plumb refit (gun barrel)

freida

sorry if that is not the correct term. I am looking for some advice. I got a gas boiler 2 years ago but it was connected up to the original system. the whole system should have been done, but we had only moved and didn't have the money at the time and the oil boiler was ancient and breaking down all the time, so we opted for what we could afford. literally a boiler replacement. However the house is 40 years old and has gun barrel piping (upstairs anyway) which has limited lifespan. The tank is a new insulated one. My question is what would be the cost in replacing the gun barrel and should I do this or wait till there is a problem. Also the rads are original upstairs, though they heat up great, what would be the cost of replacing these, thanks, f

Carlow52

u need to give so more intel on the size of house, room sizes, floor type downstairs etc

JohnB9

Leave well enough alone because it could be costly taking up floors etc. If it aint broke....

freida

yes sorry I should have said its a four bedroom semi-d, there are wooden floors and floorboards downstairs and carpet and laminate upstairs, there is also some pipework set into the walls which would need new plasterboard and plastering probably.

johnb9 I am inclined to agree with you, but worry that it will go in the future and we will be stuck, emergency work is always more expensive then planned I think?

ntpm

You are right to get budget prices. If you do need to get works done in an emergency then atleast you will have some idea of what to expect.
Also different plumbers may give you different options of running pipes through the house, but make sure that they rezone upstairs/ downstairs and hot water circuit will independent time and temperature control, ( To current regulations). Also price for fitting TRV's (Thermostatic Radiator Valves).

As far as "gun barell" is concerned it may last another few years without leaking.
Just make sure that the system was cleaned and refiled with cleanser and inhibitor.

Newer boilers have more efficient waterways and heatchangers that can become clogged up by dirt especially from gun barrell. That is why most plumbers would recommend pipes are changed.
Existing radiators may need to be cleaned out and flushed and fitting changed to accomodate new pipework and TRV's and I find it more economical to replace the radiators with new ones.

freida

thanks for that, f

Stratus

ntpm wrote: »

As far as "gun barell" is concerned it may last another few years without leaking.
Just make sure that the system was cleaned and refiled with cleanser and inhibitor.

Newer boilers have more efficient waterways and heatchangers that can become clogged up by dirt especially from gun barrell. That is why most plumbers would recommend pipes are changed.
.

What ntpm is saying is bang on I wouldn’t worry about changing the pipes at the mo or until you can afford to do it and in no rush provided that when the new boiler was fitted that the hole heating system was flushed out and treated its this treating that stops the water corroding the iron pipes and if that is checked and maintained there shouldn’t be any need to replace the pipes at all or at least until you are ready to.
One thing to mention with this flushing system is that it does clean the system and if there are any weak spots in the system i.e. small pin holes or weeping joints that a now block magnetite (the black sludge which is a result of the corrosion of the pipes and rads) once cleaned these will start to lean but there are additives you can get to seal these once flushed (leak sealant) which is added to the water also
Hope this is some help:)

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

I know this thread is a few months old but I wanted to ask a similar question regarding replacing all the gun barrel in our house. Mods, please let me know if I should start a new thread.

We plan on replacing our oil heating system (it's near 35 years old), but we're being told that the pipe work is nearing it's end of life. I cannot remember if the rads are still ok.

I just want to get a rough idea of the cost of doing this. Basically whether we can afford to do it now - or wait and replace the whole system in a couple years.

It's a 4 bed, two storey house. 10 rads. Floors are a mix of wood/laminate and carpet.

Thanks, BN

slavetothegrind

get a plumber out to look at it.
i think user johnniek is out your way, if you want to try him!

Depends very much on the state of your system, if it has had leaks and constant fresh water intake or remained good through it's life.

also impossible to quote without seeing the lay of the land

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Thanks slavetothegrind.
I just thought I'd try get a rough idea of the cost before I get the plumber(s) out again for a quote. Make sure the costings I get aren't way out of line.

slavetothegrind

yeah get a few quotes and get them detailed so you can directly compare quotes.
If you have any queries about the quotes post up here and i'm sure you'll get advice
good luck

Kristopherus

I had my gun-barrell replaced 4 years ago. Complete re-fit with new rads cost just over 5k. I don't think the job should cost any more nowadays.

yoshytoshy

I recently replaced a gun barrel system and I was able to strip out all the old pipe upstairs in a couple of hours ,then used the opening for the new copper.
Every house is different ,so the prices will be aswell.

