Redo central heating- AAARGH!

farmbelle

So we have just moved into our new home. We knew we needed to replace the boiler (back boiler to combi), and wanted this pressure testing as there are some damp patches on the walls which we have been told is likely a pipe leak and not external/rising damp.

Our plumber said we can't pressure test our back boiler, and we may as well just replace all of our central heating pipes if we are worried about a possible leak :eek:

he suggested dropping them down as we have concrete floors, however i hate this look and want to channel them into the floors. I get confused as so many people say boxed in pipes would stop them buying a house, as they are ugly, whilst others say its stupid to puts pipes under the floor due to maintenance.

We would also have to hire a concrete cutter independently and this sounds difficult.
Any advice?:(

JEN22

I have just had the house taken back to brick and them dropped down from the loft. Had to have the whole place plasters buts its great

ST1991

Get a second and third opinion before replacing the entire central heating system...!

Are you sure it is a leak? Is it definitely a leak from the central heating and not a bathroom water pipe?
Could it be a crack in the rendering outside or damp from the chimney breast?

We have concrete floors (but not a back boiler) so our central heating pipes run along the walls downstairs. We got some chrome pipe covers from b&q which cut to size and slip over, which IMO looks much better than boxing them in (and cheaper than digging them into the floor/walls)

Alex1983

Bear in mind a new boiler will be pressurised so if your existing pipework is in the concrete floor then attaching a new boiler to this system could well make or highlight leaks which could be why he wants to replace the pipework.

I wouldn't lay your new pipes in the concrete, you could get a future leak and be back to square 1. Some clip manufacturers make capping to go over there clips, that's the route I'd go.

I_have_spoken

I know some peeps will hyper-ventilate if I say microbore, but for the OPs install a microbore setup with 10mm continuous plastic pipe channelled into the plaster within oval conduit and the manifolds under the upstairs floorboard could work.

NB the corrosion sediment in an open-vented system will likely invalidate the guarantee on the new combi boiler unless you spend £700 on power flushing which will open every pinhole in the existing piping.

Owain_Moneysaver

Floor length curtains are the secret to hiding rad pipe drops :-)

Alex1983

I_have_spoken wrote: »

I know some peeps will hyper-ventilate if I say microbore, but for the OPs install a microbore setup with 10mm continuous plastic pipe channelled into the plaster within oval conduit and the manifolds under the upstairs floorboard could work.

NB the corrosion sediment in an open-vented system will likely invalidate the guarantee on the new combi boiler unless you spend £700 on power flushing which will open every pinhole in the existing piping.

I wouldn't hyper ventilate about 10mm plastic, there is lots about especially in new builds, cheap and quick. I've seen plenty of blockages in it to put myself off it but if you went this route I wouldn't use manifolds they are a disaster waiting to happen, use 10mm in the wall then up to 15mm/22mm copper under the floors upstairs. Much less chance of future problems that way.

Furts

farmbelle wrote: »

I get confused as so many people say boxed in pipes would stop them buying a house, as they are ugly, whilst others say its stupid to puts pipes under the floor due to maintenance.

(

If this is really true, and I do not know if it is, then I despair on the direction human beings are taking. To base a house purchase decision on boxed in pipes shows the extent that television celebrity idiots, and fashion, have over practicalities.

However if you are to hide pipes in your floor then you too should consider practicalities. If your concrete slab has a screed layer typically 50mm deep then fair enough go ahead. Whilst it may be bad practice at least you are not compromising your floor strength. However you need to establish if you are compromising the insulation properties - there could be insulation under the screed.

However,if you have a block and beam floor, or a raft or a ground bearing power floated slab then that can be a totally different scenario. Floor failure could occur all because somebody desires to be a follower of fashion and whim.

Carefully investigate and establish, for certain, what you have before going ahead with the dubious concept of hidden pipes in a concrete ground floor.

farmbelle

Some really useful, responses so far, thanks very much.

I can completely see the practical element of boxing them in, i guess that is the way we will go. Interestingly i asked this similar question on mums net (don't kill me) and the responses were all mostly in line with they either wouldn't buy a house with boxed in pipes or they would offer a significantly reduced offer to redo the work themselves. now i know its not a DIY specialist forum but it is a depressing view of the market majority. Seems i can't win either way!

Just to clarify - is the general advice that if we are getting a new boiler, its best to get new pipework? As the higher pressure system could exacerbate any weak points into leaks?

"I have spoken" sorry what do you mean by the corrosion sediment in an open vented system? As in the existing back boiler? As they offered up a filter thing for any existing sediment in the pipes.

Alex1983

Just because you have a open system at the moment and plan on pressurising it doesn't mean you need to have new pipework but there is the possibility of the high pressure system creating leaks, it doesn't always happen but it can and if you have pipework already in concrete floors and it leaks you will end up having all the downstairs repiped. Plenty of new boiler are attached to old system and cause no problems. There is always the risk which is why they have probably suggested a full repipe. It's also possible it's old it could be a 1 pipe system which would certainly need repiping.

A old open system is likely to have sludge in the radiators and pipework and should be cleaned out before a new boiler is attached to it or any warranty faults would not be repaired by the manufacturers.

southcoastrgi

People replace a boiler because it's old & worn out
People replace radiators because they are old & worn out
People replace radiator valves because they are old & worn out
People don't replace pipework because it lasts forever, doesn't it ?