Query on Glowworm boiler is it safe?

[llahuts3791]

Hi found your forum through Google.

A plumber has just moved my boiler (Glow-worm Ultimate 60bf) to a diferent external wall in a new house extension. He explained yesterday when he left that the heating will now work but for the moment the hot water will not as the hot gravity water cant flow because due to the route of the pipe it dips? (think this is what he said)

He said he would come back next week to sort it out. I asked if the boiler cant get rid of the heat for the hot water is it safe to use? ...he said yes as the extra heat would disperse through the radiators, is this true and is it safe to use?

Really would like a second opinion on this before i start the heating going.

Thanks for any help.

 

[cozzmic]

I hope the "plumber" is qualified to install gas appliances? There should be no problem as the boiler will shut off on the boiler thermostat but if the new position is a long way from the old one gravity would be struggling to work. When he's back next week he should try to convert it to fully pumped which would mean that your hot water will heat a lot quicker and also means that you could have CH & HW operating seperatly. Also he should bring the boiler and installation up to standards, Wall stat, thermostatic valves, makes it more efficient for you in the long run.
Hope this helps.

 

[llahuts3791]

Really appreciate your help cozzmic.

yes he is Corgi plumber but i found it strange he has to come back to it !!

Thanks for the additional info, i will check out what he has planned before he starts the work next week.

cheers

 

[chrishutt]

I would have serious doubts about your plumber's ability, even if he is Corgi reg. Firstly, did he explain that to comply with Building Regulations you should have a new condensing boiler fitted? My understand is that an existing boiler can only be relocated if it's a very minor change in location - e.g. a few feet in the same room.

At the very least he should have converted the cylinder gravity circulation to pumped as a matter of course. It sounds as if he extended the gravity circuit expecting it to work and then found it wouldn't! Quite possibly the dip in the new gravity pipework will also prevent air venting properly which might cause other problems.

Presumably he isn't going to notify the boiler installation to Corgi or Building Control, as required. You both could be in a very tricky position if it turns out he's cutting corners or just plain incompetent.

 

[corgiman]

MMM

again another case of the building regs not being totally clear

my understanding that you CAN move an existing boiler (but what person would take the chance on that) without being subject to part l1 (not sure of the revisions I am working my though Fat Boys press release) but you would be subject to parts P and F and J

 

[lor]

you do not NEED to convert to fully pumped ,it is best practise
you need to fit a hw zone valve and cylinder stat as minimum

 

[llahuts3791]

Thanks for all your replies.

The plumber came recommended to me from a work colleague. Because of all your comments i have questioned him on what he is coming back to do, and why he never mentioned that the hot water would not work.

He stated that he was always going to upgrade the system to fully pumped and apparently he told the wife on the first day that he was doing this (typical woman never passed on the message). I also said perhaps in hindsight we should of fitted a new boiler, but he said that "it was ok to move and the boiler has been serviced and is a good one and should give many years use"

The boiler has only moved 9 feet so not sure if he has contravened any laws but he seemed very genuine on the phone, he also mentioned something about an S plan? .... confused the life out of me.

I will bookmark this forum, very good people with alot of knowledge on here.

Thanks.

Ben.

 

[meldrew's_mate]

I have concerns that the flue position will not meet BS5440 in its current form, as this is a natural draught terminal and it's nigh on impossible to get a boiler position which satisfies the positioning criteria. 20 years old MI will be way out of date, so what was OK then probably won't be OK now.

 

[lor]

WOT IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ,TO THROW A BOILER THAT HAS years of life left in it ,into a LANDFILL site or move it ?
don't forget the amount of fuel used to manufacture a boiler is enormous

SO WHY DO THE GOVNMENT WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH A CONDENSING ONE ???

 

[Crystal]

"I would have serious doubts about your plumber's ability, even if he is Corgi reg. Firstly, did he explain that to comply with Building Regulations you should have a new condensing boiler fitted? My understand is that an existing boiler can only be relocated if it's a very minor change in location - e.g. a few feet in the same room. "

Pedant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The installer made a judgement call; now you want to blow a colleague out of the water !!!

 

[corgiman]

I would move an ultimate bloody better than the **** we have to fit now

 

[chrishutt]

Pedant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I over-reacted and made assumptions which don't appear to have been justified......it happens sometimes.

 

[corgiman]

come on crystal you being a bit harsh

calm down

 

[chrishutt]

No, Crystal's criticism of my post was justified.

 

[corgiman]

but harsh none the less

all opinions should be treated with respect even if you disagree, I disagreed with you but found a, well i like to think, a pleasent way of putting it.

some on this site act like sharks circling around waiting for someone else to make a slip and then they are in and its a feeding frenzy.

It ****es me off, we all give our time free to help out someone, and sometimes all you get is grief.

so maybe crystal point wasd justified but his/her reaction was not