As slavetothegrind says ,johnniek works out your way.:)

freida

I spoke to a plumber about this after Christmas. He gave me the impression that if they had to redo the system they would just run new pipes. The old gun barrel could then be left in place which would save a fortune in redecorating after ripping up all the floors. So that might be an option for you

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Thanks yoshytoshy and freida for the info.

I'll get in touch with johnniek as well.

OwenM

I got this done in 2005, gunbarrell replaced with qualpex and compression joints, copper standpipes to the rads. (9 rads in a 3 bed semi) I kept the old rads. I had just bought the house and there was no floor coverings down or furniture to move so it made it a lot easier also all floors were timber so no kango needed. Plumber did it for €1800 all in. Took nearly two days.

I've been told that gunbarrell that is not buried anywhere in concrete will last a lot longer but if it's forty years old then you are right to do it sooner rather than later and at a time of your choosing.

Tomc77

Sorry for reresurrecting an old thread but its been helpful so far.

Ive bought a 35yr old house. Need to change rads upstairs so was planning on getting rid of gun barrel upstairs at the same time.

Downstairs is GB also except for a small amount of new plumbing but I'd have to rip glued wooden floors so not replacing yet.
Costing about € 1500 to replace upstairs GB but a friend told me his plumber said upstairs GB is never a problem as it doesn't get damp. Am I wasting money replacing it? (Ps two small upstairs rads arent working at all most likely due to build up of "gunk")
I'd be grateful of any opinions

Thanks

Dtp1979

Tomc77 wrote: »

Sorry for reresurrecting an old thread but its been helpful so far.

Ive bought a 35yr old house. Need to change rads upstairs so was planning on getting rid of gun barrel upstairs at the same time.

Downstairs is GB also except for a small amount of new plumbing but I'd have to rip glued wooden floors so not replacing yet.
Costing about € 1500 to replace upstairs GB but a friend told me his plumber said upstairs GB is never a problem as it doesn't get damp. Am I wasting money replacing it? (Ps two small upstairs rads arent working at all most likely due to build up of "gunk")
I'd be grateful of any opinions

Thanks

If you have the option of changing it then do. Use the old rads if you wish and get the system flushed

Stratus

Yup good advise there from Dtp1979!. any money spent on removing GB is money well spent !! as for the comment your friend made from "there plumber" do them a favor and tell um to get a different plumber ! upstairs down stairs it makes no difference the pipes rust from the inside out and get damp has nothing to do with it there caring water for the last 35 years !
any who if you do change the upstairs you should flush the system out first or just flush out the down stairs but before you put the new installation in to service as the crap from the old pipe work and there will be a lot will spread to the new installation. are you changing the boiler or leaving it for now ? if you are changing the boiler definitely flush the old sections oh and after filling the new system be sure to add an inhibitor to stop any more corrosion look at the www.fernox.co.uk for more info on flushing, cleaning and inhibitors

Tomc77

Thanks guys. Will stick with original plan and remove GB upstairs.

Not replacing boiler yet. Will be getting system flushed. When I was considering changing boiler a plumber had mentioned adding a magni...? I cant remember what it was called but it removes ferrous gunk.

Stratus

No probs it's called magma clean forgot about that there are a few of those on the market I actually check this out http://www.fernox.com/equipment/filters

Dtp1979

Tomc77 wrote: »

Thanks guys. Will stick with original plan and remove GB upstairs.

Not replacing boiler yet. Will be getting system flushed. When I was considering changing boiler a plumber had mentioned adding a magni...? I cant remember what it was called but it removes ferrous gunk.

It's called magnaclean. You don't install them onto a system that is dirty as its block up in a few hours. System must be flushed beforehand. Then install it on the return at the boiler