent dirt accumulation, moisture penetration and thus mould growth. As they are dust- and fibre-free materials, Armaflex products already have  passive  protection against microorganisms. It is much more difficult for germs to settle on the smooth, non-porous surface of the material and they do not find the nutrients they need to grow. The closed-microcell structure and high resistance to water vapour transmission, provide Armaflex insulations with reliable protection against moisture ingress.
In addition, the improved Armaflex products now has active protection against bacteria, mould and mildew. Antimicrobially-active additives from Microban are built into the Armaflex products during the manufacturing process. These additives penetrate the cell walls of the microbes and disable important cell functions. As a result the microorganism is unable to function and can no longer grow or multiply. The Microban technology prevents bacteria, mould and mildew settling on the insulation throughout its service life. Armaflex is, therefore, predestined for use in public buildings, health care facilities, schools and nurseries.

Q. What do all the numbers mean?

A. When we talk about wall thickness we are referring to the thickness of the insulation from the surface of the pipe to the outer edge. The bore size is the diameter of the pipe insulation or the hole. Imaging it as a polo mint, the minty bit is the wall with the hole being the bore.