Removing old boiler

[emailtp2]

We're getting a kitchen extension built soon. This is the master plan... I'd welcome any comments!

1) Remove the old wall mounted Baxi boiler (70's style) located in the kitchen 2) Install a new condensing combi in the garage (been recommended a Worcester 40CDi) 3) Remove the old hot water tank in the bathroom (located upstairs above the kitchen) and fit a shower cubicle in it's place.

Before the builders start work, I need to remove the old boiler. I was thinking of doing this myself to save paying a plumber to do it. I suppose it would be sensible to get a plumber to disconnect the gas to it though.

Looking at the boiler, I think it feeds hot water to the hot water tank by gravity.

Q1) Am I correct in thinking that these pipes going to the hot tank from the boiler are separate to the water in the boiler? Meaning we can still use the hot water tank even after the boiler has been drained/removed. Q2) Is it OK for me to drain the boiler pipework and still use the immersion to heat the hot tank? We'll use the immersion for water heating until the new boiler is fitted. Q3) What about the central heating system? I presume I just drain it - the plumber will flush it and refill it when he fits the new boiler I suppose.

Any comments/suggestions/ridicules appreciated

Chief B

[Andrew Gabriel]

Probably. Check the hot water cylinder has side pipe connections for the inner coil.

Yes.

That's the same circuit as the boiler pipework and immersion inner coil.

The new boiler will require the pipework to be flushed with a cleaner and sludge remover, and this is usually done by adding it to the old system for a period before the old boiler is removed. If the system is known to be easy to drain and refill, I might even do that first, as you'll lose some of the sludge that way, which might make the cleaner work better. You could ask your plumber for advice on this.

[emailtp2]

Thanks Andrew

I hadn't thought about this. I might try and pop to Wickes or the local plumbing shop and get some cleaner and sludge remover. I can run this for a little while before I scrap the boiler.

You've made me think about removing the boiler though. The plumber has suggested a power flush before installing the new one. If I remove the old boiler, is it going to make this job more difficult for him?

Chief B

[Lobster]

I share the sentiments, but is it really worthwhile? Once the plumber has disconnected the services from it, it's the job of minutes to chop the relevant pipes and unscrew it from the wall.

David

[olo]

I have done exactly that job last saturday - cut off gas supply at the meter and main valve and let the pilot light go off. Then I cut the pipes, removed all fixings and took the boiler downstairs.

Before that I drained all the water/sludge and installed immersion heater so that I can have HW before new boiler comes in.

HTH,

Mike

[Robert Laws]

In your original posting you said "I suppose it would be sensible to get a plumber to disconnect the gas" but it sounds as if you did not do that.

Did you do the pressure rise test when you turned off the tap but before cutting the pipe? Did you cap the gas pipe after you cut it?

Robert

[olo]

Sorry, I think the original post was from somebody else ...

no - I didn't. Apologies for my ignorance but why should I ?

I have cut off gas supply before the meter and capped the meter union.

[Andrew Mawson]

union.

... tut tut ... not supposed to touch the pipes 'before the meter' they supposedly belong to the gas co. (Oh look this consumer has dissconnected our meter and is avoiding paying)

AWEM

[olo]

I didn't. Sorry my fault, cannot express myself clear today. I have isolated incoming gas supply before the meter using valve that's in the meter box. I have capped meter union on the consumer side using special disc.

The order of work was:

1) turn the gas valve off before boiler 2) let the pilot light go off 3) turn the valve off before gas meter 4) undo pipe connection to the gas meter on the consumer side 5) cap the meter on the consumer side 6) cut the pipe

Now I am waiting for a corgi man to lay new gas piping inside the house and reconnect to the gas meter.

[Roger]

The message from "Andrew Mawson" contains these words:

When I rebuilt the North wall of my kitchen from the ground up I took the opportunity to build in an outside box. To protect the meter I disconnected it completely and parked it safely in a corner of the kitchen. When the fitter turned up to move the gas supply all he said was: "You shouldn't have done that". That was circa 1990 so attitudes might have hardened since then.