Plastic pipes within 1m of boiler....

*Trouble*

Hi all,

Hoping to get some advice.

Just had a plumber out to give me quote to get a chemical flush done, as some of my radiators aren't heating properly (sludge buildup). He took one look at my boiler and said it's illegal as I've plastic pipework 10cm from the boiler. He said he can't touch it until the plastic is replaced with copper and advised that I go back to British Gas who installed the boiler 6 years ago.

Has anyone come across this before and if it's true, would British Gas have to fix the pipework..? In the original install they checked a box saying it was 'non-standard', but that was due to the meter (they noted that); nothing was said about plastic pipes being too close to the boiler.

Thanks in advance.
Anita.

TheCyclingProgrammer

A quick google would seem to indicate he is correct, copper pipe for the first metre before changing to plastic.

There's a few gas engineers on here (I'm not one) - post a photo and I'm sure they'd be happy to I've you an opinion.

George_Michael

I found the following on a few websites..


It is acceptable to have plastic pipework closer than 1m to the boiler providing that a few requirements are met.


The plastic pipes can be no closer than 35cm from the boiler combustion chamber. (not from the boiler casing)
The boiler must have a high limit cut out thermostat and a pump overrun device.

shaun_from_Africa

How many plastic pipes are there?
If it's only one then it's possible that this is a condensate drain (if you have a condensing boiler) and this is perfectly acceptable.

TheCyclingProgrammer

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

How many plastic pipes are there?
If it's only one then it's possible that this is a condensate drain (if you have a condensing boiler) and this is perfectly acceptable.

One would *hope* that the plumber OP had out would have been able to tell the difference between the condensate drain and the heating pipes though!

*Trouble*

I have called Worcester (my boiler make), as the plumber said that some boiler manufacturers don't heed the 1m rule. He was right Worcester say 600mm. I think the plastic pipes are still too close though.

*Trouble*

Sorry, tried to upload the photo (after creating a photobucket account)... doesn't seem to like the link.

*Trouble*

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

How many plastic pipes are there?
If it's only one then it's possible that this is a condensate drain (if you have a condensing boiler) and this is perfectly acceptable.

There's several pipes and joints within 600mm, plus the condensate pipe. The plastic pipes go upstairs right beside the boiler too, within 200mm all the way up the length of the boiler.

southcoastrgi

Try this & then copy & paste the hotlink for forum, the model of your boiler would be good too, & do you have the original paperwork with the box ticked for non standard installation & what is said about the meter etc etc

bsod

*Trouble* wrote: »

some of my radiators aren't heating properly.

are they bled, valves fully open or trv's and other thermostats set correctly?

*Trouble*

southcoastrgi wrote: »

Try this & then copy & paste the hotlink for forum, the model of your boiler would be good too, & do you have the original paperwork with the box ticked for non standard installation & what is said about the meter etc etc

Unfortunately your link doesn't work for me.

I believe the boiler model is a "Greenstar 28i Junior".

The Safety Warning/Advice Notice has the "Not to Current Standards" box checked and under that it says: Appliance 1: Meter. Location: Hall... that's it, nothing about plastic pipes or anything.

As for the radiators, they're bled etc. 3 upstairs are totally cold (one has a warm pipe and lukewarm top). Downstairs I have one with a large cold spot on the bottom and towards the middle of the radiator, one is hot at the top and warmish at the bottom and one next to it is warm at the top and cold at the bottom. All the downstairs radiators were fine until two radiators upstairs were replaced (they were more than 20 years old, full of black sludge and not heating up anymore); guessing that just emptying the system and re filling it has pushed the sludge around.