Some CH pipes temporarily out of use (Ed.)

[JasonF]

Hello all I’m currently stripping the upstairs of my son’s house, going back to brick. So I’m taking all the old radiator’s out upstairs just leaving the 22mm flow and return pipes up stairs, should I just cap them off or join them together, because he still wants to use the 6 rads down stairs, I’m worried if I cap them off it may cause an air block down stairs. It’s a 4 year old Worcester bocsh combi, have a look at the photo it’s a shocker. Any help would greatly appreciated. Thanks Jason

 

[Notch7]

Hello all I’m currently stripping the upstairs of my son’s house, going back to brick. So I’m taking all the old radiator’s out upstairs just leaving the 22mm flow and return pipes up stairs, should I just cap them off or join them together, because he still wants to use the 6 rads down stairs, I’m worried if I cap them off it may cause an air block down stairs. It’s a 4 year old Worcester bocsh combi, have a look at the photo it’s a shocker. Any help would greatly appreciated. Thanks Jason

looks like a crude microbore manifold type thing

I would guess you cant just cap them off if you want to use the system

how are the downstairs supplied?

 

[oldbuffer]

1. It shouldn't cause an airlock, as it's no different from turning off all the upstairs radiators. Even if it did, you could just bleed the downstairs radiators.
2. Don't join them or you will "short circuit" the heating. Hot water will just go straight through the join and bypass the downstairs radiators.
3. If I were doing it I'd cut the 22 mm pipes and cap them.
4. Don't be tempted to fit isolation valves, or if you do, make sure they are removed before you reconnect upstairs. Most isolation valves are not rated for the constant high temperatures of a central heating circuit.

 

[Madrab]

looks like a crude microbore manifold type thing

lol .... that's a sign of the times - nothing crude about them - that's the way they were - 2 and 4 port manifold end feed caps for 22mm pipe

should I just cap them off or join them together

It will be ok if downstairs has it's own flow and return back to the boiler. That being said if you can cut them back as far as possible before capping then that would be recommended. As suggested don't join together. why doesn't he want to use the upstairs rads?

 

[JasonF]

Thanks both, i will cut them right back to the new 22mm copper pipe and cap them, I never seen anything like it, also i found all the light switches had wooden back boxes lol, its a good job its got a new consumer board 3 years old to give protection

 

[JasonF]

Have a look at these beauties

 

[JasonF]

my sons house is old with no insulation and very cold, so we are ripping all of the upstairs out, we have gone back to brick also taking the ceiling down except where the rads are, which I'm doing this weekend, so he's sleeping downstairs and still needs the heating on. then I will starting to put it back together, create an en-suite, a new bathroom, rewire and new rads and pipe work, so won't be playing much golf for a while. Thanks again everyone

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Have a look at these beauties

Typical Microbore installation, I suspect dating from the 70's. Was a common method of installation back then, are you planning to replace the microbore with 15mm now?

 

[JasonF]

Typical Microbore installation, I suspect dating from the 70's. Was a common method of installation back then, are you planning to replace the microbore with 15mm now?

Yes I'm replacing all the rads and pipes, 22mm flow and return with 15mm branches off to rads. Hopefully my son's house will be a lot warmer with all the new insulation and modern rads.