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Central Heating
Should i replace microbore pipes?
Just moved house. There are microbore pipes to the radiators. I want to replace the boiler with a combi boiler, as there are just the two of us and heating a tank of water twice a day is a waste. I'd also like to install under floor heating in the kitchen, bathroom and en suite. The microbore is working well at the moment and we're in a very soft water area, but it's been suggested to me that microbore is unreliable in the long term. Should I replace it all while doing this other work? Thanks for any advice.
3 Answers from MyBuilder Heating Engineers
Best Answer
I find micro bore problematic, but only for the reasons above. Poor maintainence of a micro bore system will cause all sorts of problems. A system that is regularly serviced will see you through for a long time. Adding inhibitor to a system will prolong its time.
Answered 11th Jun 2013
I'm a big fan of microbore as it reduces the volume of water in the heating system which is less water for the boiler to have to heat.
People blame microbore when they start having problems but the cause is not the microbore, it's poor maintenance and or poor installation.
Have a filter fitted with the new boiler, and if the system is ever drained, make sure inhibitor is added again.The system should be flushed out when the new boiler is installed.
Answered 8th May 2013
Microbore can be problematic if the heating system has been neglected, but you state
'The microbore is working well' by this you mean all the radiators get up to temperature?
So in my opinion asks your preferred installer to quote for power flushing the heating circuit, as this will ensure the system is clean prior to installing the new boiler,
as the cost of replacing the whole heating circuit may prove prohibitive.
Answered 8th May 2013
