UK vs French Radiator Valve Connections

[Taylops]

Hi Everyone,

I am a new member looking for some advice on radiator valve pipe sizes. I intend to buy some replacement radiators and valves but as I live in (SW) France need to be sure that the new items will fit my existing central heating system. I have looked at my existing radiator valves and it looks like they are all 1/2" fittings with an incoming 12mm pipe. I have noticed that most of the valves sold in UK stipulate a 15mm pipe connection. So, my question is, are valves (thermostatic) with a 12mm pipe connection available within the UK and if so, where is the best place to buy them?

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

 

[Paulplumb]

BES sell 15mm to 12mm endfeed reducers for about 30p each. I don't know of any 12mm TRV's

 

[Gasmk1]

If I rember rightly in France the copper pipes are 16 mm instead of 15mm like uk pipes so you would need adaptors whatever you use safer to buy French valves as they will be correctly sized.

 

[Taylops]

Thanks guys. There is quite a range of pipes available down here. They come in sizes ranging from 10mm to 22mm depending on the flow required. Our runs are 22mm directly from the boiler with 12mm distributions. I think you are correct - it is probably better to buy the valves down here with the 12mm pipe connections so long as they fit to the UK supplied radiators. Out of interest, the reason I am buying out of UK is because of the incredible price differential between UK and France. For example, the Potterton Pro Max Ultra (28kW) I am buying in UK is around 900 Pounds but the price of the equivalent down here is 2800 Euros (around 2300 Pounds). Obviously, I am having it fitted and signed off by a French registered plumber....!

 

[snowhead]

Aren't French manufactured boilers lower priced than Uk ones?

 

[Taylops]

I would be very happy if they were :0) However, it seems to be the norm that they are at least twice the price of their UK equivalent (at least, in my experience). I think most of this is the lack of competition in France as some of prices I have obtained directly from the agent are already incredible without the installers percentage (if they buy on your behalf). My attitude is that everyone is entitled to make a profit but there comes a point where it becomes an (unacceptable) joke!

 

[Alex Knight]

Are boilers bought in the UK legal to be fitted in France?
Don't most boilers in the UK state that they are only to be fitted in the UK? That's why they need a CE mark?

 

[SimonG]

CE is conformite europe

 

[Leo21]

And on my own forum!

 

[Taylops]

exactement :0)

 

[jonnyswamp]

And on my own forum!

Count to ten fella, count to ten
If that doesn't work, go and stamp on a bit of Camembert/Brie a bit quick