CH: Replacing all, or working with what there is?

[Charollaise]

I’m a newbie on here so please go gently if I get anything a bit wrong? Thank you!!

Am trying to work out the pros and cons of either starting from scratch and totally replacing all the pipework and radiators in the house I’ve just bought, (total renovation required) or working with the existing, replacing copper only where needed, adding an appropriate new boiler (none at all currently) and extra rads where necessary.

None of it’s well installed, the house has been empty for two years, several pipes have suffered bursts and are now split. Pipework passes at ground floor ceiling height across where the chimney is which I want to reinstate with log burner, so that would all need re-siting in any case.

My instinct tells me that in the long run it will be ‘better’ to take it all out, re-install a full, new CH system exactly where and how I want and then at least I’ll know and trust what I’ve got. Am just considering the cost of doing that – or can I afford, long term, not to?

Oh btw – this is in France – principle’s the same, but I’d really appreciate your comments and views.

 

[John506]

As you say pipes are regularly bursting, this is a sign that your pipes are corroded. This alone would want me to renew it all, mainly for peace of mind.

 

[Charollaise]

Thanks for your response. I think it's all relatively new, just that the winter temperature here regularly drops to minus mid-teens, and nothing much was protected - tiny bit of modern dark grey foam tube lagging in the cellar. The water's been turned off since I completed and while I'm working on the place, and am even dubious about turning it back on again...

I did see elsewhere on the site that copper fetched £4 per kilo... be interested to see what it is here!