Running Pipes over Ceiling

[Farran Plumber]

Hi all. After discovering the 3 rd leak in 5 years in in a bungalow I am onsidering running the piping over the ceiling and down the walls. I will dispense with the old Gun Barrel piping under the floor.

The current system consists of a Diesel boiler in adjacent Garage feeding old metal pipes beneath the floor- feeding rads. It is a non pressurised system with header tank in the attic

My Questions are:

If I run the pipe across the Ceiling Joists (100mm above the joist) do I need the raise the height of the header tank? Will it work ok with a head just slightly higher than the attic pipes?

Where should the header tank feed join the system?

Currently the system heats the Hot water cylinder when running. How do I plumb this, Is it just like another Rad with a feed and return from the feed and return loop? Should I put a thermostat and valve on it?

I want to put in a couple of indepentant zones . ie turn off a section of the house in the mornings and turn it back on in the evenings. Is there a controller timer available for this?

Any ideas welcome, Ted

 

[SimonJohns]

there is many control options you can use for this idea,

its going to be one for the older boy as far as the effictivness of a low head connection

do you know if your boiler can be converted to a sealed system? it may make it easier for your self if its going to be a diy job

 

[Farran Plumber]

Thanks Simon,
im thinking of changing the boiler anyway and moving to a condenser type oil boiler. I had'nt considered a pressurised system as I dont know much abot them or understand how they work. Sounds like you think my pipes above the ceiling will be an issue for the open type system and then pressurised system will solve this-I need to investigate.

Thanks, Ted

 

[Millsy 82]

It would be better to raise the f+e tank as high as possible the more head the better when it comes to filling. It wont take long to build something to put the tank on just remember to leave enough room for changing float valve.

A sealed system is not alot different take f+e tank out replace with expansion vessell PRV and filling loop.

As for your controls put it into 3 zones 2 htg 1hw and a 3 channel programmer just remember to put auto bypass valve in to stop your boiler from overheating.

 

[tamz]

1. Assuming you are keeping the pump in the garage, you should be looking for 300mm very min head above the pipes in the loft but if you have space raise the header tank as high as possible. It will be better for filling.

2. and 3. Since i'm bored i did you a drawing


4. Horstman among others do a 3 channel programmer or you could use programmable room stats for the heating and a single channel programmer for the hw

 

[Farran Plumber]

Thanks for that Millsey. I am going to investigate a sealed system. It may be easier

 

[Farran Plumber]

Thanks for all the Info and the drawing Tamz. I'm off to my local plunmbing stire to fing the parts. Regards, Ted