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Partial upgrade from 15mm to 22mm / motorised valve

Joined
25 Nov 2006
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London
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Hello

Following on from the advice I've had previously as regards inadequate 15mm CH pipework (thank you), I've now got as far as I can go with 22mm on the downstairs run. Luckily there was some 22mm copper in place partway through an area below a tiled floor, but it drops to 15mm where I can't access. On my diagram the 'no go' area is bordered yellow, the 22mm pipe is shown in green and orange, and the 15mm is blue and red. It means I can't do a continuous run of 22mm to the radiator G6 and I'm wondering about the impact of this. Am I right in assuming there's no point in running 22mm after the 15mm 'pinch point' (it's about 2m)?

Zone?
The front of the house (top of the diagram) is south facing and in winter can be warm while the back stays cold. I've made provision for a new radiator (G9) at the back and I'm now wondering if I could create a zone with a motorised valve. This is all new to me so pardon my ignorance. If the pipework for zones doesn't run separately from the boiler I'm assuming the valves would go at the start of a branch and require an electricity supply for the valve and a thermostat (unless the thermostat is wifi?). Where do people put them, can they be under the floorboards providing they're accessible?

On my diagram I've marked MV where maybe I could fit a motorised valve so that G1, G9 and G2 could be one zone (the cold part) while G3, G5, G6, G7 and G8 are off. Ideally G3 (a downstairs toilet) would be in the first group but I can't access that area. I think having it would mean I couldn't have the heating on at the front of the house while the back is off, but that's okay, that's an unlikely scenario (or else I'd just turn the back rads off).

In summary, how much of a problem is the 15mm run to G6 and G7, and am I on the right track with a motorised valve? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

PS I know you can get smart TRVs but I'd like to see how far I can get with zoning.


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