does internal water piping need to be replaced for new heating system?

jammiev

hi, we have a 30 year old boiler and central heating system.
does the existing piping carrying the hot water leading to the rads etc need to be replaced?
is it essential?
the piping is 10mm copper!
thanks

macman

So around late 70's? Is it a single pipe system?
Gravity or pumped?

DVardysShadow

macman wrote: »

So around late 70's? Is it a single pipe system?
Gravity or pumped?

10mm copper - pumped.
10mm copper - 2 pipe.

I would imagine.

jammiev

hi, it is pumped.
silly question here, but how do i know if its a single pipe system?

ormus

10mm copper was often used with a manifold system.
i would replace it all with new 15mm pipe.

frank.hopper

The pipework could be power flushed but, if it's 10mm I would replace it.

Don't forget the TRV's

BritRael

frank.hopper wrote: »

..Don't forget the TRV's

My current house (we've been here around 4 years) has isolation valves fitted everywhere. Saves a lot of time and hassle when working on a dripping ballcok, or a leaking tap :cool:

Soot2006

We were in a similar situation recently. While plumber said the pipes would do their job, he highly recommended changing them -- because of the nature of the work already being done it made sense to have it done & warrantied there and then (i.e. before installing new floors!) .

jammiev

hi, thanks for the replies.
why is 15mm better?

:beer:

ormus

15mm gives you lots more flow. and its less likely to furr up with scale.
at least itll take many more years to do so.

andrew-b

As ormus hinted at by "flow"..there are also capacity reason why 15mm may be better for your heating system. 10mm may not be sufficient to provide connected radiators with their full output - see limiting factor 4 here and other webpages in the same central heating design section.

For one or two rads it may be fine but if the whole house is in 10mm the design may be flawed in the first place. Probably your best bet is to get some heating engineers round for some quotes and to discuss.

Andy