Adding a radiator to a system.

[bigegg]

I want to add a radiator to my central heating system. (In the conservatory )
Do I connect it in series to the existing (lounge) radiator?
Or in parallel?

 

[Wedg1e]

Is it a modern(ish) 2-pipe system or an ancient (1960s?) and less efficient single-pipe? If the latter you'd go in series but the better method is paralleled.

 

[bigegg]

I'm guessing modern.
But...
How do I tell?
The living room Rad is on it's own loop if that's any help.
System was fitted early 80s

 

[Seadog]

I think you should parallel it and have a separate room stat controlling just that rad.

 

[Crater Creator]

Parallel.

 

[angellonewolf]

they have been fitting rads mostly the same way for donkey years one feed one return pipe you then feed one side of the rad with a feed from the feed supply with Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and the other with a normal valve from the pack back to the return pipe if your not sure what is the feed pipe it normaly the one that gets hot first turn the heating on and just touch the pipes and see what on get hot first this should then tell you the feed pipe

and if i remember rightly To be exempt from Building regs two of the criteria of the conservatory are that it is not permanently heated ie it is not heated from the central heating system but instead uses individual electric heaters, for example.
It should also be seperated from the house by a proper door or patio window.

depends if you intend on selling your home ?

 

[bigegg]

I won't be selling the house.

Next question....
Pe-x plastic pipe OK?

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/d20/Pushfit/sd3143/PEX+Barrier+Pipe/p38003

 

[Crater Creator]

15mm PEX will be fine, that's what I used to replace a lot of aging copper stuff - but you might want the last bit coming out of the floor or wall to be in copper - looks nicer IMHO.
One limitation is that you can't use PEX too close to the boiler - there's a minimum distance but sounds like that will not be a problem if you're teeing off an existing radiator.

 

[jimi_boom]

Defiantly parallel and plastic pipe will also be ok but as above make sure you come up from the floor with chrome or copper cause plastic looks naff IMO :-)

I've just been doing some this weekend the old fashioned way oh the joys.

 

[Ton-up]

As said above, put it on its seperate stat and valve.

 

[brightspark]

no plastic in my house copper all the way. if your tapping in to an existing radiator line and extending it make sure the pipe size can handle the extra rad as they sometimes run colder as there's more heating aeria with both and cant cope

 

[Kayos]

I'd use cheap barrier pipe from screwfix, tee it wherever is easy and just balance the lock shied so it heats up same as the rest

 

[Wedg1e]

I'm guessing modern.
But...
How do I tell?
The living room Rad is on it's own loop if that's any help.
System was fitted early 80s

Unlikely to be single-pipe but if it was, both ends of the radiator 'feed' from the same pipe [durrr ] - I think it relies on temperature change across the rad to create the necessary flow. My parents house has it, installed late 60s before they bought the house. IIRC it was originally fed from the coal-fired back boiler so would add background heat around the house but in modern terms it's poo. Of course to change it to a proper flow/return would mean ripping the house to bits - to make matters worse the whole loop is plumbed in 15mm with no lagging! Takes aeons to warm up.

 

[Wedg1e]

no plastic in my house copper all the way.

Same here. Mine was all surface-run when I bought Wedg1e Villas but over time I've opened the walls and run the pipes internally, all felt lagged. Also I put in a boiler 20% bigger than the figures suggested (it was only £50 more and I had a Lotto win burning a hole )
Hit the go button and the rads start to warm up inside 30 seconds.
Shame the house bleeds heat like [insert vaguely rude female reference of your choosing]

 

[angellonewolf]

i know most plumbers use plastic pipe these days (but the main reason is speed not how good they are) but as its only been in use for not that long compaired to copper when i done my rads i copper piped the lot

as a mate of mine said that works for a very large gas company that said to me if we get any leaks he first we look for is the plastic fittings then conpression fitting and then solder as they are normaly last to fail

 

[rtbcomp]

Vermin don't nibble through copper like they can plastic.

 

[Ton-up]

My mate at work had this last week. Been in his new build house for a year. He was standing in his kitchen waiting for a taxi to take family to airport on holiday and heard hissing. Traced it to the corner and ripped out pipe cover above units and a mouse has chewed through the plastic elbow! Luckily his mate is a plumber so came round straight away. Made flight too!!

 

[Kayos]

I'm a big fan of copper but plastic has its uses in the right places

 

[Robotstar5]

...mains cable originally spiralled around the CH feed and return pipework (not even laid alongside...no spiralled around and around it)

That was to prevent back EMF

 

[Robotstar5]

I think it was in the hope the house would burn down and cover up the hatchet job they made...lol

said hatchet job might explain my bouncy floors...

What you do in your own time to make the floors bounce is up to you...