Been advised to re-plumb entire house, does this sound right?

Looking for opinions on this please.

Recently got a new gas boiler into our house which is a 100y/o mid-terrace. In the course of putting the boiler in, the plumber told us the original metal pipes are still in place and the whole system is fouled with rust. He cleaned the filter in the new boiler, ran the heating for a while, and showed me the build up on it, and to be fair there was a significant amount of metal flakes which I assume I do not want going into the boiler.

His recommendation was to change out all the metal pipes, all the rads and the hot water cylinder. This seems like a massive job and the quote we were given was for over 6k.

Does this sound like a job that should be done and does this sound like a fair price, would anyone be able to say? I know it's scarce information to go on but it's a huge amount of money.

4ensic15

Did the plumber flush the entire system and introduce sealant before starting the new boiler?

4ensic15

4ensic15 wrote: »

Did the plumber flush the entire system and introduce sealant before starting the new boiler?

I have no idea.

4ensic15

If he didn't I wouldn't be having any further dealings with him.

GreeBo

If it's that old then you have fun barrel piping... only a matter of time before it leaks... especially with a new boiler at a higher temp and likely pressure than before.

6k is cheaper than replacing them after it leaks.

I presume you have suspended timber floors throughout?

4ensic15

4ensic15 wrote: »

If he didn't I wouldn't be having any further dealings with him.

Ok, I'm not a plumber so I don't know what he did or didn't do, I can find out.

GreeBo wrote: »

If it's that old then you have fun barrel piping... only a matter of time before it leaks... especially with a new boiler at a higher temp and likely pressure than before.

6k is cheaper than replacing them after it leaks.

I presume you have suspended timber floors throughout?

Yep apart from an extension at the back which is concrete but the rest of the house is suspended timber.

GreeBo

Malakai Witty Toenail wrote: »

Ok, I'm not a plumber so I don't know what he did or didn't do, I can find out.



Yep apart from an extension at the back which is concrete but the rest of the house is suspended timber.

what's on top of the timber, carpet or tile or more wood?
If its carpet then running new puppies isn't the end of the world... was the 6k for making good or just the plumbing?
Also was it for copper or something else?

GreeBo

GreeBo wrote: »

what's on top of the timber, carpet or tile or more wood?
If its carpet then running new puppies isn't the end of the world... was the 6k for making good or just the plumbing?
Also was it for copper or something else?

It's all just wood, no carpet or anything. I think if you lift up the boards you're straight into the cavity. The 6k was all in as far as I could make it, supplying everything, the plumbing, and putting the house back together. I think he said it would be plastic type piping for the most part.

Sleeper12

4ensic15 wrote:

Did the plumber flush the entire system and introduce sealant before starting the new boiler?

I don't know much about power flushing so I'm not suggesting that you are wrong. I thought you couldn't power flush very old decaying pipes and rads?

Claw Hammer

Malakai Witty Toenail wrote: »

Ok, I'm not a plumber so I don't know what he did or didn't do, I can find out.



.

I am not a plumber either but when I get a plumber to do a job I find out what he is going to do and I watch whilst it is being done.

Claw Hammer

Claw Hammer wrote: »

I am not a plumber either but when I get a plumber to do a job I find out what he is going to do and I watch whilst it is being done.

Watching him would have required me taking 2 days off work so wasn't really an option.

Anyway the plumber has come and gone so no point in worrying about that now. Just trying to get the best idea of how to proceed now.

GreeBo

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I don't know much about power flushing so I'm not suggesting that you are wrong. I thought you couldn't power flush very old decaying pipes and rads?

Power flushing old, decaying pipes will either go on forever, as the flushing process is just loosening more of the pipes or will stop abruptly with a leak.

OP 6K seems like a lot to me based on the materials and labour involved, but I'm not trying to run a business doing it.

Either way, as with anything, get some more quotes.

It might also be an opportune time to rewire the house, assuming it wasn't already done.

Victor

Prices will very much depend on how much pipe and how many radiators (and how big they are) there are, together with the difficulty of getting them in place. Pumps, tanks, etc. might also need replacement.

GreeBo wrote: »

If it's that old then you have fun barrel piping

Gun metal.

GreeBo wrote: »

If its carpet then running new puppies

Pipes?

I cleaned the filter at the boiler, ran the heating for an hour, and checked the filter again and the amount of crap in it is amazing, including a load of metal flakes and filings. I'm going to get some more quotes and then just get the work done. Thanks all for the input.

Victor

Get a least 3 prices.

listermint

Malakai Witty Toenail wrote: »

I cleaned the filter at the boiler, ran the heating for an hour, and checked the filter again and the amount of crap in it is amazing, including a load of metal flakes and filings. I'm going to get some more quotes and then just get the work done. Thanks all for the input.

I'd flush the system first tbh.

I've gunbarrel in mine was told to rip it out.

I've moved a number of rads and inspected the insides of the the pipes and they are perfect. No oxygen inside they'll last another 20 years as they are.

GreeBo

Victor wrote: »

Prices will very much depend on how much pipe and how many radiators (and how big they are) there are, together with the difficulty of getting them in place. Pumps, tanks, etc. might also need replacement.

Gun metal.

Pipes?

Lol
I stand by my auto correct!