Central Heating - Pipe Sizing?

3 years ago

A couple of years ago I had a new central heating system installed as part of a full modernisation. Unfortunately I’ve been having problems with other aspects of the renovation so for a while I’ve been running it without a control system or TRV’s (I have a Honeywell EvoHome set ready to go but didn’t want these damaged by other work going on). Another reason is that I don’t have downstairs doors fitted yet so wouldn’t get the benefit of that extra control..

Now that I’m nearing completion, I would just like a bit of a sanity check on the plumber’s workmanship before I start fitting the control system and carpets etc.. I’m a bit concerned that some radiators feel cold lower down, I’m more accustomed to them being cold at the top if they need bled. Here are the specs;

- BAXI 28kW Combi boiler feeding 7 radiators in 3 bed terrace house with 2 receptions.

- Boiler located in kitchen.

- 10mm O/D speedfit pipes to all radiators

- I believe these all branch off 12 or 15mm speedfit pipe from the boiler (would need to lift boards to check).

Basically, I’m a bit concerned that the 10mm O/D pipe is too small and causing the cold spots lower down the radiators? Although this seems to be more of a problem downstairs than up? And could it be that they just need to be balanced properly and all will be well once TRV’s fitted?

Appreciate input from any experienced plumbers/heating engineers out there, also are there any relevant British Standards for selection of pipe sizing for heating systems you could point me to?

Thanks

Steve

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Comment (1)

PRO
Lifestyle Kitchens
3 years ago
Radiator cold spots at the bottom of a radiator is usually an indication of a build up of sludge in the radiator. If the flow and return are both hot and the central and bottom part of the radiator is cold then the water is flowing through but there's a blockage in one or more flow channels. You could just take off the radiator and check or have the whole system power flushed professionally, but if this was a recent installation it should of had a powerflush. You should also have a filter (magnaclean etc) near the boiler (on the return?) and its best to add an inhibitor to the water.

Sorry, i can't help with pipe sizes, when i used to do central heating everything was 22 and 15mm and low water content systems were just starting to get popular but i thought the mini/micro bore served individal radiators and were fed from a manifold.
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Central Heating - Pipe Sizing?

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