Installing rads and pipework

imanc · 2013-03-02T19:01:33+00:00

Hi, This is my first post here. I'm moving into a victorian house in a few weeks which has no centralheating. And in part to keep costs manageable, but also just because Ienjoy DIY, I'd like to see if I could install my own radiators andpipework, and get a GSR heating eng to take care of the boiler. I've spent hours upon hours reading forum posts, watching Youtubevideos, and reading the part L regs to try to determine the best set upand still have a few questions. I'd be looking to install a 22mm/15mm twin pipe system with an upstairsand downstairs branches, but I'd like to hide the pipes, and there's aconcrete floor downstairs. Despite reading dozens of posts on the very subject and looking at thebuilding regs, there appears to be no real consensus on how to do this. Would it be best to keep pipework for both branches under the firstlevel floor boards and supply the downstairs radiators from above? The"problem" I see is that due to door ways I'd need to have at least twodrops, so I think a drain off value would be required on one radiatorper drop. It also means two sets of 22mm piping (one for each branch)would be routed through the floorboards. To be honest, given thisconfiguration, it seems a single branch/zone system would be easier. Another option is to chase directly into the concreate and make a trackperhaps 2-3 inches from the wall supplying each radiator. As there'llbe an engineered wood floor over the top, this might be a cleaner idea. Another option would be to horizontally chase into the wall at theskirting board. This would make it easy to service the pipes in thefuture, as I'd just have to remove the skirting. The only issue here iscrossing doorways, so I'd have to do some chasing into the concretefloor. Is one of these options more correct than the others? Or should it betackled in a completely different way? Cheers, imanc

Mar 02, 2013 21 Replies

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RobertL 13 years ago

Is it at the end of a terrace? If so, you might insulate the gable wall using insulation-backed plasterboard glued on the inside and bury the pipework inside that.

Robert

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RJH 13 years ago

insulation-backed plasterboard glued on the inside and bury the pipework inside that.

Indeed. And look into plastic pipes? A new install here in a 4 storey Victorian terrace with plastic throughout. Very tidy indeed - but no pipes in solid floors.

Rob

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