DIY advice on replacing old heating system

unique nickname

Hi Guys,
Have just moved house and the new place has an old heating system (prob 1970) with crappy looking lead pipes connecting the rads together. The rads dont seem to be heating up fully (have fully bled rads) and am wondering is it down to the overly narrow looking lead pipes, or old rads with gunk in them, or possibly boiler needing looking at. Also there is a small bit of moisture at two of the joints of the pipe to the rad, but very minimal. Am wanting to sort the prob out asap but as cheaply as poss. Whats the most logical way to work thru finding out whats causing the inefficiency, or is it fairly likely that at this age the system would need replacing anyway? Am laying new floors so dont want to be going at it again after they are laid. If I do need to replace the new system whats the best way to go at it DIY?? Just thought, is there a grant for replacing heating systems (in Ireland)?? Apols for the long windedness, any advice etc greatly appreciated:D
Steve

Buford T Justice

To be fair, for a system of that age it's never going to be that efficient anyway.

You could try a powerflush, but with the age of the system it could cause a leak by shifting corrosion that's blocking holes in the sysem currently.

I would recommend refitting a new system. If you don't know how to go about this yourself, then I would recommend getting in a plumber.

unique nickname

Cheers for that, there's 7 rads to replace plus the pipes...what sort of money would i be looking at getting a plumber in?? I'm handy enough, is it feasible to DIY it with a bit of informed guidance??Thanks again.
Steve

Joey the lips

Is it gas or oil...

Do you intend trying to replace the boiler as well

or

Are you intending to do all the pipe work yourself and have a plumber do the final connections.

If you intend doing the pipework i would leave the floor boards up so a plumber can look at the work and advise.

unique nickname

Its oil Joey, well I was going to judge after getting some advice and instruction whether to attempt it myself or not. Good advice about getting a plumber to inspect work tho. Are the pipe joints the most tricky aspect of the job so?? Cheers.

Joey the lips

unique nickname wrote: »

Its oil Joey, well I was going to judge after getting some advice and instruction whether to attempt it myself or not. Good advice about getting a plumber to inspect work tho. Are the pipe joints the most tricky aspect of the job so?? Cheers.

Not only that but if it were gas i would have to close the thread as its illegal for someone who is not registered to work on gas.

I know a lot of people that have done there own oil installiations. Its very time consuming though. I would also advise you have a plumber inspect the work if you can find one willing to do it. Perhaps give the plumber the job of installing the boiler.

unique nickname

There's a boiler present already so I wouldn't need to touch that at the mo I'm assuming...it's about 30 ft outside the house so just envisaged myself tackling the rads and pipes inside the house...I am planning on having someone give the boiler the once over tho...just as regards the mechanics of changing rads and pipes is there a resource anywhere that gives the step by step process just so I can judge whether it's feasible to tackle it myself??Cheers again.

sullzz

Joey the lips wrote: »

Not only that but if it were gas i would have to close the thread as its illegal for someone who is not registered to work on gas.

I know a lot of people that have done there own oil installiations. Its very time consuming though. I would also advise you have a plumber inspect the work if you can find one willing to do it. Perhaps give the plumber the job of installing the boiler.

You should also advise against people self fitting oil boilers themselves , often are an organisation for a reason , disasters can happen too with DIY enthusiasts chancing their arm at an oil boiler , I suppose not only DIY enthusiasts but cowboy plumbers . The sooner they enforce the same strict rules regarding oil installations as there is in gas installations the better , I don't know how many times I've gone to a house where the customer said his oil boiler isn't working and only to find the burner in bits beside the boiler where he had taken it apart to try and fix it an left oil leaking out of it , I wonder would they of taken a gas boiler apart to try and fix it and left gas leakin out of it .

DublinDilbert

unique nickname wrote: »

There's a boiler present already so I wouldn't need to touch that at the mo I'm assuming...it's about 30 ft outside the house so just envisaged myself tackling the rads and pipes inside the house...I am planning on having someone give the boiler the once over tho...just as regards the mechanics of changing rads and pipes is there a resource anywhere that gives the step by step process just so I can judge whether it's feasible to tackle it myself??Cheers again.

You said the piping in your house is lead, I've never seen lead being used (apart from on very old waste pipes), is it steel gun barrel pipe?

Its not impossible at all for a DIYer to do this type of work but they would want some experience. What plumbing have you done in the past? if you haven't done any start off with simpler jobs, eg changing taps, changing a rad valve to TRV etc...

If you google compression fitting you'll get no shortage of stuff. Lots of the english tutorials will use metric pipe sizes, where as we still use imperial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u77SJgIS4mY
http://www.google.ie/search?q=how+compression+fittings+work&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

sky6

unique nickname wrote: »

There's a boiler present already so I wouldn't need to touch that at the mo I'm assuming...it's about 30 ft outside the house so just envisaged myself tackling the rads and pipes inside the house...I am planning on having someone give the boiler the once over tho...just as regards the mechanics of changing rads and pipes is there a resource anywhere that gives the step by step process just so I can judge whether it's feasible to tackle it myself??Cheers again.

If the Boiler is 30ft from the house that is where your inefficiency is coming from. your losing to much heat into the ground. Also if it's a 30 yr old boiler it is time to replace it as a modern boiler would be at least 30 to 40 % more efficient. If the pipework is GB then it will be well corroded by now and also the Rads. In order to save funds you could do the following. 1. Replace the old pipework like for like using copper pipe and instanter fittings. This should be done before replacing any floorboards. 2. Get a new boiler and move it indoors or at least just outside the house. 3. Replace the Rads. You should then get a plumber to commission it for you. I would start by getting the plumber first as he can advise as you go.

unique nickname

I was thinkin that the 30ft might be a factor alright sky, im thinkin given the potential unknowns I should get a plumber in to have a look at the very least from d beginning....ballpark if the job entailed new boiler, piping and 7 replacement rads what cost am I likely looking at???