diy oil central heating installation

[TS]

Hi,

I want to have a go at installing oilfired central heating in a small house.

There is 2 dedrooms and a very small nusery/study, living room and kitchen. I reckon I need 6 radiators (one in each bedroom, living room, hall and kitchen).

I am pretty handy and have done some plumbing. I am going to use plastic Hep2O pipework.

I have a few questions-

Are there any good web sites with details on installation and tips for the diyer.

Are there any places I need to use copper - e.g. boiler and tank connections.

Other than boiler, pump, pipe, hot tank, oil tank - what else do I need (e.g. one way valves)?

Any other things I need to consider?

How easy is this? Am I mad?

Cheers, TS

[Mike]

The OFTEC web site is essential as you need to meet all the safety stuff on there and have it commissioned and inspected by one of their approved people for building control. There's a form for the boiler and another for the tank.

Usually 1m in copper to/from the boiler. The oil feed pipe must meet the regs according to your installation but usually plastic covered copper is best. Whether this is buried or above ground is again dependent on the installation but underground is a real pain.

fire cut-off valve, zone valves, electronic thermostats and timers, automatic bypass valve, lock for tank,

Check with Environmental Agency - you may need to use a bunded tank

Well I did it :-) - but only after getting five plumbers in, four no-quoting and one quoting for something totally different to what I asked for at a really silly price.

[TS]

Thanks for all the advice.

Would I be best getting a professional to connect up and commission the boiler. I can install it (locate it) and locate the tank and get him to connect up the electrics, pipes and oil.

BTW, what is the auto. bypass valve, and where does it go in the system?

[Mike]

If you can find one prepared to do this then I think so. The oil tank has to have a safety certificate done by him anyway and the oil lines should be pressure tested so he may be happier installing the pipework as well. I'd try to find somebody first and see what division of the work is acceptable to them.

If you happen to be in the South Manchester area I can give you contact details for our commissioning engineer.

It isn't needed on all systems but if you need one the input goes on pump output before the zone valves and the return goes on the main return pipe to the boiler. You'll need to find out if your boiler needs one or not.

[John]

OFTEC have a website which is not aimed at training the amateur installer will at least give some indications

Notifying Building Control of the installation Observing all the standards including flue location and clearances, control of pollution act requirements, fire regulations tank location etc etc etc

Don't know from this distance but you have a lot to learn (fast)

[bigcat]

Sane people never wonder if theyre mad. Why would they?

NT :)

[Ian Stirling]

Because they post under names beginning "Doctor" ?

[bigcat]

there are really several sensible reasons why sane people might wonder if theyre really sane, it just counts on people not thinking of them right away :)

NT