do i need new pipes with my new boiler- confused!

reallyjustme

I want a new boiler! At the moment i have a 18 year old baxi boiler in a terrible place in the kitchen - it makes so much noise it wakes me up in the morning on the other side of the house. it warms a big tank of water (for just me) and cos I work shifts i'm sometimes in in the morning and sometimes the evening and often it's cold by the time i get to it despite a coat on the tank. also the cold water tank in the attic gives me nightmare as apparently it is 80 years old and COULD leak at any moment!
The radiators are 'old' (none of that wavey metal at the back) and thick with paint and take FOREVER to get warm....I'm starting to do the house up and will want new radiators as the rooms become pretty so it seems sensible to have new ones now rather than bringing back plumbers later.
i want the boiler in the attic as the wall in the kitch where the present one is will be knocked down in the future and there isn't room in the bathroom!

I have had 3 quotes.....

A worcester combi boiler
new radiators (single long in hall, 4 doubles longish for bedrooms, sitting room and dining room, a smaller double for study and a small radiator or towel rail or two in one for the bathroom!)
moving the boiler to the attic
flu through the roof
radio controlled control thingy


I have a couple of questions

1. Should the piping to the attic go inside or outside (everyone seems to have their own preference) what are the pros and cons to each - it would go up the side apparently if outside?
2. Do I need all new pipes - people have told me that the increased pressure of the combi boiler will cause the pipes to 'blow' therefore only dodgy plumbers that are hoping for regular call out fees for the leaks and drop in pressure will not change the pipes...others say the pipes are fine!
3. Do i need all new pipes to get rid of the 'sludge in them?
4. Do I need a magni thingy on the boiler to collect the sludge from the old pipes? do these come as standard?
5. do I want a radiator in the bathroom or a towel rail or a duo jobby! people say towel rails are pants for heat. I want a cosy bathroom, eventually it will be done out and Iwill probably look at underfloor heating for under tiles - I'm not a carpet in the bathroom type but I like warm feet!
6. will my shower still work on the combi system........I can't remember now (i'm at work) but it's a well known name with a mixer dial, in the airing cupboard behind the shower is a huge pump that was added after the (now very old shower). It's fab and like a power shower!
7. do I need to worry about the flu going througfh the roof (one man said i couldn't have my boiler up there as the roof would fall in and it had to stay where it was (even though I'm going to knock that wall down!!!!!))

Please please help. i know it's a long question but I am pulling my hair out....... please tell em why you think what you thin as I keep hearing random comments

Oh and the quotes are all about 3000.... none include pipes in the written bit

Hears hoping you can put my head straight

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH FOR READING THIS FAR!
XXX

Ebe_Scrooge

OK, I'll start out by saying I'm not a plumber, and hopefully you'll be getting a proper Corgi man ( or lady ! ) in to do this for you.

1. Inside - will be difficult to hide them, but outside you run an increased risk of them freezing - though a genuine plumber will lag them properly so this shouldn't be a problem in theory.
2. A combi does run at a higher pressure than a conventional system, so if any joints are weak then then could blow. But it'll be a case of re-making any weak joints, no need for new pipes as such, unless the actual pipes themselves are really on the way out - which is unlikely.
3. No - but it's a good idea to powerflush the system through to remove the gunge. Then add inhibitor to the new system to stop more gunge forming.
4. No - just flush out all the old gunge before you start.
5. Up to you really - a rad will generally give out more heat, but a decent towel rail will probably be quite sufficient.
6. If it's a simple mixer shower ( as opposed to electric ), then yes, you'll be fine. You'll probably find it's even better with a combi. [EDIT] you can't have a pumped shower with a combi, so you'll need to remove the pump. The combi gives more than enough pressure anyway.
7. Pass on this one I'm afraid, refer to a qualified personage !

In summary, as long as you get a kosher Corgi plumber, he'll be able to advise you on most of these points, and make any changes as required.

mikey72

I've seen copper pipes so rotten I could push my fingernail into them, so it depends omn the pipes, and the extra cost.
Have a radiator and a towel rail in the bathroom, worth it if you can fit them in.

rockin_plumber

Re Ebe Scrooge comment about CORGI.. :rolleyes:

Its Gas Safe Register now

1. Pipes inside every time I would say
2. The pipes may need to be re-run due to the location of the old boiler in relation to the new one. Runs into rooms and to single rads may be fine but its the main runs of pipework that may need altering.
3. No. It is a requirement on new boilers now that the system is flushed before the boiler is fitted now.
4. Not standard, not a requirement. Its more a reccomendation.
5. If you get a big anough towel rail it should heat the bathroom, bearing in mind that if you have towels covering the whole towel rail you might not get the heat you want.
6. Shower might work but deffinately not with a pump. This would need to be removed.
7. No problems with boiler in roof. But... roof need a to completely boarded or a walkway with handrails to boiler location, a loft ladder an light in the roof.

As for prices I work for a company so not really got any idea about that but someone might help..

But again its GAS SAFE REGISTER and not CORGI if anyone tries to fob you off with CORGI they are not registered to complete gas work.

Canucklehead

rockin_plumber wrote: »

Re Ebe Scrooge comment about CORGI.. :rolleyes:

Its Gas Safe Register now

1. Pipes inside every time I would say
2. The pipes may need to be re-run due to the location of the old boiler in relation to the new one. Runs into rooms and to single rads may be fine but its the main runs of pipework that may need altering.
3. No. It is a requirement on new boilers now that the system is flushed before the boiler is fitted now.
4. Not standard, not a requirement. Its more a reccomendation.
5. If you get a big anough towel rail it should heat the bathroom, bearing in mind that if you have towels covering the whole towel rail you might not get the heat you want.
6. Shower might work but deffinately not with a pump. This would need to be removed.
7. No problems with boiler in roof. But... roof need a to completely boarded or a walkway with handrails to boiler location, a loft ladder an light in the roof.

As for prices I work for a company so not really got any idea about that but someone might help..

But again its GAS SAFE REGISTER and not CORGI if anyone tries to fob you off with CORGI they are not registered to complete gas work.

Hi

I agree with all of the above but would add,

1. Gas could be run externally.
4. I would always fit a Boiler Buddy , Magnaclean or Spirovent.

There is no way anyone on here can say that a combi will work for you as we can't check your water pressure and flow. That is your first question to any installer you get through the door.
Price will vary with location .

GSR.

reallyjustme

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

I agree with all of the above but would add,

1. Gas could be run externally.
4. I would always fit a Boiler Buddy , Magnaclean or Spirovent.

There is no way anyone on here can say that a combi will work for you as we can't check your water pressure and flow. That is your first question to any installer you get through the door.
Price will vary with location .

GSR.

only one asked to check the pressure. Think I'll go with him.....