Slack On Central Heating Pipe?

Hi all

I've had a little work done by someone who was fairly new to the work he was doing.

I had the TRV Valves changed by him and the old olives were difficult to remove. He had to saw a little bit of the pipe off as he didn't have an olive remover or anything.

When fitting the new valve, I noticed he pulled the pipe that runs out of the floorboard, with great force, in order for the the pipe to reach the new olive / TRV, etc. I was concerned, but he reassured me it was OK.

Now, I am concerned that he has pulled the pipe so tight, that one day, the pipes that attach to the main pipes running parallel to the floorboards will just break! Obviously the pipes change in temperature as the system heats up and cools.

When I walk on the floorboards, I can hear the pipe moving. It sounds like the pipe has been pulled up so tightly that it is resting right against the underside of the floorboard! So as I walk on the floor, again I am concerned that I will break it as I force the pipes to move.

Should I be concerned? Would the proper way to do this, be fitting an extension so there is no tension, and that the play in the pipe (in and out of the ground), still be present?

Thank you
Matthew.

Oh dear lord, why would you let someone work in your house that didn't know what he was doing?

It's normal practice to carefully cut the olive off with a hack saw and replace.

It could be fine, you could have problem, who knows.

I wouldn't be happy with that tho.

Hi xr4x4

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, that's why I am posting, I am not entirely happy with it.

He does know what he is doing, reasonably. He's Gas Safe registered etc so had worked a fair amount in order to gain experience required. He did use a hacksaw to cut the olive off, but when the new olive wouldn't fit on (due to mis shaping of the pipe at the top), chopping a bit off helped.

Is it worth getting some extensions fitted, do such devices even exist?

Thanks
Matthew

Well... You could ether cut the pipe right down and solder an extra piece of pipe on (which is what he should of done) .or lower the rad!

Hi Paul

Thanks again for the info. I'd rather not change the height of rads, so soldering extra pipe on it seems a good idea.

Any thoughts on reasonable cost to get such work done? Got 6 radiators...

Please, anyone with any other opinions on this, please chip in!

Thanks

Not really that much extra work if your lucky the brackets that hold the radiator to the wall may have both been fastened via the elongated holes which will allow the up and down position of the radiator. It may just give you that little bit of extra movement that you need.

Forgot to say did the guy come recommended by someone?

Hi armo,

I've had a look, the brackets can't really slide up and down on most. The one where it can, well the skirting board is high so it would hit the TRV's.

Recommended by anyone, nope. Actually a friend.

Any thoughts on reasonable costs?

Thank you
matthew

3-4 hours labour at what ever hourly rate is charged in your area could be £30-150p/h

I'd tell your friend to sort it properly

Thanks gasservice1985. Appreciate the input.