Do we have any plumbers here?

[limboy777]

Hi chaps

Im planning on ripping out my old central heating/boiler system but keep getting different advice from different plumbers.

Is anyone a plumber here so I can just check some basics (I dont have a clue).

 

[slk486]

It's a me! Mario!

 

[TheCorfiot]

Whats up buddy, I re-plumbed my house from top to bottom 5 yrs ago..

 

[tokyoracer]

Whats up buddy, I re-plumbed my house from top to bottom 5 yrs ago..

I think he want's a real plumber, IIRC you plumbed your house using BBC Micro's.

 

[slk486]

 

[liviux76]

It's a me! Mario!

I am Luigi! My Brother!!! :ROTFLOL2:

@limboy777
Sorry mate, at least we are keeping up your post...

 

[Merlin]

OK,

First off, you CAN'T mess with gas fittings unless you are trained, insured and on the Gas Safe Register (formerly CORGI). You CAN install the radiators, pump and the other pipe work yourself, but you can NOT install the boiler or flues yourself. The UK HSE take a very dim view of amateur plumbers messing with gas pipes and they always prosecute.

If you do engage the services of a gas installer to install the boiler and flues then commission it, make sure that he gives you a Part P Certificate, to verify that his install complies with all current regulations, that it has been tested and it's safe to use. If you don't have the Part P, you might find it awkward to sell your house at a later date, as the part P needs to form part of the package of information about the property.

Now, what are your plans?

 

[limboy777]

Hi thanks guys for replying so quickly. I was decorating the house till 11pm yesterday so didnt login till today.

Dont worry - Im not doing anything myself.

My first question is the plumber is recomeding I move from 8mm pipes to the radiators to 15mm (its a very old house). Does it make any difference If I left them as is - Im changing all the radiators with new radiators. Another plumber said its ok with 10mm. I already have 10mm lockshield valves and thermostatic valves so dont want to buy new ones again.

I will have 10 radiators in the house altogether. The system has been flushed already.

Can I also check some quotes please.

How much should it cost for a 34kw Bosch Woscester Boiler (combi) fitted. Im replacing a Baxi which is the old type system. The quote is £700 labour to install the boiler and £200 to remove the cistern and other bits from the old redundant system. He has reccommended a 34kw due to the number of radiators in the house. (4 bedroom and 2 bathroom house).

How much should it cost to replace lead piping for the water mains coming into the house. He reccomends replacing it with plastic. United utilities will connect it outside my house for free. (plumber needs someone to dig a trench outside - sandy soil).

By the way can I sell my old boiler -its a BAXI and it works.

Prices for radiators and single vs double radiator.

Single convector or Double for the following sizes;

1000mm x 600mm

1500mm x 600mm

1850mm x 600mm

My plumber reckons I should be able to find them cheap on the internet. Do you guys have any reccommended sites.

 

[TheCorfiot]

Now this is interesting as I had the same debate as you when I replumbed my home.
My old piping involved central 15mm send return pipes with 8mm feeds to the rads.

After some calculations and thoughts i went with 22mm pipes from and to the boiler running the length of the house, I then used 15mm send return piping to the rads connected to the 22mm main pipes...

What can I say, best decision ever...the flow through the house is so fast and quiet, all rads (9) heat to full temp in abiut 8 mins and I noticed the boiler remaining on pump only longer than wih heat....

Whether you will see the same benefit going from 10 to 15mm I cant say.

Just to clarify, I used a professional gas engineer to instal the boiler and gas supply..
I just plumbed the rest...

TC

 

[ShambleS1980]

pretty sure that thinner pipes would just make the water be at higher pressure.. if thats a good thing or a bad thing i would not know, and i dont see how it would affect the flow rate. but could be a factor to the pump.. as im sure you can tell by now I am not a plumber. neither am i sonic the hedgehog.

 

[limboy777]

Now this is interesting as I had the same debate as you when I replumbed my home.
My old piping involved central 15mm send return pipes with 8mm feeds to the rads.

After some calculations and thoughts i went with 22mm pipes from and to the boiler running the length of the house, I then used 15mm send return piping to the rads connected to the 22mm main pipes...

What can I say, best decision ever...the flow through the house is so fast and quiet, all rads (9) heat to full temp in abiut 8 mins and I noticed the boiler remaining on pump only longer than wih heat....

Whether you will see the same benefit going from 10 to 15mm I cant say.

Just to clarify, I used a professional gas engineer to instal the boiler and gas supply..
I just plumbed the rest...

TC

The plumber said it will heat up fasterif i went from 8/10mm to 15mm so your experience seems to match.

- - - Updated - - -

pretty sure that thinner pipes would just make the water be at higher pressure.. if thats a good thing or a bad thing i would not know, and i dont see how it would affect the flow rate. but could be a factor to the pump.. as im sure you can tell by now I am not a plumber. neither am i sonic the hedgehog.

Thats what i thought at first which seems to be the oppposite of my plumbers view of bigger pipes making the central heating heat up faster.