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boiler flue position help

4 replies

catpark · 06/02/2013 18:15

We are hoping to build a 2 storey extension on the side of the house. With the 2nd floor being longer than the ground floor. So a room and bedroom above for the first half and a canopy/car port with the shower room above for the second half. Right under the canopy/carport is the boiler flue exiting from the side kitchen wall. We know that once the 2 storey and the canopy bit is built we can't have it here due to fumes.
We can't change the position of the flue to the side of the boiler and then out the other wall as there is a soil pipe there.
Anyone know if we can leave the boiler and flue were it is and instead extend the flue pipe along the outside wall until it is past the roof of the canopy/carport ?

Thanks.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 06/02/2013 18:34

yes you (probably) can. You need to consult the boiler manufacturer to se what flue extensions are available for your particular boiler. 5 metres is quite likely. Mine will go to 10 metres.

the installation instructions will pronably have specifications of what is possible.

the flue must be visible accessible for inspection and potentially repair, so not boxed in.

catpark · 07/02/2013 17:49

Thanks piglet john, you seem to have alot of info on boilers etc. So I have another one for you. Our current boiler is a wouchester 532i and according to it's book the output is 13 to 30KW max. We have 8 radiators at the moment but with the extension it will be 11 radiators altogether plus an extra shower. Will the boiler be big enough to cope or will we need to get a new one ?

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 07/02/2013 18:24

if it is a 30kW boiler it is probably a combi.

the amount of heat a combi needs to run a bath means that it has more than enough power to heat an ordinary house.

30kW would do for a 5-bedroom Victorian detached house.

PigletJohn · 07/02/2013 23:30

as a rule of thumb, single radiators 600mm high nominally give out about 1kW of heat max per metre length (in practice usually less unless your boiler is running very hot)

And double finned radiators nominally about 1.8kw per metre length

So you can calculate the amount of heat your radiators are capable of processing, by measuring them, and get a boiler of about that output.

Heating engineers usually do this, and also calculate the nominal heat loss of your house by inputting its size and construction details, this is so they can avoid quoting you for a more powerful system than you need, and so offer the cheapest possible system.

However in exceptionally cold weather, and if you want to heat the house quickly from cold, especially if you often are away, I like to have extra power in hand. It is quite useful to have oversized radiators because they can give a more gentle heat at lower temperatures. Modern condensing boilers run at their most economical at about 60C which is not especially hot.

The amount of gas used will not be greater, because your TRVs will turn down the rad in each room when it reaches temperature, and the boiler will modulate itself down to a smaller flame as demand from the radiators reduces.

Houses with combi boilers often have two or three times the power needed to heat the house, so you only need to consider if you want oversized radiators (I do)

Old boilers use to run hotter, so more heat came off the radiators than with modern boilers.

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