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I've just realised that what I thought was a soil and vent pipe terminating in the loft is only a piece of soil pipe from the airing cupboard to the loft. Not sure what it is for, but at least it isn't what I thought it was.
 
The asbestos in artex supposedly cannot be released by drilling into it. Just got back off an asbestos course last week. The matrix is too tightly compressed. It's practically impossible to unlock it.

That was from the mouth of an asbestos guy who's been doing it for 40 odd years
 
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Slightly off topic but is an 18kw enough for 12 rads and hot water? Smaller ones in bedroom, 3 of them towel rails.
 
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Slightly off topic but is an 18kw enough for 12 rads and hot water? Smaller ones in bedroom, 3 of them tower rails.

I would say your close too close needs working out

Heat loss each room and add 3-5kw for a copper cylinder or 15-20kw for an unvented one
 
I would say your close too close needs working out

Heat loss each room and add 3-5kw for a copper cylinder or 15-20kw for an unvented one
I would say your close too close needs working out

Heat loss each room and add 3-5kw for a copper cylinder or 15-20kw for an unvented one
Just added up all the current rads in the house using a KW calculator, came out as just over 10kw currently. Upstairs have older 600 x 400 single panels that seem to put out about 0.35 kw each. Should have a bit of headroom with 18KW.
 
If in time the coil was to pinhole in the cylinder the primary water would contaminate the secondary water. Also it wouldn't meet the regs regarding support of the cisterns from memory.
 
If in time the coil was to pinhole in the cylinder the primary water would contaminate the secondary water.

Exactly what would happen with a sealed system. I agree that it is better to have the cold water storage cistern at a higher pressure (height) than the F & E, but I asked this question on this forum and consensus was that there is no regulation on this (and, in this case, it would not really be practical to raise the existing cold water storage cistern to a higher level just in case, one day, the coil fails). I would have done the same as the installer has done.

Also it wouldn't meet the regs regarding support of the cisterns from memory.
Cistern must be fully supported on close boarding. Which the F & E seems to be. Looks like chipboard or OSB where I would prefer to see 18mm hardwood ply, but perhaps it's a matter of preference. The boarding is on three supports, so it won't be going anywhere, after all.

I am, though, suspicious that the combined cold feed and vent pipe coming out of it may not slope down away from the cistern as it should do. I would also expect the cistern to be lidded and well lagged when the work is completed.
 
Ok have sacked the guy and issued a notice for refund. Will see how we get on with that.

Had a separate emergency quote for relocation back to the original place (airing cupboard) by reputable company.

£2k is the cost. Is this reasonable?
 
You will find that most engineers will treat it as a complete new install. Even though the boiler is already there. Seems a little high but depends on what you are getting for that?
 
You will find that most engineers will treat it as a complete new install. Even though the boiler is already there. Seems a little high but depends on what you are getting for that?
Moving everything back down to the airing cupboard below, repiping etc. 2 guys.
 
This time of year I would be questioning who can do it that quick

Most of the good ones are busy
 
You will pay a higher price as your new plumber will know there has been previous plumber working on the system and will be wanting to cover his bum
 
Looking at the right hand new copper pipe 22mm,it reduces to 15mm to an existing painted pipe,is that the gas?
 
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Looking at the pipework layout an then the photo of your airing cupboard I do think that’s the gas pipe
 
Ok. I think I have a serious problem!

I don’t think the fitter was Gas Safe And was relying on a 3rd party to ‘commission’ the boiler as he has put it.

I served him a 3 page letter today detailing that we would be terminating any further work as it was not up to standard and a request for a refund for the money that we had already paid.

My worry is that this has been illegally installed. I have paid about £1350 for the boiler, pump, flue etc and he was to install for free due to the damage caused to the initial boiler that was not part of the original work.

So I’m left with a installed boiler that has potentially been illegally installed (I’ve asked exactly who did it and am waiting for a response’).

His text today ‘The boiler is complete, just needs commissioning and the wiring sorted as the condense pump has been removed and the boiler repositioned, being a different boiler the current cables are different’.

Thoughts? Local guy that I earlier found can no longer do the work!
 
I would get gas safe out asap least if he is not registered there will be a report

Have you asked him for his gas safe reg ?
 
I would get gas safe out asap least if he is not registered there will be a report

Have you asked him for his gas safe reg ?
I’ve asked him whom installed. I’ve got a feeling he is not Gas safe. He’s already confirmed that he removed cover from broken boiler to me via text so potentially broken law already.
 
