Hello
I live in a small 2-bed bungalow, with a relatively new Worcester Greenstar 30Si Compact combi boiler running 7 radiators. The radiators and micro-bore pipework are about 18 years old, having been installed just prior to me moving in and with a previous boiler. Current boiler is 2.5 years old.
Since the new boiler was installed, it doesn't seem to have been working as well as the replacement, (by that I mean the house felt cold), and I did get a Worcester engineer out after about a year and was told it was a 'circulation problem' and nothing to do with boiler. So I had a power flush/clean done by my plumber, but was also advised that the boiler was too powerful for the number/size of rads, and they would benefit from replacement. It was also recommended that I upgrade pipework. Plus, I know this winter was cold, but my gas consumption was up 25% on prev year, and that is on the back of a new and supposedly more efficient boiler.
So after that preamble, I would like advice on whether there is any benefit in replacing the radiators without replacing the pipework too, and upgrading to 15mm pipe? The reason I ask is only because of the disruption it will cause, from point of view of redecorating required after upgrading to 15mm pipe. I definitely think that all the rads could do with replacing with larger ones, but then would micro-bore be up to the job? Or even new microbore rather than 15mm, as that would still be easier? (Although all the existing pipework comes down from loft rather than running under floor, and is boxed in, extra size to box in 15mm pipe for bathroom would prevent door closing.)
Apols if this is covered elsewhere on forum. I did search but found nothing to answer my question.
Thanks for all advice.
I live in a small 2-bed bungalow, with a relatively new Worcester Greenstar 30Si Compact combi boiler running 7 radiators. The radiators and micro-bore pipework are about 18 years old, having been installed just prior to me moving in and with a previous boiler. Current boiler is 2.5 years old.
Since the new boiler was installed, it doesn't seem to have been working as well as the replacement, (by that I mean the house felt cold), and I did get a Worcester engineer out after about a year and was told it was a 'circulation problem' and nothing to do with boiler. So I had a power flush/clean done by my plumber, but was also advised that the boiler was too powerful for the number/size of rads, and they would benefit from replacement. It was also recommended that I upgrade pipework. Plus, I know this winter was cold, but my gas consumption was up 25% on prev year, and that is on the back of a new and supposedly more efficient boiler.
So after that preamble, I would like advice on whether there is any benefit in replacing the radiators without replacing the pipework too, and upgrading to 15mm pipe? The reason I ask is only because of the disruption it will cause, from point of view of redecorating required after upgrading to 15mm pipe. I definitely think that all the rads could do with replacing with larger ones, but then would micro-bore be up to the job? Or even new microbore rather than 15mm, as that would still be easier? (Although all the existing pipework comes down from loft rather than running under floor, and is boxed in, extra size to box in 15mm pipe for bathroom would prevent door closing.)
Apols if this is covered elsewhere on forum. I did search but found nothing to answer my question.
Thanks for all advice.
