Truwell/Truweld/Trueweld pipes

[bananabank]

Hi all,

I'm at the start of a long renovation of my home and one of the first things I'm looking at is plumbing/electrics and looking at getting the place re-wired and having the heating system updated.

Been going back and forth on what to upgrade the current vented boiler/water tank with and thought either a combi or a system boiler would be the answer as it could improve the water pressure and we could get rid of the manky water tanks in the loft.

Anyway - I had an engineer from a national gas/heating company out to have a look and he says that at least some (probably all) of the heating pipework is something called Truwell - which was an alloy that was used in the 70s due to a shortage of copper. According to the engineer this stuff needs to go.

I'm anticipating a monster quote for all this work so I wondered if anyone on here would consider tackling some of this themselves? I'm a fairly competent DIYer but not sure if I could handle removing all of the old pipework and re-installing a new system. As the house is in need of a full renovation I don't need to be too precious about things. I would obviously leave the boiler/tank/gas work to a certified professional.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[ianmcd]

As you say Truewell was a replacement during the copper shortage, you will need to completely replace it all, it is as hard as a sporned wife and is a complete nightmare to work with, replace it all there is no alternative, if you say where in the country you are we might be able to recommend someone in your area, but be prepared it is a massive job that stuff is a complete nightmare and needs a total replacement

 

[cross thread]

Trueweld definitely needs replacing,

 

[fixitflav]

unvented boiler/water tank with and thought either a combi or a system boiler would be the answer as it could improve the water pressure and we could get rid of the manky water tanks in the loft.

If it's an unvented boiler it won't have a F/E tank, so there will only be a cold water storage tank in the loft.

 

[bananabank]

If it's an unvented boiler it won't have a F/E tank, so there will only be a cold water storage tank in the loft.

sorry - i meant unvented

 

[bananabank]

As you say Truewell was a replacement during the copper shortage, you will need to completely replace it all, it is as hard as a sporned wife and is a complete nightmare to work with, replace it all there is no alternative, if you say where in the country you are we might be able to recommend someone in your area, but be prepared it is a massive job that stuff is a complete nightmare and needs a total replacement

Based in Fife actually - just noticed your picture

 

[fixitflav]

sorry - i meant unvented

??? is it vented or unvented?

 

[bananabank]

Sorry bud - typed that in a hurry without thinking haha - the system is definitely a vented system with tanks in the loft etc.

 

[fixitflav]

Sorry bud - typed that in a hurry without thinking haha - the system is definitely a vented system with tanks in the loft etc.

OK thought that was what you meant

 

[flameport]

either a combi or a system boiler would be the answer

A combi will block you from installing other items such as solar or a heat pump.

Truwell should have been ripped out several decades ago.

 

[ianmcd]

A combi will block you from installing other items such as solar or a heat pump.

Completely wrong

Hybrid Heat Pumps – What Are the Advantages of Keeping your Combi Boiler? - Aura Gas

It’s fairly obvious that the renewable heating market is about to go boom. More and more people are wanting to take steps towards being more environmentally friendly and relying less on fossil fuels. Not only are people keen to reduce their carbon footprint, but they also want to keep their...

auragas.co.uk

 

[flameport]

Do you honestly believe that installing a heat pump and a gas combination boiler in the same building is beneficial in some way?

What circumstances would require a gas boiler to 'provide that extra boost you need'? Who are these people with heat pumps installed that also require a gas combi?

The whole article reads as a desperate attempt to justify the continued installation of gas boilers where they are neither needed or wanted.