new combi/lead pipe

rabialiones

plumber said this happens commonly when new combi boilers are installed and connections are made to lead piping.
something to do with hot water pressure

CashStrapped

Sounds like you got a plumber who could not be bothered making more work for himself when it is much easier to go to the next job installing a boiler.

Edit: Yes old hot water/central heating would be low pressure (tanks in the loft). Combi boilers are pressurised, so more force is applied to the pipework. If that pipework is weak/old/worn, it can leak.

Older radiators/joints etc can spring leaks on a new pressurised system.

teddysmum

Before having our combi, I'd read about problems with pipe leaks and the fact that the installer is not responsible for these, so had a word with the installers.


They told me that, yes, leaks, due to pressure , do occur, but mainly in older properties (ours, being early 1970s).


We did have to have a new gas run, though, to comply with newer legislation on diameter.

rabialiones

unfortunately , i had never heard of any problems that could occur with installing a combi-boiler, so was unaware of the imminent problems.
otherwise , i would have discussed prior to installation, as ours is an older terraced property.

our gas pipes must have been ok, and complied with legislation as we were given a certificate

Raxiel

CashStrapped wrote: »

Lead pipes aren't inherently dangerous. As I said, the majority of properties in this country have lead supply pipes. In an undamaged state, no lead should leach from the internal pipe. A protective layer forms over time with prevent lead form leaching out.

Water companies add additives (safe ones) to the water to further reduce any lead leaching.

So, as long as the lead pipes are not damaged, it should be fine.

And if they ever stop adding those additives, you end up with the Flint water crisis :eek:

C_Mababejive

The issue is that your doemstic hot water pipes were previously only under the static pressure applied by your cold water storage tank which fed the hot water cylinder. When that was removed, your internal hot water lead pipes were then put under mains water pressure so there was a chance there might be a leak.

Having said that, it depends on a lot of things and lead water pipes under mains pressure are not intrinsically leaky. After all, we have had mains cold water lead pipes for decades so i dont think anyone has "bodged" anything.