Replacement Central Heating System

[ererbus]

we are going to replace our central heating system but the pipes are under the concrete floor.
The heating engineer says that the new system must be piped down the walls.
Anyone had it done.

[The Builder]

Can't understand this I'm afraid. Do you mean you're changing from an underfloor system to radiators?

[jomifl]

I think ererbus means that the pipes supplying the rads emerge from the concrete floor.

[The Builder]

That's what I first assumed, Jom.
In which case, I can't see the problem with using them again ........... unless he thinks they were laid in direct contact with the concrete, which would have corroded them by now.

[ererbus]

Yes Builder this is what has occurred and we have small leaks.
Not happy with having pipes down the walls, would like to see an example if possible.

[jomifl]

ererbus, I think any alternative to pipes down the walls would be both messy and expensive. The best you can do is to site the pipes somewhere dicrete if possible. The only alternative that might work is to use 'designer' floor to ceiling rads where the pipework becomes part of a feature rad. Perhaps not possible or desirable depending on you taste and space limitations
http://www.bestheating.com/media/catalog/product/cache/15/small_image/224x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/i/milano-aruba-tdrw019-white-vertical-designer-radiator-1780mm-x-590mm-cutout.jpg

[The Builder]

Ok, got it now.

When central heating first started to become popular, "drops" were often placed behind curtains. This managed to hide much of the pipework. I guess they intend the principal "flow & return" circuit to run in the ceiling void, then drop to each rad.

Jom's right about the mess, but chasing them into the walls (covered channel which is then decorated) is one of the better ways of "losing" pipework. This would need to be done for each rad.......... except where rads can be sited "back to back" on opposing surfaces of the same wall. (Pipework simply passes through wall to the other rad.)

An alternative to this, which I try to use where possible, is to create "boxed skirtings". Simply make up hollow skirting boards to provide a space for heating pipes; hot water pipes; cabling for sockets. Suitably insulated from each other).

With some planning, runs can be dropped inside a cupboard where they aren't seen, then taken through each skirting. Crossing doorways does take some thinking about though.

[ererbus]

Thanks builder feel better about the whole thing now .

[jomifl]

Builder, boxed skirtings work very well, I used this method to hide cabling and pipework when I refurbished our previous house. I had to chop back some plaster to make room behind the skirting boards and going under the floor at doorways was an added complication but it does make a very neat job. Depending on erebus's installation it coukd be the best option.

[The Builder]

That's interesting, Jom. When you think that 15mm tube could almost be accommodated within the thickness of the plaster, the resulting skirting board doesn't have to be at all conspicuous.

[jomifl]

Builder, my house was built on the principle of 'much plaster covers many sins'. I actually put trunkng for the 13 Amp ring mains behind the skirting board too, it was the victorian style wide board so plenty of room.