OK, so we had someone out to quote for installing a boiler today, he took one look at the lead pipe coming into our flat, and said he'd have to cap off the meter before he left (which he duly did). The lead pipe enters the flat and is the joined to some 15mm copper and then some 22mm copper.
He said that we will need to replace the pipe right back to the meter (or possibly just back to where it starts being lead, as the bit coming from the meter - which is in an old barrel store under the footpath outside the front of the building - is in copper, and it must just change to lead once it has entered the building).
I've read back through a few posts on here, and it seems there's nothing illegal about the lead pipe, as it was an existing installation (the newest post was from about a year ago, so things may have changed); however, I suspect it would need replacing anyway, as someone else (who quoted over the phone) said there would need to be a 22mm supply from the meter to the boiler. Also, reading about the possibility of it degrading, being easily damaged or melting in a fire worries me, so I'm happy to have it replaced.
It's a bit of a pain, as the existing pipe is plastered in in the flat below, so a different route would be required. Being a listed building, running it externally will probably require permission, and internally might too. Running internally would also require it to be routed along the hall then up the side of the stairs, so as to avoid other flats.
Also, the gas supply pipe for the flat above also goes through our flat, and is also lead - should I try and get them to replace it? would there be any point in getting the section running through our flat replaced with copper?
Finally, the water supply into the flat is also lead. Again, up to the building it is not lead, and so must change to lead at some point once it has entered the building. Would you advise getting this replaced to or is a, relatively, short length of lead pipe (up two floors in the building) probably not too much of a risk? Would water filters be sufficient to remove any dangers of lead from drinking water?
Sorry, I realise this is a bit of a rambling posts with vague questions scattered throughout, I'm just kind of looking for opinions on it really from any experienced plumbers and Corgi folks out there.
He said that we will need to replace the pipe right back to the meter (or possibly just back to where it starts being lead, as the bit coming from the meter - which is in an old barrel store under the footpath outside the front of the building - is in copper, and it must just change to lead once it has entered the building).
I've read back through a few posts on here, and it seems there's nothing illegal about the lead pipe, as it was an existing installation (the newest post was from about a year ago, so things may have changed); however, I suspect it would need replacing anyway, as someone else (who quoted over the phone) said there would need to be a 22mm supply from the meter to the boiler. Also, reading about the possibility of it degrading, being easily damaged or melting in a fire worries me, so I'm happy to have it replaced.
It's a bit of a pain, as the existing pipe is plastered in in the flat below, so a different route would be required. Being a listed building, running it externally will probably require permission, and internally might too. Running internally would also require it to be routed along the hall then up the side of the stairs, so as to avoid other flats.
Also, the gas supply pipe for the flat above also goes through our flat, and is also lead - should I try and get them to replace it? would there be any point in getting the section running through our flat replaced with copper?
Finally, the water supply into the flat is also lead. Again, up to the building it is not lead, and so must change to lead at some point once it has entered the building. Would you advise getting this replaced to or is a, relatively, short length of lead pipe (up two floors in the building) probably not too much of a risk? Would water filters be sufficient to remove any dangers of lead from drinking water?
Sorry, I realise this is a bit of a rambling posts with vague questions scattered throughout, I'm just kind of looking for opinions on it really from any experienced plumbers and Corgi folks out there.
