Buried condensate return with leak

zwiegand

I believe I have a leak in the condensate return line to my boiler.  I runs continuously along my cellar floor, but unfortunately someone buried a good portion of it under a low concrete step.  My question is, can I run new piping just above the concrete to bypass the bad piping?  This would shift that portion of pipe up 4 or 5 inches, but it would still be below the boiler water line.  I'm concerned that air would be trapped in the new section of pipe, but I think that once the boiler is re-filled with water it will get pushed out through the radiator vents (this is a steam system).

nicholas bonham-carter

condensate line under steps

You should have no problems if the new height is well under the waterline.

Maybe you could keep it at floor height and make it go around the bottom step. Do you see any signs of moisture under the step--NBC

zwiegand

signs

Yes, there is a small puddle that never seems to evaporate starting from the bottom edge of the concrete step.  The side of the step and the top of the step never appear to be wet.

Steamfitter66

Install a T with a plug

So you can clean out the line if it gets plugged. Other than that no problem.