New central heating pipes

[HildegardeCrowe]

Has anyone installed new central heating pipes? I fear I may have to do this as there’s a leak in the CH system somewhere causing low boiler pressure and no-one can find it. They’d be under the floorboards over two floors. Please tell me it wasn’t that disruptive and life went back to normal!

I had to have new ones above the floor, then get them boxed in. The boxing in took a few days, and was a bit noisy.
It wasn’t that disruptive and life goes back to normal.
I hope you find the leak.

Thank you @MrsJamPanMan. Did you have to do your whole system over two or more floors?

I’m afraid it was in a flat. The concrete was eroding the pipes. All the owners of the flats had to do it, but not as extensive for any one owner.
Going back to childhood, actually having the central heating put in from scratch didn’t seem overly traumatic, although it probably did take a week and my mum hated the plumber being in the house for so long.

I don’t think it’s as bad as having the house completely rewired.

That’s another thing that probably needs doing!

I suppose it comes to us all in the end.
It depends how densely packed your house is, how difficult it might be. Good luck! As I said, I hope someone can find the leak.

You’re very kind :)

We had this in our old house, there was a split / pinholed pipe under a concrete floor. We had new pipework put in surface mounted downstairs, and under the floorboards upstairs. Was only disruptive for a day or two. and then back to normal. We put boxing around most of the pipework that was surface mounted downstairs.

Did you get a plumber to do it @Ceebeegee?

Yes, we've done it. Mix of DIY and plumber. Huge disruption. All carpets up and floorboards lifted, lots of dust, channeling out of walls, replastering needed. But I didn't want visible pipes. If you are happy with visible pipes it isn't anywhere near as bad.

You/the plumber will need to be able to take the floor boards up throughout the house so carpets, lino, laminate etc will have to be taken up. It's not too bad to take carpets up and relay them but most other floor coverings are a pain in the bum. That is the most disruptive bit. You could do it in stages? Upstairs then downstairs? Might cost more but you might only end up needing one bit doing to fix the leak?

Thank you all, not so terrified now of disruption! Problem is locating the leak so have to commit to the whole job. Never mind, life goes on...

@hannahcolobus thanks yes haven’t tried leak sealer so maybe that’s a good first option. Have you used it to good effect?

Great to get your expert advice @hannahcolobus, I really appreciate it. If worst comes to worst luckily nearly all my floors are suspended timber but I have lovely old quarry tiles in my kitchen so would consider an electric rad in there and maybe in the loft conversion. Can you tell me about pipes in walls though coming from the boiler upstairs to downstairs? Presumably you have to excavate into the walls and then replaster as another poster said. Thank you for your time!