What's involved in a new central heating system?

MarkA

MarkA

MarkA

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Joined
23 Apr 2009
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Caerphilly
Hi all,

My gas boiler is old.
My radiators are tiny.

I'm trying to improve my houses heating by doing wall cavity insulation (getting that done Wednesday). I've done the lost insulation last week.

All the pipes for my radiators are all in the walls too, which I think is possibly gonna be an issue? The pipes are super thin too.

I wanna change my boiler to something that is not 20 years old!
I wanna change my radiators so that they actually produce heat when they are on. ;)

So, my question is:

If I were to change my boiler, I've looked at a Valiant that my mum and dad have and their house is lovely and they cant say a bad word about the boiler.

If I wanted new radiators throughout the house, what would be the best option? What happens to the pipes in the walls? I don't think the thickness of those pipes are any good for decent radiators.

What are my options here?

I have a mini conservatory built into my living room too, which i think the glass on it, is useless and leaves a feeling of cold air through, no drafts as such but I can feel the cold through it.

Also, my front door looks to have been put in rather badly. It's an old plastic front door, I think it'll be the last thing I change though, since front doors are so expensive for what they are!

I bought this house in Feb, so looking to complete some improvements over the next few months.

What are your almighty suggestions? :)

Cheers
 
The only problem with Faillant boilers is that only their engineers seem to be able to fix them. My dads has cost him a fortune with parts going wrong that only they can come out and replace.

As for the front door, I'd recommend putting a composite door on rather than PVC. PVC is fine for windows but PVC doors are rubbish. There is far too much flex in the door sash, even with the steel reinforcing inside. The panels used in them are also crap and start to split after a few years. I fit them all the time but would never put one on my own house.
 
I've just rcently installed a new central heating system, went for a Vaillant boiler and unvented Vaillant cylinder.
I got the downstairs radiators and upstairs on seperate circuits for more control, also towel radiators and an airing cupboard radiator on another circuit.
Sounds like you have microbore pipe which can be poor, I just bit the bullit and installed all new pipes and radiators as we're going to be in the house for many years.
If you like I can post you some piccies.
 
Why not go for something green? Solar panelled water heating maybe?

You could use existing radiators, or put all new under floor heating in.
 
what size pipe have you got currently feeding the radiators ?


Mark A said:
The only problem with Faillant boilers is that only their engineers seem to be able to fix them.
Click to expand...

guess i was lucky then, had a contract with my gas supplier for the central heating when i moved into my previous house while i saved up to replace the valiant that was in there, was a fair few years old.

despite its age very rarely went wrong and they managed to fix it when it did.
 
mp260767 said:
what size pipe have you got currently feeding the radiators ?




guess i was lucky then, had a contract with my gas supplier for the central heating when i moved into my previous house while i saved up to replace the valiant that was in there, was a fair few years old.

despite its age very rarely went wrong and they managed to fix it when it did.
Click to expand...

It's probably him that unlucky, he usually is :p.
 
Mark A said:
The only problem with Faillant boilers is that only their engineers seem to be able to fix them. My dads has cost him a fortune with parts going wrong that only they can come out and replace.

As for the front door, I'd recommend putting a composite door on rather than PVC. PVC is fine for windows but PVC doors are rubbish. There is far too much flex in the door sash, even with the steel reinforcing inside. The panels used in them are also crap and start to split after a few years. I fit them all the time but would never put one on my own house.
Click to expand...


These are the things people like me need to know! Thanks, I'll look into getting this type of door when I buy a new one!
 
chipperhead said:
I've just rcently installed a new central heating system, went for a Vaillant boiler and unvented Vaillant cylinder.
I got the downstairs radiators and upstairs on seperate circuits for more control, also towel radiators and an airing cupboard radiator on another circuit.
Sounds like you have microbore pipe which can be poor, I just bit the bullit and installed all new pipes and radiators as we're going to be in the house for many years.
If you like I can post you some piccies.
Click to expand...

Pics would be cool! Any research is good research :p
 
Oh I see.

Looks like I have a Glow-worm Spacesaver Kfb 30, which as far as the '20' series goes, is a Regular Non-Condensing. Which means what exactly? :)

I dont have baths, i rarely use water unless its to shower or wash the dishes, clothes. Sounds like a combi would be the way forward?

Since im new to home owning and all that. Does that mean I dont need that big water tank in the cupboard either? Convert it to extra space? :)

Are these conversions expensive?
 
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