Back Boiler information needed

Pique

Hi all.
As you probably have seen me posting in the threads on stoves, you can guess I'm in the market to get one.
I spoke to a local seller who recommended a plumber to look at our setup to check it out for fitting the stove.
Here's where it gets interesting...
Plumber arrived today and I showed him the fireplace with existing back boiler, then to the hot press....
'Woah', was his first word, followed by 'Hmmm'.
Not good...
He proceeded to tell me that the system was plumbed with no non-return valves and so the heating was very inefficient due to the oil heating the back-boiler, and the back-boiler heating the water outside in the oil boiler. The back boiler should easily heat all rads in our house hot, instead they only get lukewarm when only using the back-boiler.
Also, and more importantly, he told me that the back-boiler had 3/4" pipes running to and from it instead of the min 1" as required.
He said that this is illegal in the sense that it contravenes regulations, and is inherently dangerous as the pipes could potentially burst from the pressure if the fire gets too hot. It's an open system btw, just to clarify.

Before I act on this information, I want to get confirmation.
Does the information given make sense and Is it correct (ie. Is the 3/4" piping contrary to regs and how dangerous could it potentially be?)?.

Thanks for your help.

Outkast_IRE

Pique wrote: »

Hi all.
As you probably have seen me posting in the threads on stoves, you can guess I'm in the market to get one.
I spoke to a local seller who recommended a plumber to look at our setup to check it out for fitting the stove.
Here's where it gets interesting...
Plumber arrived today and I showed him the fireplace with existing back boiler, then to the hot press....
'Woah', was his first word, followed by 'Hmmm'.
Not good...
He proceeded to tell me that the system was plumbed with no non-return valves and so the heating was very inefficient due to the oil heating the back-boiler, and the back-boiler heating the water outside in the oil boiler. The back boiler should easily heat all rads in our house hot, instead they only get lukewarm when only using the back-boiler.
Also, and more importantly, he told me that the back-boiler had 3/4" pipes running to and from it instead of the min 1" as required.
He said that this is illegal in the sense that it contravenes regulations, and is inherently dangerous as the pipes could potentially burst from the pressure if the fire gets too hot. It's an open system btw, just to clarify.

Before I act on this information, I want to get confirmation.
Does the information given make sense and Is it correct (ie. Is the 3/4" piping contrary to regs and how dangerous could it potentially be?)?.

Thanks for your help.

I dont know the regs off the top of my head but any back boilers i have worked on have always been 1" pipe i have never seen smaller.

Pique

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

I dont know the regs off the top of my head but any back boilers i have worked on have always been 1" pipe i have never seen smaller.

Thanks Outkast.

If this has to be rectified (and plumber yesterday said that it did) it'll cost a fair bit of money and a lot of destruction (chasing pipes, ripping up bedroom floor etc).
My wife is pregnant and this is one big headache we could do without, let alone the expense of fixing someone else's cock-up.

I will follow up with the original developer but I need to have my facts right.
Where could I find the regulations pertaining to plumbing in a back boiler and the minimum standard of pipes to use?
Also, do these regs carry any legal standing? ie, what are the ramifications of failing to adhere to the regs in respect of insurance etc?

momec

do you live in a 2 storey house if so you might be able to run the pipes on the surface up along the chimney and box them in .. or the same would work in a bungalow but you would have to keep the flow pipe alot higher in the attic than the return ..

Pique

momec wrote: »

do you live in a 2 storey house if so you might be able to run the pipes on the surface up along the chimney and box them in .. or the same would work in a bungalow but you would have to keep the flow pipe alot higher in the attic than the return ..

No idea what you're on about and it certainly doesn't answer my query.

DoneDL

Simple answer. 1" is the minimum requirement for a backboiler, check valves will prevent oil boiler heating the backboiler and vice versa.

annieoburns

We had same mess in our house. We found the hottest place in house when roaring fire in back boiler was the oil boiler outhouse and attic! When oil on, it heated the back boiler behind fireplace and rads never got heated properly. We had extra valves fitted and extra rad in landing. I would love to have whole lot taken out.
Even when roaring fire, the room never felt warm as heat not thrown out into room. Back boiler pump is now packed up so dare not light a fire.