New Central Heating system and boiler

missbiggles1

keith969 wrote: »

My previous house was built in the early 50's and still had copper pipes from that era (and even a couple of radiators, hard finding a curved replacement for the one in the living room bay window!)

When we had the extension done and a new boiler etc. the existing pipework stayed put as it was fine. Replacing it would have meant taking up lots of floorboards, I can imagine the cost would go up quite a bit as a result.

Only thing I had to be careful about was when moving a radiator subsequently - original pipes were 3/4" and needed an imperial to metric coupler as 3/4" is not the same as new 22mm pipe!

My house is 1930s and, as I said earlier, has some of the original radiators and some added in the 50s. None of the plumbers who quoted for a new boiler suggested replacing radiators and/or pipework. That was also true of the other 2/3 places where we replaced the boilers, which is why I'm so surprised at the suggestion.

katies_mum

Another plumber is coming round tomorrow, I have said I need a new boiler but not mentioned anything else. Will be interesting to see what he says. I said to the other plumbers I need a new heating system and boiler, none of them said any different. Fingers crossed.

paulsad

My thoughts...
Modern rads are generally more efficient so you get more heat - old rads can be full of built up crud that could (even after a power flush) damage your new boiler. Modern plastic pipework can be fine (when properly fitted) but if you have any vermin problem can be chewed through, I did have older plastic pipe in my last property that degraded leading to fine sludge blocking the pipework and damaging the heat exchanger in the boiler. Got a Ferroli boiler in this house and it's pants - good job my lad is a heating engineer.
Had Vaillants, WB, Gloworm before with no hassle.

katies_mum

Thanks paulsad, I dread to think what is inside our radiators :-( I don`t know much about central heating but think we would be more comfortable with copper piping than plastic. Just want a good system and boiler that is going to be reliable.

southcoastrgi

krey wrote: »

either way you are getting ripped off and should look for more quotes. got someone to hook it up ( as you must get someone certified to do that) for £200, a rip-off for what it is, but oh well you must get that damn paper to sign it off..

1st the OP isn't getting ripped off & it looks like they have had a few quotes,
No decent RGI is going to sign off a boiler fitted by an amateur,
£200 is way too cheap to make sure you aren't going to blow yourself up or kill your family with CO,

OP out of the list of boilers you have been quoted for the Intergas is far & away the best one, don't believe the Worcester hype they really aren't the best around.

katies_mum

Thank you southcoastrgi, I have been reading up about the Intergas boilers and they sound really good. The person I had out yesterday likes to fit Atag boilers, I see these seem quite highly rated as well but not sure how they compare to the Intergas. He did say it will have a 10 year warranty.

H said he would let me have a quote in the next couple of days, off the top of his head he thought £4,000 - 4,500 so I`m wondering if this is the going rate for this area! 4 out of 6 estimates seem to be going with this figure. Many thanks

southcoastrgi

Yes Atag is a very good boiler as well, both are the most efficient boilers you can get & im sure you will be happy with either

katies_mum

Thank you, think I`ll make a decision when the quote comes in. Don`t think am going to get much variation in prices by the look of what I have been given so far... didn`t really want to have to pay £4500 but need to get the job sorted asap (my own fault for not getting it done in the summer)

KRB2725

When we had our boiler changed we had to have all the pipes replaced upstairs. The rads were on "single pipe system" whereas downstairs was double. Can't remember the explanation, but were told it had to be done!

katies_mum

Wanted to thank you all for your help and advice, especially southcostrgi :T

I am now the proud owner of an Instergas Eco RF boiler with 10 year warranty, all new radiators plus a few extras, a remote thermostat, new pipe work only where needed (it did not need completely re-piping. It took 8 quotes but got an excellent job done for a price I was really happy with.

It is so lovely to be warm (too hot really but not moaning). Thanks again, no doubt I`ll be back asking again when I get to the electrics :-)