Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.

The AECB accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Views given in posts are not necessarily the views of the AECB.



Heating and cooling: Microbore

Bottom of Page

1 to 12 of 12

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2015
     
    My heating uses 8mm microbore. I want to add two extra radiators. My plumber advises replacing the microbore with wider bore, his reasoning being that microbore is prone to damage (easily squashed or can puncture when bent) and can sludge up. It's part of a wider renovation so now is the chance should I choose to change it. But should I bother if it works fine as it is? Slightly improved heat-up time wouldn't be a big deal to me.
  2.  
    First thought .........If it ain't broke don't fix it.

    What is the material of the micro-bore pipe? And how often do you expect to mechanically load the pipe to cause deformation - i.e. squash it or bend it.
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2015
     
    What I can see where it joins radiators is copper.

    I suppose I shouldn't expect it to be squashed or bent! Am I overly worried that something might happen to it during the renovation when new floors, kitchen unit etc are being fitted on top of the old floorboards?

    Can it be powerflushed if need be?
  4.  
    Can it be powerflushed if need be?

    As far as I know - yes

    And as for damage during renovation, normal CH pipes can have nails and screws put through them just as easily
    • CommentAuthorDarylP
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2015
     
    IMO get rid of it... look at modern systems, I don't think anyone fits new 8mm?
    Susceptible to sludging-up, crinkling, deformation etc... go with 15mm 'SpeedFit' or similar.

    Good luck...:smile:
    • CommentAuthoratomicbisf
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2015
     
    We're in a similar situation. We inherited an 8mm microbore CH heating system, that I estimate is at least 35 years old. It still works, but is showing signs of age (eg crusty deposits on manifolds where there are/have been very slow leaks).

    We had the boiler replaced recently in a new location, so I needed to put in new CH flow and return pipes. I thought I might as well replace an ancient bathroom radiator and put in a radiator in a room that didn't have one at the same time (branching off the new flow and return).

    I found it much more convenient to use 15mm pipework than 8mm as it's easier to get locally (eg you can't buy single 8mm fittings, only bags of 25) and I think it's easier to install. 8mm is very easy to collapse if you bend it too much, seems you can never get it straight where it's visible so it looks shoddy etc.

    Ultimately I think I'll replace the whole lot as the radiators and surface mounted pipes will need to come off for plastering, so might as well be replaced.

    Ed
  7.  
    Simple answer replace it in 15mm. Make sure of a careful sealed system design of flow & return from boiler in ( probably 28 or 22mm ) depending on system size. 15mm branches to TRV`s or zone controls with careful balancing is fine, especially with underfloor mixing vales ( if considering U/F).
    Leaving the 8mm may cause balancing problems depending on system design.
    Any old pipework should be OK with cleanser if you have flow.
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2015
     
    Thanks, everyone. I think I'll bite the bullet and put in new larger bore pipework since there is other work going on.
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2015
     
    8mm COPPER microbore, has about the same inside size as 10mm plastic, and is good enough to run a single small radiator over a short distance.

    Personally I would not replace it unless the pipework needed changing, however flushing 8mm pipe is hard, so if it is starting to get blocked, replace it when you can.

    If you are DIYing, then just putting in 15mm plastic back to manifolds may be a good option as the pipe is cheap and needs a lot less skill then copper microbore. I like manifolds, as you can then have NO joints in the pipework under the floor boards.
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2015
     
    Shame that 12mm plastic pipe is not easy to get in the UK....
    • CommentAuthoratomicbisf
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2015
     
    We have some fairly large radiators on 8mm microbore at a fair distance from the manifolds and they heat up fine. I have not run the system since adding the radiators on 15mm, but I expect I'll have to close the valves on those down to prevent them taking all the flow.

    Ed
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeJul 21st 2015
     
    Some people expect their heating system to be "on/off" with ALL radiators getting HOT within minutes of turning the thermostat, other people understand what a thermostat is there for!

    If running on GAS (or oil), then having a reduced flow rate to your radiators, may just result in you turning the boiler flow temp up a little when it is very cold, as most radiators are over sized to allow a quick response.

    With a heat pump, having a reduced flow rate to your radiators may increase your heating costs a LOT.

1 to 12 of 12

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press