Cast Iron central heating in a church, should we upgrade?

[Last Plumber]

It's just an old one pipe system (with an alteration to two pipe in places it seems). As @ShaunCorbs said, any Plumber with experience in commercial heating should be able to fettle your problems. They don't look much from here to be honest. Not a bad job!
I would also agree with @Knappers advice on using a good firm who appreciate the work that needs doing and want to do it properly. I would keep your ideas about spending a lot of money quiet for now and find the right Engineer with eyes/hands on advice.
The plant room pipe work leaves a lot to be desired and a pair of Vaillant boilers and a plate heat exchanger would look good eventually.

 

[James S]

Thanks for the replies all, much appreciated.

There certainly has been 'too many fingers in the pot' in the past! We have recently formed a buildings committee, and my background in industrial maintenance and now electrical engineering has given me the responsibility of mechanical and electrical items! Just not done much at all with heating on this scale before. Small domestic, and huge industrial yes, but nothing inbetween!

I'll look for a good local firm for some advice, making sure they're not just in it for the money.

That was going to be one of my next questions, which make of boiler would you all recommend? I have read very good things about Viessmann (considering one to replace my 35 year old council installed back boiler this summer) but would you recommend Vaillant over them?

 

[gmartine]

Not for me James S, there are some Vaillant models with a stainless steel hex the Eco Tec Pro I think off the top of my head but they mainly use aluminium. Do a search on here and you'll find we all have our favourites, I think a Viessmann is worth paying the premium for albeit they do have models that span across the price range now you do have to pay to extend warranties to around 10 yrs where other manufacturer's are issuing them for free. The 200w has a huge modulation range which is class leading which means it can tick along at a couple of kw when it's not so cold or you have a smaller property without it say short cycling BUT it's comparatively very expensive.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Viessmann 200 or Worcester’s 162s

If you choose vaillant you need someone who specialises in there controls system as there not easy to set up but once they are there good

 

[gmartine]

@SC, for his own place I think not the church.

 

[James S]

@SC, for his own place I think not the church.

No it was both!
I'm pretty set on the veissmann at my house, but was curious on thoughts for the church as well.

 

[Last Plumber]

No it was both!
I'm pretty set on the veissmann at my house, but was curious on thoughts for the church as well.

Well if you ask on here or any other forum, you'll get a thousand opinions. There is no right or wrong answer as they tend to be based on personal preference (which is based on experience hopefully). It is a bit like asking what car should I buy.
I would recommend you find the worthy Engineer first and take their advice, as it will likely be them that look after it over the years to come.
With your type of system (Church) you do need the advice of an experienced person. The all singing and dancing highly efficient controls we use today are good but if they are controlling an old one pipe system that was designed many moons ago they can be unnecessary. Sometimes simple is best.

 

[WC1]

You'll get a bit more heat out of the rads if you remove the shelf over them, heat rising and all that.
While you're thinking of such things, have you looked at insulation, draught proofing etc?

 

[James S]

You'll get a bit more heat out of the rads if you remove the shelf over them, heat rising and all that.
While you're thinking of such things, have you looked at insulation, draught proofing etc?

I'd never thought about removing the shelves before! Good idea, I'll suggest it.

Were good with draft proofing, mainly from the Windows, which were replaced with UPVC a year or so ago.

Insulation is pretty minimal, if any to be honest. Nobody has been up in that section of ceiling/roof for quite a while, it's very hard to access! Another good suggestion though, thanks.