Getting the Basics, combis and pumps

[jmcni]

Served my time as a plumber and left the trade as soon i got my City and Guilds many many years ago. If a friend asked a favour like changing a toilet, radiator etc i would happily oblige. This time however i have been asked to install rads and piping to a house that hasn't got any at present. I have agreed to help up to the point of leaving the pipework as far as where the boiler will be ( Not gas Safe registered / or a knob who breaks the law ).

I have done my sums and i am confident enough i can get the btu/watts calculations correct ( many many years ago yes but its basics stuff ), so sizing the rads and boiler required will not be an issue.

He is wanting a combi boiler, which as common as they are now....not as common in my day so my question is this......

Will he need a pump for the heating system, my automatic thoughts are yes but unsure if one is already incorporated in the combi ?

I could always just leave that bit to the gas safe guy who will be connecting the boiler to the feed and gas but would like to at least know out of curiosity and ensure that my pal doesnt get so far down and find out he has to buy a pump

 

[missplumb]

If your pal is having a combi then the pump is incorporated into the boiler as is the expansion vessel.

 

[Scott_D]

Try and find someone who is willing to connect to your work before you start.
Lots will be put off or increase prices to cover sorting out any problems

 

[Last Plumber]

Yes pump is inside.
You just need to install radiator circuit and depending on the combi, you may need a bypass too. ( auto ).

As above, ask around to make sure someone will finish the job. I wouldn't do it and I don't know many who would. There will be someone but you're better lining that up before starting.

 

[jmcni]

Happy Days, yeah theres no problem with getting someone to do this for me. Just out of interest why would you not do it, if your getting the boiler and fitting it what different that than changing an existing boiler for example ?

 

[gerrym11]

Becasue they are not willing to be blamed for someone else's mistakes... well my guess anyway!

 

[rpm]

Happy Days, yeah theres no problem with getting someone to do this for me. Just out of interest why would you not do it, if your getting the boiler and fitting it what different that than changing an existing boiler for example ?

Not my game but I`d guess changing an existing boiler means the pipework is proven to be ok where new pipework isn`t?

 

[Last Plumber]

It was just as above.
If it's an existing system, any problems would have or should have shown up.
I am not responsible for anyone's existing systems problems and I'm quite clear about that beforehand.
If someone asked me to finish off a heating install that had been started by someone else, I would shy away due to not knowing that installer, what they had or hadn't done or why they weren't finishing it off.

I do need to point out that if a plumber I know asked me to finish it off and it was someone I trusted and know well, I would do it.

Hope you didn't take offence at my comments earlier, you're probably brilliant at pipe work, I have no idea, I also thought you may not know someone to finish it and that could put you in a bad position. If you do have someone lined up, great stuff.

 

[jmcni]

It was just as above.
If it's an existing system, any problems would have or should have shown up.
I am not responsible for anyone's existing systems problems and I'm quite clear about that beforehand.
If someone asked me to finish off a heating install that had been started by someone else, I would shy away due to not knowing that installer, what they had or hadn't done or why they weren't finishing it off.

I do need to point out that if a plumber I know asked me to finish it off and it was someone I trusted and know well, I would do it.

Hope you didn't take offence at my comments earlier, you're probably brilliant at pipe work, I have no idea, I also thought you may not know someone to finish it and that could put you in a bad position. If you do have someone lined up, great stuff.

Of course no offence taken at all, i see where your coming from, kind of agree to be honest. But my circumstances thankfully arent as complicated