Central Heating System

[nailit]

Had a call off the council in the week to tell me that my flat is down to have a new gas central heating system fitted and the contractor is coming out on Tuesday to survey the property beforehand. A few questions (if anyone has had this done before)
1) Is it a messy job replacing boiler and radiaters? (I'm a bit OCD when it comes to my home)
2) Will all the pipe work have to be replaced as well ?(its all over 30 yrs old)
3) Can it be done in a day?

I know I can ask questions on Tuesday just picking ur brains beforehand,
thanks.

[murraymints]

sometimes they can use the existing pipes..but expect carpets and floorboards to be up.. can get a bit dusty/ messy.. took my chaps 2 days !

[Buenchico]

The answer to your question might well depend upon how big the team of people doing the job is.

Replacing a boiler with (roughly) like-for-like can often be done in a day by one or two guys working on the job. If they've got some colleagues replacing the radiators at the same time then it's possibly just a single day's work for everything.

However if the guys (or gals) doing the boiler work are going to be the same people who replace the radiators then, obviously, it's going to take longer to complete all the work.

There will be people on AB who know vastly more about plumbing than I do but, as I see it, replacing furred-up radiators without replacing the furred-up pipes that feed them would appear to be a lousy way of doing things. (i.e. I suspect that the pipe work might well be replaced too).

[nailit]

Thanks Minters, //expect carpets and floorboards to be up//
I live in a high rise so dont have floorboards, all concrete floors, so wont have that to worry about at least :-)
Just a bit worried in case they have to replace pipe work as ive got it all boxed in and theres quiet a lot of it running through my flat. As Ive said, Im a bit OCD with my living space...

[Tilly2]

Can't answer your question, Nails, but what a pain! However it will be much better when you start to receive lower gas bills because of the increased efficiency.

[nailit]

Cheers Chris. As I said, the pipe work is over 30 yrs old and my heating system IS pretty cr ap.
Got a bog standard boiler at the mo and is been replaced with a combi.

[murraymints]

I was able to keep old pipes as they were the same Bore..think that's the word...if it's a council job then they'll want to keep what they can I think...

[nailit]

//it will be much better when you start to receive lower gas bills//
Sure hope so Tills, have had to borrow money to pay for my last winter bill. Had my heating on for 10 hours yesterday (midday until 10pm...only started to get warm when I switched it off...)

[murraymints]

nailit some energy companies do Warm House scheme if you are on certain bens etc..will look for a link ..think they pay around £150 !

[nailit]

//if it's a council job then they'll want to keep what they can I think//
You're not wrong there!!

[nailit]

Minty, looked into that yesterday funny enough, I missed the deadline for March :-(

[murraymints]

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme


councils normally give you a redecorating payment to make good I think...

[murraymints]

2018/19 payments will be paid out ..get an application in around November time !

[nailit]

//councils normally give you a redecorating payment to make good I think//
That's a thing of the past now, I had to have every ceiling in my property replastered last year and had to redecorate throughout, didn't get a penny.
Its not particulary the cost that Im bothered about anyway (emusion is cheap enough) its the mess that would drive me bonkers.

[nailit]

//get an application in around November time//
Oh right. I will (put a note in my diary lol)
It was my ex's mother that told me about the warm home scheme yesterday...Id never heard of it. Googled it and found I'd missed the deadline.

[murraymints]

blummin' cheek..really ? they make the mess they should make good !

[murraymints]

payments are made over a period up to March..apps have to be in Oct or Nov..depends on your supplier..ask them now when they need your app in...

[nailit]

Cutbacks minty, cutbacks!
It was a case of either having them all replastered or sitting here and taking the chance of a piece of ceiling hitting me on the head at any time ;-)

[Tilly2]

Can you move out for a couple of days? A friend's sofa perhaps? :-)

[nailit]

I'll definitely ask about that Minty, thanks. Seems as though not a lot of people know about it. I didn't until yesterday and Ive mentioned it to a couple of friends since who have never heard of it either.

[nailit]

I'll stay put I think Tills. Will have to put my pinny on and get my feather duster out :-)