Category: 41 Central heating

Sunday 29th September 2013 / 1741

New pipes going to boiler and radiator in bathroom.

Saturday 12th October 2013 / 12:08

New 9500 btu radiator fitted.

Tuesday 22nd October 2013 / 11:29

I’ve taken the morning off to wait for the boiler and associated bits and pieces to be delivered. It weighs 56kg and the bloke who delivered it just walked in with it in his arms.

Friday 25th October 2013 / 12:10

I’ve decided to replace all the old central heating pipes. They are a combination of copper and steel and just steel with rust. Most of today will be spent getting the floor up.

Sunday 27th October 2013 / 11:39

New pipes gradually replace old (hall).

Sunday 27th October 2013 / 11:40

New connection (bed 3 return)

Saturday 2nd November 2013 / 13:11

Boiler mounting plate on wall.

Saturday 2nd November 2013 / 18:35

This filter will need to go on the heating return pipe to remove debris so that it doesn’t get in the boiler. It uses a centrifugal process and a powerful magnet.

Saturday 2nd November 2013 / 19:28

Pipes bent and soldered, and filter fitted.

Saturday 2nd November 2013 / 20:10

Working quite late this evening before going for a beer with Tony in the Peg. I’ve left the pipes long and made a temporary connector between the water supply and the central heating flow pipe. This will enable me to test the whole system using mains water pressure to make sure it doesn’t leak. Normally you’d use a proper pressure testing kit for this, but I reckon this will work pretty well as the mains water pressure should be at least double what the heating system will run at.

Saturday 2nd November 2013 / 20:14

With all valves, temporary end stops and compression fittings double checked, I turned on the mains water pressure to test the system for leaks. For about a minute the water roared into it and I couldn’t find any leaks anywhere. Then the old hall radiator started clicking and cracking before one loud bang and a jet of water shot out of the side. I hadn’t reckoned on the pressure of the water being so high that it forced the two halves of the radiator apart and broke a spot weld, leaving hole for the water to come out. A quick run round to shut off the water and open the drain cock to release the pressure then finger over the hole for a few minutes while the pressure dropped and the water drained out.

Sunday 3rd November 2013 / 11:38

Pipes all cut to length and manifold in position.

Sunday 10 November 2013 / 1224

New hall radiator to replace one which burst, fitted and plumbed in.

Sunday 10th November 2013 / 13:22

Drilling 125 mm dia hole for flue with diamond core drill borrowed from William. The hole slopes back to the boiler at 3 degrees to allow condensate to drain back into the boiler.

Sunday 24th November 2013 / 18:30

Chris came round and helped put the boiler up on the wall.

Monday 9th December 2013 / 14:44

Graham the plumber has been here since 8:45 this morning commissioning the boiler. Everything’s gone fine, the boiler’s running and tests are being done so that it can be ‘benchmarked’. Tests occurring in this picture are: flue gasses sampled, radiator circuit output temperature measured, gas pressure measured whilst boiler runs at full power.

Monday 9th December 2013 / 15:30

All done, cover on. After about two years of having a cold house it’s warming up and the damp is being driven out.

Sunday 22nd December 2013 / 16:31

Lime scale reducer with filling bypass loop fitted.