Replacement boiler - do radiators need replacing too?

Jeepers_Creepers

kdotdotdotdot said:

I've just had a boiler replaced and all five quotes I got from various companies included cleaning out the system first and adding a magnet to where the water comes back into the boiler to 'catch' any remaining sludge.  I got the impression that this was standard, so probably something you'll get quoted for anyway.  

You'll need to tell them how many radiators you'll have and also your plans for adding a shower because they need all that information to calculate what size boiler you need to run the system.  Now's a good time to think of future plans, as you are, to add showers or change over radiators.  Also consider if you want to move the boiler, although that costs more, of course.  

That's all good advice.

Yes, a system clean - there are different methods - will almost certainly be a requirement before the boiler can obtain its full warranty. The magnetic filter ditto.

Boiler size is a good point - I would suggest 30kW upwards if folk are going to have a really nice shower from it. Being currently in the garage - the best place as long as it's dry and doesn't freeze - is great as it's out of the way :-)

Working_in_pyjamas

Jeepers_Creepers said:

If it helps, take a photo of the pipes as they come out from the boiler.

The discharge pipe will be copper (definitely) and 15mm (usually). Not to be confused with the mains water inlet and the DHW out from the boiler :-) (And even sometimes the gas supply...)

I've taken a pic as suggested, there are various offshoots and 3 of them have the green tinge you mentioned (circled) - although none are visibly wet. As you can see the dial is now at 0.5, I know it's meant to go up and down but not sure if that's a normal drop. Just in the process of arranging quotes so will mention this to the plumber

Jeepers_Creepers

Ah! The ironically-named 'Swiftflow'... :-)

I think the second-from-the-left pipe - the 'corroded' one - is your safety discharge pipe. I can't tell where it's going - it disappears behind some lagging. Is that an outside wall? If so, is it coming out through that wall at that point?

The light amounts of corrosion on theses other fittings are nothing to worry about - certainly not a leak of any significance.

Ok, the pressure is currently down at 0.5bar. It should be at 1 bar, where that red pointer is. Can you note what happens to that pressure when you turn on your heating from cold? Can you keep an eye on it every few minutes as the system gets up to full temp - just pop in and look every 5 minutes or so. Please report back.

Oh, and where's that pipe going?

Working_in_pyjamas

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Ah! The ironically-named 'Swiftflow'... :-)

I think the second-from-the-left pipe - the 'corroded' one - is your safety discharge pipe. I can't tell where it's going - it disappears behind some lagging. Is that an outside wall? If so, is it coming out through that wall at that point?

The light amounts of corrosion on theses other fittings are nothing to worry about - certainly not a leak of any significance.

Ok, the pressure is currently down at 0.5bar. It should be at 1 bar, where that red pointer is. Can you note what happens to that pressure when you turn on your heating from cold? Can you keep an eye on it every few minutes as the system gets up to full temp - just pop in and look every 5 minutes or so. Please report back.

Oh, and where's that pipe going?

It’s an attached garage so the wall behind the boiler is the kitchen wall, no idea where the ‘safety discharge pipe’ goes in that case then!

The heating comes on with the Nest timer/thermostat - I’ll change it one morning not to come on then will have a look at the pressure dial before and after I turn it on manually. 

Which pipe do you mean in your last sentence? There lots of pipes!

Thanks again for your input, obviously I’m not going to DIY anything but it’s good to have an understanding of how these things work and hopefully be a bit clued up when the plumber comes to quote 

Jeepers_Creepers

The second-from-the left pipe, the one that is covered in surface corrosion and doesn't look to be lagged, that is almost certainly the safety discharge pipe. Where does this go?

Teresa_Fahy

Hi, can someone let me know if installing a Condensing Gas Boiler is covered by this scheme or anything similar.  Many thanks.