Microbore or 15mm pipes & which boiler? *Now with added queries!*

jamtart6

thanks canuckle. thats why we thought of doing it now rather than later. All the plumbers dont think we need it doing, but I dont know if they are just saying that because its a big job and they can't be bothered with it?

Canucklehead

jamtart6 wrote: »

thanks canuckle. thats why we thought of doing it now rather than later. All the plumbers dont think we need it doing, but I dont know if they are just saying that because its a big job and they can't be bothered with it?

Hi.... not all RGIs are qualified/experienced plumbers and might prefer to just fit a boiler rather than design/replace an entire central heating system. You can find a tradesperson who is both on the CIPHE website. Piping a system is a labour intensive job (especially in copper, the OH's preferred type of tube) and difficult in an occupied property as you might have to work around someone's life and possessions;).

HTH

Canucklehead

jamtart6

Thanks for the link! It is not occupied I've told them to make as much mess as they like!! is copper or this new plastic piping better? sorry for all the questions but its nice to have a head start before meeting with plumbers as they all seem to say something different!

Canucklehead

jamtart6 wrote: »

Thanks for the link! It is not occupied I've told them to make as much mess as they like!! is copper or this new plastic piping better? sorry for all the questions but its nice to have a head start before meeting with plumbers as they all seem to say something different!

Hi...the OH uses copper (plastic only if accessibility is a problem but I can only think of 2 cases where he has used any plastic in the last 10 years). The copper vs plastic debate flares up occasionally on forums;)

HTH

Canucklehead

thechippy

jamtart6 wrote: »

Thanks for the link! It is not occupied I've told them to make as much mess as they like!! is copper or this new plastic piping better? sorry for all the questions but its nice to have a head start before meeting with plumbers as they all seem to say something different!

With all due respect to other posters - none of us have seen the site!!
If you have had two plumbers say that the existing microbore will be fine, why should we not believe them? After all, they have actually seen the setup.

Microbore is very efficient providing the rads it supplies does not exceed it's rating. We have a 2 bed house, 26 years old and all on microbore. All the rads get too hot to touch and the house is like toast...;)

thechippy

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning: A new client had a problem with his central heating in his newly renovated and extended property. Unfortunately, the microbore, an ancient HW cylinder and the Potterton Suprim:eek: hadn't been replaced ( also the builders had gone bankrupt and returned overseas). A rash of problems developed...the owner called a well-known/London based company and almost £2000/two months later still no improvement. The OH took a look as a favour and discovered the boiler did not have adequate ventilation, the pump was piped incorrectly, the unidirectional TRVs were on the wrong end, several rads were stone-cold/underperforming/leaking, the rads in the extension were undersized by half and the system kept losing pressure.

The property now has a new boiler (Viessmann) with a Boiler Buddy, the system has been flushed (took most of the day), the old rads have new TRVs and the system no longer loses pressure. The microbore and the old radiators will remain until spring and the undersized new rads will be replaced. The clients regret not replacing the microbore etal at the time of renovations and will have the remaining issues addressed at great expense and disruption.

In other words....another example of central heating being the poor relation during renovations and an expensive hangover afterwards. A RGI recommended to you by a source you trust would be best placed to advise you after completion of a site survey.

HTH

Canucklehead

This property bears NO resemblance to the op's........

jamtart6

I think Im just concerned that there is an underlying reason e.g. its going to be too big a job and they wont get as much profit as they would if they just fitted the boiler. They all keep going on about what a pain the chipboard floors would be and they'd have to cut them?

Its quite hard when people tell you different things, as each one has said 15mm is what they usuall use to fit a new system but keep the microbore??Especially when you dont have a clue!!

thechippy

Hi Jammy,

To be honest, if they could make more money - they would!
I get the feeling that they genuinly don't see the need to replace the microbore.
We have not seen the site, so can only go by the information here. Your house sounds like it's probably the same as mine + 1 bedroom and we have no problems.
The main flow and returns would be either 15/22mm anyway, they just use manifolds to reduce to microbore a short distance before the rads.
Get a third opinion to be safe.....
Whereabouts are you approx?

jamtart6

thechippy wrote: »

Hi Jammy,

To be honest, if they could make more money - they would!
I get the feeling that they genuinly don't see the need to replace the microbore.
We have not seen the site, so can only go by the information here. Your house sounds like it's probably the same as mine + 1 bedroom and we have no problems.
The main flow and returns would be either 15/22mm anyway, they just use manifolds to reduce to microbore a short distance before the rads.
Get a third opinion to be safe.....
Whereabouts are you approx?

Near Manchester! The 3rd quote was messed up as I left my OH in charge and ended up with a quote for a bathroom fitting and no 15mm pipes :eek: :rotfl:

4th quote is coming on Tuesday...nothing like being paranoid!

Cheers for all your advice guys its much appreciated!:T :beer:

thechippy

Manchester! blast, too far away, or I could have sent one of my best mates who's a heating engineer to have a look.
Sack the OH....:rotfl:

Keep in touch how it goes.....;)