Q&A for How to Install Central Heating

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  • Question
    How can I adjust the heat on my radiators?
    Community Answer
    Thermostatic valves, while a bit more pricey, allow fine temperature control in each room.
  • Question
    How do I protect children from touching pipes from central heating?
    Community Answer
    Get a new boiler or exchange it for a higher boiler or put a protection cover on all the pipes. It is also important to tell them not to touch it or they will hurt themselves.
  • Question
    Do you need to shut off the electric to do this?
    Community Answer
    You need to isolate the mains to which the boiler will be connecting. Boilers typically need hard wiring instead of a plug.
  • Question
    How do I know what the flow or return is on existing pipework?
    Community Answer
    Switch on the central heating and check the radiator pipework at the valves. The first pipe to get warm is the flow.
  • Question
    Can a boiler condenser pipe be plastered in a wall?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it can be plastered onto a wall, but it has to be near the boiler. It's recommended that you place it below the boiler, if possible, when installing a new boiler or to an existing boiler.
  • Question
    What can cause the radiator to be hot upstairs and cold downstairs?
    Community Answer
    It could be an air lock, a broken pump, or a diverted valve.
  • Question
    How long should I leave the cleaning agent in the radiator system?
    Community Answer
    When you add the cleaning agent to your power flushing system, it creates a circulation through all the radiators in your house. This means the cleaning agent travels through each radiator pipe and gets rid of excess in the power flushing machine, such as sludge. There is not a fixed time for the cleaning agent: it's done after most of the sludge has been removed, ensuring good flow.
  • Question
    Is it OK to install the pipes from the boiler to the radiators at ceiling height in a bungalow?
    Community Answer
    Pipes that go from the boiler to the radiators are best if they travel beneath the floor boards to ensure that there is no danger of a gas leak or coming into contact with the pipes while they are hot. However, tubing carrying heated waters from the boiler to radiators can be above the floor if preferred. In this case, place all delivery pipes above in the ceiling cavity and then have 'droppers'' going to each individual radiator. All returns are in or under the floor. Try to stay away from pumps and make full systems to thermosyphon.
  • Question
    Should there be a bleed valve in the loft to de-air the central heating system?
    Fred Daggs Missus
    Community Answer
    Systems need an expansion pipe, leading from the highest point in the delivery side of the system. The end of that expansion tubing should return the radiator waters back into the header tank. That way, the pH of the waters can continue to be ok (after being treated with a rust inhibitor (not automobile anti freeze) Any air bubbles in the system hopefully should reach the highest point in the system and then travel up and out into the ceiling cavity. Any dripping waters will return into the system which in turn, keeps the rad's system full. The heater tank size should be reasonably generous and have its own fresh water supply, which is operated by a ball cock valve.
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