Exactly what would happen with a sealed system. I agree that it is better to have the cold water storage cistern at a higher pressure (height) than the F & E, but I asked this question on this forum and consensus was that there is no regulation on this (and, in this case, it would not really be practical to raise the existing cold water storage cistern to a higher level just in case, one day, the coil fails). I would have done the same as the installer has done.


Cistern must be fully supported on close boarding. Which the F & E seems to be. Looks like chipboard or OSB where I would prefer to see 18mm hardwood ply, but perhaps it's a matter of preference. The boarding is on three supports, so it won't be going anywhere, after all.

I am, though, suspicious that the combined cold feed and vent pipe coming out of it may not slope down away from the cistern as it should do. I would also expect the cistern to be lidded and well lagged when the work is completed.
The board needs to be a minimum of 150mm larger than the footprint of the cistern, supporting timbers 350mm centres, inlet one end of tank feed the other, no insulation underneath CWSC.....some of the things I recall.
 
Fitter has confirmed it was himself that removed, relocated and reinstalled boiler. He is not Gas safe. His intention was to get a mate to commission and sign off.

I’m going to contact Gas safe first thing today for advice. Have shut off Gas at meter just in case.
 
The board needs to be a minimum of 150mm larger than the footprint of the cistern, supporting timbers 350mm centres, inlet one end of tank feed the other, no insulation underneath CWSC...some of the things I recall.
I really don't think the installer installed the cold water storage cistern (the large one) - just the F & E - else I'd be moaning about lots of things. But this is good information for the OP as it shows best practice for the new Combined Cylinder Feed and Cold Water Storage Cistern that will be needed.

As far as the F & E is concerned:

150mm figure not in Water Regulations and I've only seen it in the Maskrey plumbing textbook so it may only be advisory. I don't know that it isn't in BS EN 806, but EN 806 is for water for human consumption - clearly the water in an F and E is not for consumption. Quite honestly, I'm not entirely certain what the point of this 150mm is, except that it does give a useful space on which to fix pipe runs.

350mm centres for supports is for steel cisterns which can be placed on supporting timbers without close boarding. I can't see the measurements, but looks like the F & E is supported by three bits of timber, so probably okay. Common sense dictates that the platform for a cistern should be adequately supported, and a 50 gallon cistern obviously needs more support than a 4 gallon F & E.

Inlet one end, outlet the other is to promote flow through the cistern to avoid stagnation of potable water - the water in an F & E does not flow through in normal use, and is not used for drinking. In any case, looks like the float valve (ballcock) on the F & E is yet to be fitted.
 
I really don't think the installer installed the cold water storage cistern (the large one) - just the F & E - else I'd be moaning about lots of things. But this is good information for the OP as it shows best practice for the new Combined Cylinder Feed and Cold Water Storage Cistern that will be needed.

As far as the F & E is concerned:

150mm figure not in Water Regulations and I've only seen it in the Maskrey plumbing textbook so it may only be advisory. I don't know that it isn't in BS EN 806, but EN 806 is for water for human consumption - clearly the water in an F and E is not for consumption. Quite honestly, I'm not entirely certain what the point of this 150mm is, except that it does give a useful space on which to fix pipe runs.

350mm centres for supports is for steel cisterns which can be placed on supporting timbers without close boarding. I can't see the measurements, but looks like the F & E is supported by three bits of timber, so probably okay. Common sense dictates that the platform for a cistern should be adequately supported, and a 50 gallon cistern obviously needs more support than a 4 gallon F & E.

Inlet one end, outlet the other is to promote flow through the cistern to avoid stagnation of potable water - the water in an F & E does not flow through in normal use, and is not used for drinking. In any case, looks like the float valve (ballcock) on the F & E is yet to be fitted.
View attachment 31958
Looking at the pipework layout an then the photo of your airing cupboard I do think that’s the gas pipe
The bigger footprint is apparently when a thermostat failed(pre having the reset) and was forcing boiling water out of the vent pipe, the CWSC was not fully supported and distorted and the scalding water came through the ceiling and a baby was in a cot directly below and tragically died of injuries sustained. It looks like the feed in CWSC is the same side as the draw off(stagnation)
 
Surrey flange or equivalent on cylinder?
 
Tank stand requirements depend on whats supporting it. If there's load bearing walls below then the standard 4x2s and marine ply 150mm larger than tanks etc... If it's a modem loft with no load bearing walls in the middle of the house then it will need large timbers spanning the loft. There guidance available from wras and other publications.

What area is the OP from? Boiler install if really bad, hope gas safe throw the book and him and the engineer that has been signing off his work.
 
No one has mentioned the hot water tank, looks like the vent & shower outlet connections are wrong... the vent goes horizontal & downwards

The shower outlet has probs been used for the vent but is out of the picture!
 
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