fitting a combi boiler

[piggie]

Hi there,

I have just bought a boiler which requires a 22mm inlet however, i have found out through a plummer that our pipes are only 15mm and he says we have to have all new pipes fitting costing around �700.

Is there anyway around this ?

[smudge]

Couldn't you get a refund & start again?

[daddyg]

I'm not a plumber so I can't guarantee this is right but I would be very surprised if you couldn't get some sort of reducing nipple that would connect the 15 mm and 22 mm pipework. Certainly where I work we use alot of small bore pipework for various things and we have all sorts of connectors for joining different sizes. I would get a 2nd opinion from a reputable plumber. I find that if you can get a large firm they are often more likely to be honest as they have their reputation to think of and generally aren't desparate for work whereas unfortunately small single guys can just be looking to do you over. (apologies to all the honest self employed types).

[Uriah Heep]

The 22mm inlet is required to maintain the required pressure.  Using a 15 x 22 reducer will not work as the boiler will still be fed from a 15mm pipe.  You wil;l have to upgrade the feed.

[Pickle]

I had a new combi boiler installed recently.  I got 3 quotes and they all said that the 15mm pipes needed to be upgraded to 22mm.  The quotes for that part of the job were nowhere near �700 though.  The most expensive was around �150.  I would definitely get another quote from a heating specialist. 

[piggie]

I'm starting to wonder why I bother do all tradesmen think that women are thick, - yes I know that I konw nothing about boilers etc but I'm just trying to get some heating without being ripped off!

  The guy i bought this from has refused to take it back or replace for another.Maybe I should just keep my old boiler and see if someone can fix it ? then sell this one,

[ian.miller]

You only need a new pipe from the source to the boiler - not everywhere else in the house too.

I had mine done and only added another �50 but that was in a flat with teh boiler in the kitchen with the source.

[gastwo]

I can agree with Ian.miller - we have recently had a new external combi fitted - 15mm supply pipe increased to 22mm a few feet from the boiler. There was more than sufficient pressure. In fact the mains stop **** is not even fully open. Like others have advised, get another opinion/quote.

[stanwilcock]

Piggie am I right in assuming that the 22mm inlet pipe is for the gas supply and not the water supply?

[richfo]

 It would depend on how far the 22mm needs to run ie from meter to boiler. Previous poster is right though you do not need 22 all over house. The only reason you need 22mm is because when the boiler plus one other item is in use the pressure will drop and the boiler will not work well. The old boiler probably didnt notice it so bad as it has less gadgets inside to detect a drop, but it would have still lost some of its power.

As far as a refund, it doesnt matter which boiler you choose you will still need the 22mm feed, I think its corgi rules now anyway. It is not the plumbers fault (I am not defending plumbers here by the way, some of them are villians) that you need the new supply. �700.00 does sound ridiculous. So why not get two more quotes to upgrade the pipe to 22mm and then you will know. btw plumbers will work for anything from �150.00 - �300.00 per day

[piggie]

RE; ***********

I am told 22mm is for the gas inlet not the water supply,

I think i will call around a few other plummers as suggested and see what they come back with.

 

Thanks everyone !!!