Is this work acceptable (pics)? Central heating system

[ADM360]

Sorry didn't mean to ruin your day!! But I think these issues need to be sorted now before to much more work is done!!
If the TRV's are suitable for a 1 pipe, then they would work on any system!! But the ones in the photo look like standard merchant style TRV's, so when he say's that they are universal he probably means bi-directional as nearly all TRV's are theses days means they can be retro fitted to either end of the rad!

This is all supposition as without seeing the install I couldn't give a proper opinion!!
But looking at the way the install has been put in I can't think the builder went all out on the trouble and expense of full bore TRV's for one pipe system!

Maybe if you ask on here there might be someone near by who could/would pop round and give you a on site appraisal /professional opinion.
I'd be happy to if your near by, South Somerset!!

 

[jtsplumbing]

Are you sure a Plumber did this ?? if this is his regular Plumber he needs to think about replaceing him ! you need to get someone in to have a look at this system, is it all 15mm pipe ? and are you replaceing boiler ? think I would be holding back payment untill this gets sorted.

 

[fuzzy]

It was and still is a one pipe system. I was advised to replace all the old rads. Most of the ground floor pipes have now been renewed. When I saw the corroded old copper pipes I asked for plastic where set in concrete, which the plumber misunderstood as pipes everywhere to be plastic. I did not know that you are to keep plastic fittings accessible. In fact I later asked for the downstairs pipes to be re-located to be behind the skirting since we had to dry line the lounge walls. The builder agreed but today concreted them in. I was, er, surprised to see how this looked:
https://8fnd1q.sn2.livefilestore.co...I3dQDbn3mAFuP7a4umFZ8_9s/plumbing5.jpg?psid=1

There is no insulation on the pipes under floorboards Surely this wastes heat? I have tired of challenging the builder - he now just replies "it's fine", or "you never clip pipes under floorboards" and "plastic pipes never go wrong".

thats soooo poor mate, sorry to tell you this. plastic expands at an alarming rate, imagine what will happen if restricted under the concrete, id say it needs to come up and be done properly. pipes should be in a purpose made duct

 

[fuzzy]

Got to say somthing here matey ,first thing is that speed fit used on combi boilers is a no no because the fitting draw air in which in turn reduces the pressure in the system. Really you should have used HEP or polly plumb(the cheaper HEP).
Secondly someone once told me that if you connect copper into a plastic fitting (HEP,Speedfit,polly plumb) the copper over time corrodes the rubber washer inside the fitting causing it to leak.
For me it copper everytime. Copper look class when you have finished if you know how to use it.
Then again time is money!

not sure i follow, a combi boiler draws in air through speedfit fittings? whats the connection here?

 

[alunmorris]

Are you sure a Plumber did this ?? if this is his regular Plumber he needs to think about replaceing him ! you need to get someone in to have a look at this system, is it all 15mm pipe ? and are you replaceing boiler ? think I would be holding back payment untill this gets sorted.

The plumber has a van with his business name on it but I've just searched yell.com and no sign of him. Bugger. I wondered how someone so poor would get work except via his builder mate.
There is about 5m of 22mm pipe from the boiler then 15mm.
The latest FUBAR is in the new en suite. The plasterboard is up but the shower mixer we bought a week ago is still in the box. We have discussed the mixer about 3 times with the builder.

 

[SimonG]

Oh dear. I take it that this builder was the cheapest estimate for the works? Them TRV's are not for one pipe systems, I just hope for your sake this 'plumber' hasn't touched any of the gas work!!!!!

 

[alunmorris]

Oh dear. I take it that this builder was the cheapest estimate for the works? Them TRV's are not for one pipe systems, I just hope for your sake this 'plumber' hasn't touched any of the gas work!!!!!

No, he was recommended by my partner's son, who does tiling for him. He said "He's good, he'll look after you."

Off topic but I have just found that that dry lining he has done in the large lounge (£2k + VAT + plumber + electrician + painter) is done without regard to insulation despite the Victorian house having no cavity wall. He used dot & dab and 12.5mm plasterboard straight onto the brick. I asked why not use battens to get a bigger air gap at least - "air gap will be OK". I have just found you can buy insulated plasterboard. Why did he not even ask us if we wanted to pay extra for good insulation? I am furious. It does not even seem to comply with regulation L1B. Why the hell am I having to read building regs?

