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Tom Jones
Hi, I am a newbie to the forum, with a question about installing a new central heating system. My background is as a fairly experienced DIY'er and time served electrician.
I've just purchased a 1970's bungalow, which needs a full internal refurb.
With a limited budget for the refurb, but quite a lot of spare time to get involved, I'm considering installing most of the new central heating system for the bungalow myself.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts or comments on the basic plan set out below?
My outline plan is to first of all strip out everything that's not needed from the building, including removal of the old single pipe system central heating system. I would obviously be very careful around the boiler/gas supply area and not touch any of this section. I would bring in a qualified engineer to remove the old boiler and fit the new one, connect up and test etc. 'nuff said.
The next step would be to work out boiler output ( combi/condenser boiler, sealed system, wall mounted in kitchen cabinet ) and radiator sizes from an online guide, including btu allowance for a Mira mixer shower, plus pump, pipework lengths and all valves/fittings needed. Shop around and look for a good balance between quality and price.
I'm considering going down the route of a 28mm copper feed and return up into the loft space, ( the bungalow has all solid floors ) directly to a wall mounted 8 way manifold within the loft space ( 6 rads, 1 towel rail, one spare outlet for future expansion ). Then run individual supply and return to each rad/fixture in flexible plastic pipe. Heat and timing control would be via Thermostatic valves on each rad and the built in timer for CH and DHW etc. via the integral boiler controls.
To keep things neat I'm thinking of taking the plastic pipes through from the loft, then straight down a cut out channel in the wall plaster, to a point behind the rads, where it can break out and connect up with the rad valves. Then fix capping over the pipes in the cutout - plaster up and finish. I'm having all the internal walls re-skimmed so no problems with plasterwork damage.
DHW would obviously run from the boiler to the new supply to the kitchen/bathroom via its own separate feed from the boiler.
Questions for your thoughts please.........
What do you think of the basic plan?
Can you suggest a good CH materials supplier in the Wigan area?
What would be the best way to run the plastic flexible pipes in the loft area to protect them from damage? I want to insulate the loft after work done.
What would be the correct diameter for the plastic pipes running from/to the manifold/rads? The room sizes are very standard for a 2 bedroomed bungalow, so no extra large rads involved.
Any general advice or pointers for this project?
Thanks for your time and attention to this,
Tom.
I've just purchased a 1970's bungalow, which needs a full internal refurb.
With a limited budget for the refurb, but quite a lot of spare time to get involved, I'm considering installing most of the new central heating system for the bungalow myself.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts or comments on the basic plan set out below?
My outline plan is to first of all strip out everything that's not needed from the building, including removal of the old single pipe system central heating system. I would obviously be very careful around the boiler/gas supply area and not touch any of this section. I would bring in a qualified engineer to remove the old boiler and fit the new one, connect up and test etc. 'nuff said.
The next step would be to work out boiler output ( combi/condenser boiler, sealed system, wall mounted in kitchen cabinet ) and radiator sizes from an online guide, including btu allowance for a Mira mixer shower, plus pump, pipework lengths and all valves/fittings needed. Shop around and look for a good balance between quality and price.
I'm considering going down the route of a 28mm copper feed and return up into the loft space, ( the bungalow has all solid floors ) directly to a wall mounted 8 way manifold within the loft space ( 6 rads, 1 towel rail, one spare outlet for future expansion ). Then run individual supply and return to each rad/fixture in flexible plastic pipe. Heat and timing control would be via Thermostatic valves on each rad and the built in timer for CH and DHW etc. via the integral boiler controls.
To keep things neat I'm thinking of taking the plastic pipes through from the loft, then straight down a cut out channel in the wall plaster, to a point behind the rads, where it can break out and connect up with the rad valves. Then fix capping over the pipes in the cutout - plaster up and finish. I'm having all the internal walls re-skimmed so no problems with plasterwork damage.
DHW would obviously run from the boiler to the new supply to the kitchen/bathroom via its own separate feed from the boiler.
Questions for your thoughts please.........
What do you think of the basic plan?
Can you suggest a good CH materials supplier in the Wigan area?
What would be the best way to run the plastic flexible pipes in the loft area to protect them from damage? I want to insulate the loft after work done.
What would be the correct diameter for the plastic pipes running from/to the manifold/rads? The room sizes are very standard for a 2 bedroomed bungalow, so no extra large rads involved.
Any general advice or pointers for this project?
Thanks for your time and attention to this,
Tom.
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