I am currently refurbishing a small downstairs toilet which was created in a former coal store (now accessed via utility room built onto side of house). Having removed existing rear partition wall (made of hardboard and contiplas!!!!) I have found an 18" deep void containing a small chimney breast (used by former coke (?) boiler in adjoining kitchen).
Immediately behind the rather Heath Robinson studding of the former wall, is a wooden trunking containing two parallel 22mm pipes which come out of the chimney breast and disappear up through the ceiling underneath the upstairs bathroom. I would like to remove these if possible in order to construct a more substantial stud wall.
The question is:
Without lifting the bathroom floor (difficult) is there any way of determining whether the pipes could still be connected to the hot water system? They sound rather tinny when tapped so I suspect they are empty of water. My only concern is that they are gas pipes, though I suppose the fact that there are two in parallel counts against this. Does anyone know whether there would ever be any reason to use such an arrangement for gas? The present combi boiler is located in a cupboard just above but slightly offset from this void and is DEFINITELY fed from a completely separate gas line (which I have traced right back to the meter).
In addition, the pipes do not seem to warm up when central heating is on (or when hot water is drawn).
Any advice in pipe tracing techniques would be most welcome. I must add that I have absolutely no intention of interfering with these pipes until I am certain that they contain neither water nor gas!
Cheers
Immediately behind the rather Heath Robinson studding of the former wall, is a wooden trunking containing two parallel 22mm pipes which come out of the chimney breast and disappear up through the ceiling underneath the upstairs bathroom. I would like to remove these if possible in order to construct a more substantial stud wall.
The question is:
Without lifting the bathroom floor (difficult) is there any way of determining whether the pipes could still be connected to the hot water system? They sound rather tinny when tapped so I suspect they are empty of water. My only concern is that they are gas pipes, though I suppose the fact that there are two in parallel counts against this. Does anyone know whether there would ever be any reason to use such an arrangement for gas? The present combi boiler is located in a cupboard just above but slightly offset from this void and is DEFINITELY fed from a completely separate gas line (which I have traced right back to the meter).
In addition, the pipes do not seem to warm up when central heating is on (or when hot water is drawn).
Any advice in pipe tracing techniques would be most welcome. I must add that I have absolutely no intention of interfering with these pipes until I am certain that they contain neither water nor gas!
Cheers