 

[fuzzy]

No, he was recommended by my partner's son, who does tiling for him. He said "He's good, he'll look after you."

Off topic but I have just found that that dry lining he has done in the large lounge (£2k + VAT + plumber + electrician + painter) is done without regard to insulation despite the Victorian house having no cavity wall. He used dot & dab and 12.5mm plasterboard straight onto the brick. I asked why not use battens to get a bigger air gap at least - "air gap will be OK". I have just found you can buy insulated plasterboard. Why did he not even ask us if we wanted to pay extra for good insulation? I am furious. It does not even seem to comply with regulation L1B. Why the hell am I having to read building regs?

your right, you shouldnt have to, thats his job

 

[alunmorris]

The plumber we've know for years played the devil's advocate when I spoke to him - no clips is fine, no insulation is fine, speedfit in concrete is fine, no ducting over the plastic in concrete is fine, not recommending a two pipe system - well he'd look like he was trying to get extra work. One pipes can work fine.
I guess he does not want to get involved in this.

 

[mountainman]

This sounds like a job Dom and Mel might be interested in televising.
I feel sorry for you in your predicament Alun.
There are so many great tradesmen out there, it's a shame one of them didn't get to do your job.

 

[mountainman]

The plumber we've know for years played the devil's advocate when I spoke to him - no clips is fine, no insulation is fine, speedfit in concrete is fine, no ducting over the plastic in concrete is fine, not recommending a two pipe system - well he'd look like he was trying to get extra work. One pipes can work fine.
I guess he does not want to get involved in this.

Sorry mate that is all BS, every word of it.
Made all the worse as you've known the plumber for years.

 

[wheeto]

Sorry mate that is all BS, every word of it.
Made all the worse as you've known the plumber for years.

I agree completely. I expect you occasionally have to "bend" one of those rules, but all of them? In one job? Where doing it properly looks, from the photos, like a feasible option? No.

 

[fuzzy]

id dig it up and do it properly mate. forget the builder, you may end up out of pocket as youll have to pay twice but its worth it to get the job done right

 

[Koogatubac]

Ive worked with speedfit for a number of years. Personally HATE plastics, however everyones using them and wants it for ease and price.

Regarding fittings i havnt seen people state is they have a small tolerance before they leak. Think its 10/15 degree then they will leak.

Hate the stuff and hate new plumbing. Prefer the old fashioned way even though im a 'new age' plumber. Cant beat soldering and copper!!

 

[alunmorris]

Oh dear. I take it that this builder was the cheapest estimate for the works? Them TRV's are not for one pipe systems, I just hope for your sake this 'plumber' hasn't touched any of the gas work!!!!!

The TRVs are altecnic ecocal 200445 LTC. Are these suitable for one pipe?

The plumber has finished. The system is leaking in 4 places and was at 0.6bar when I got there. One rad did not heat - needed bleeding. A job for the client these days.

 

[Phil]

The TRVs are altecnic ecocal 200445 LTC. Are these suitable for one pipe?

The plumber has finished. The system is leaking in 4 places and was at 0.6bar when I got there. One rad did not heat - needed bleeding. A job for the client these days.

He's not finished then, do all rads get hot?

Also on the subject of dry lining around the shower mixer valve, is he planning of tanking/waterproofing this or is he tiling straight on standard £6.50 a sheet plasterboard? if so I see another disaster looming.

 

[alunmorris]

Also on the subject of dry lining around the shower mixer valve, is he planning of tanking/waterproofing this or is he tiling straight on standard £6.50 a sheet plasterboard? if so I see another disaster looming.

Unless he is so skilled he can tile with a bargepole in his mitt, he will not be tiling. Thanks for the tip. I shall do it myself.

 

[Phil]

Unless he is so skilled he can tile with a bargepole in his mitt, he will not be tiling. Thanks for the tip. I shall do it myself.

Has he not quoted for tiling?

 

[jtsplumbing]

Plumber has a van with name on it ! any phone number ?? how meny times do you see these shaby old vans with somthing on the side claiming to be somthing !! As the old saying go's , It say's whisky on buses , but they dont sell it !

 

[Carl86]

altecnic ecocal 200445 LTC - I dont think these are even Bi-directional never mind having to cope with that one piper thats been chucked in, refering to the manfactures installation instructions.

'The Straight ECOCAL ® valve is specifically designed for installation on the flow pipe only. The straight lockshield valve is specificaly designed for installation on the return pipe only'