Plumbing general question

tony3619

Hello. 

This is more me just seeking knowledge rather than a specific issue im having. 

Do new builds normally link plastic central heating pipes through manifolds and if so where is this normally located?

Is there another way they link plastic pipes? 

I'm intrigued after having a few plumbing issues that are now fixed. 

plumb1_2

They can have manifolds and branches of the circuit, depends on the house builder or plumbing company spec.

rob7475

Do the pipes to your radiators comeup through the floor in 15mm pipe or out from behind the radiators in 10mm pipe? If the pipework is 10mm at the radiators, there's a fair chance there's a manifold somewhere. Follow the flow and return pipes from the boiler (which should be 22mm) and the manifold should be nearby before the pipework splits off for ground / first floor etc.

tony3619

rob7475 said:

Do the pipes to your radiators comeup through the floor in 15mm pipe or out from behind the radiators in 10mm pipe? If the pipework is 10mm at the radiators, there's a fair chance there's a manifold somewhere. Follow the flow and return pipes from the boiler (which should be 22mm) and the manifold should be nearby before the pipework splits off for ground / first floor etc.

The pipework goes into the wall and if I had to guess it looks like 10mm pipes. The boiler has copper pipes that come off the boiler and up into the joists above. 

Is the manifold normally located around the boiler then? 

plumb1_2

tony3619 said:

The pipework goes into the wall and if I had to guess it looks like 10mm pipes. The boiler has copper pipes that come off the boiler and up into the joists above. 

Is the manifold normally located around the boiler then? 

The pipes from the boiler have to be copper for a min of 1mtr depending on manufacturer spec.
When I was installing heating (1st fix) on Baretts , RedRow new builds etc we used to just branch off the circuit, no manifolds used. Unless to lift the flooring to check it’s 50/50.

tony3619

plumb1_2 said:

tony3619 said:

The pipework goes into the wall and if I had to guess it looks like 10mm pipes. The boiler has copper pipes that come off the boiler and up into the joists above. 

Is the manifold normally located around the boiler then? 

The pipes from the boiler have to be copper for a min of 1mtr depending on manufacturer spec.
When I was installing heating (1st fix) on Baretts , RedRow new builds etc we used to just branch off the circuit, no manifolds used. Unless to lift the flooring to check it’s 50/50.

How do you branch the pipes without a manifold? (Sorry total novice with this stuff) also do the pipes run through stud walls rather than under the concrete in new builds?  I'm assuming this would be alot cheaper. 

bob_a_builder

"Modern house", "Cheaper"  = that'll be the option used  

Installed central heating in my 1st house in 76, using Micro Bore - 10mm pipe and used manifolds, seemed to be the standard way do to it with micro
Think branching would be more common in 15mm, but if branching is cheaper than a manifold , refer to my 1st response
But I'm not a plumber or builder - so take all that with pinch of salt