Customer - advice needed!

[3 bed terrace]

Hi, new non-plumber here in need of advice from some experts![I have a 3 bed terrace with no central heating.

I have employed a friend of a friend plumber to install a new combi boiler and rads. He's worked on it for a couple of days but I'm not very impressed with the work, am I in the right?

He said to use plastic speed fit pipes to avoid taking up all the floor boards. I did a bit of research and am ok with this.

He has started doing all the plumbing in 15mm rather than 22mm as comes off the boiler. I was under the impression the 'loop' should be in 22mm with 15 mm going off the the rads?

Also, Where he has run the pipes in the ground floor in the void under the floorboards he has not clipped any of them, them are all just hanging (it's big enough to crawl under) surely this isn't right?

 

[Masood]

You're right to be concerned. Too small pipework off the boiler will cause problems with efficient circulation. You must have at least a metre of copper off the boiler before going to plastic. Unclipped, sagging pipework may not cause immediate problems but will do so later.

Is this guy Gas Safe registered? Have you checked his credentials? Have you paid him? If not, bring your concerns to his attention and make him rectify the work.

 

[Scott_D]

Is he on the gas safe register?
Post some pictures and a copy of the quote id you can.

 

[3 bed terrace]

He's on the gas safe register.

I'm not at home so don't have them to hand. Can do later.

Am I right on the pipe size query? I think the clipping and supporting of the pipes is just a no brainer.

 

[Masood]

He's on the gas safe register.

I'm not at home so don't have them to hand. Can do later.

Am I right on the pipe size query? I think the clipping and supporting of the pipes is just a no brainer.

Most manufacturers will specify 22mm at least on flow and return, and it is not permissible to install not to manufacturer's spec. What boiler is it?

 

[3 bed terrace]

Vaillant ecotec 831.

He was going to come off the boiler for a couple of meters in 22 and then continue in 15.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Like the lads have said main runs (loop) should be in 22mm for that size of house and plastic should be clipped every 300mm (30cm) and the first meter + (normally a full length of copper 3m) should be in copper

But tbh I would try and not use plastic on Heating a systems as a few a problems later on, like sludge in the system etc

If you can supply pics we can help more

 

[3 bed terrace]

Cheers for the replies, much appreciated. Will come back with pics.

 

[Meady]

Plastic only needs to be clipped 300mm when it's on show. If it's not asking as it is adequately clipped it's fine.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Plastic only needs to be clipped 300mm when it's on show. If it's not asking as it is adequately clipped it's fine.

well i can see it/on show when im installing it/i dont do plastic anyway 😀

 

[REDSAW]

not saying your wrong,but..
can be done in 15mm! its pressurised depends on run length and layout 22mm for 0.5bar head required but a combi is 1.5 bar..but come off boiler for first 1-2m in 22mm.
never seen in m.i's to fit new combi you have to rip out exsisting pipes if not in 22mm!!!!
and i could find plenty of installs that have no 22mm only at boiler connections.

another factor is how much did you want to pay?

 

[newcastle phill]

Reads to me like it is 22mm of boiler and drops down to 15mm plastic.

O.p. Best thing to do is to speak with your plumber and discuss your concerns.
And be realistic - if its a mate of a mate and your paying peanuts in relative terms...then you get what you pay for areas for saving time and money is plastic instead of copper

 

[Stanios]

If he is using plastic for flow & return it will most likely be run from a coil if that has no support it will start sagging in no time. It sounds like you have a suspended floor which means any pipework going under it MUST be insulated or you will have problems come winter.

With project like these you can end up with problem free system to last you 10+ years, or a straight bodge that needs ripping out and doing again so I would think twice about who you hire to do this work.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Only one person has mentioned this!!

What is the OP paying?

If you squeezing your installer on a budget then honestly don't expect miracles

 

[rocketmanbkk]

It sounds as if most of the work is complete?

 

[stevetheplumber]

even on a small system i would go to the first rad in 22 having said that ive seen 10 rads all on 15 working fine

 

[plumben]

I'd at least do 22mm to the first tee
And plastic pipe should be supported every 300mm
Should be insulated if its in the void under the floor