Radiator conversion or replacement?

[ElizaDoolittle]

I have just had a British Gas engineer round to give me a quote. Basically the problem is that four of the five radiators hardly get warm at all. The one which does has one of those more modern valves which you can regulate/turn off. The others are, according to BG-man older but still good. Non-combi boiler still 'sound'

He recommended not replacing, but 'converting' the older rads to the more modern valve/system (ie not both pipes going into one end),, and then giving is a full Power Flush. (£482+£566 = £1048).

I unbderstand that my system is a 'micro-bore' system.

My real question is that is powerflushing and radiator conversion is so expensive, wouldn't I be better just replacing those rads?

(Before Xmas pump was replaced after it burned out due to blocked feed pipe coming down from loft.)

I just dont want to be ripped off thats all.

Can anyone please advise?

Thank you



E

 

[Nige F]

I have just had a British Gas engineer round I unbderstand that my system is a 'micro-bore' system.

My real question is that is powerflushing and radiator conversion is so expensive, wouldn't I be better just replacing those rads?

I just dont want to be ripped off thats all.

Can anyone please advise?

Thank you



E

Get some prices from independant plumbers - you don`t need to be Gas Safe registered to do your job - but you do need to know what you`re doing , particularly with micro bore - horrible stuff

 

[stem]

The powerflush is for the "system" This means not only the radiators, but also the pipes (important with microbore), boiler, pump, hot water cylinder coil etc., The advice sounds reasonable to me (without inspecting the system) But get some other quotes if you're worried about the price.

 

[ElizaDoolittle]

Thank you for those replies.

The quote is to convert the rads tho before Power Flushing. Would it be better to just go for replacements?

 

[Nige F]

Thank you for those replies.

The quote is to convert the rads tho before Power Flushing. Would it be better to just go for replacements?

Rads are much the same - it`s just the double entry valves are old style now . My jaded view of microbore is that it was chucked in back in the day , and pre commision cleaning and inhibitor didn`t get done , so the systems get clogged . I had one rad @ my sons house where it took 3+ bar of mains pressure to shift the crud in one microbore pipe - it was an 8mm one - 10mm is slightly better . Changing the pipework to 2 new valves per rad ( presumably one a thermostatic ) is a relatively straighforward job , but the powerflushing could be time consuming

 

[mickyg]

most likely the distribution tubes in the radiators have come loose or perforated. From memory its only 8 or 10mm tube and potentially could be replaced. So just a few lengths of tube and some labour will probably get them hot again. While the rads are disconnected they can be removed and flushed with a hose.