Has your engineer said you have bad pipework and left you feeling confused about what to do next?
Chances are, if you’ve called an engineer in to look at your property due to issues like your radiators not heating, or pinhole leaks in the pipework – or even gurgling/kettling noises and the boiler frequently cutting off – the chances are you know there’s a problem.
Being told you have bad pipework and it may need replaced is never fun (and can often lead to mess, disruption and upheaval), however it may be your best option.
TIP: Check out my blog ‘Should You Replace Your Central Heating Pipework?’ to learn more.
So, what should you do if an engineer has told you that you have bad pipework? Well, as an engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the Edinburgh area, I’m going to give you my best advice, below.
My advice? Get a second opinion
Or even a third opinion. Ask two or three different engineers if replacing your pipework is really the best solution – or if there are any alternative options. Just bear in mind that if two or three engineers tell you that your system needs repiped or that your system is very poor, silted and clogged up, then a fourth says it needs a flush, don’t trust it.
Three against one wins out, and in my opinion you should go with the majority vote. In which case, you should ask each engineer for a fixed price detailed quote that includes all the work (no hidden extras) and should explain all the work they’re going to carry out for you.
Finally, pick an engineer you’re comfortable with – trust your gut. They should be happy to answer all of your questions, and make you feel at ease. If they refuse to tell you what they’re doing and why, look elsewhere.
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
Taking the easier (read cheaper) way out may seem like an appealing option, but if a large percentage of your radiators aren’t heating then don’t fall into the trap of thinking that replacing them will solve the problem – it’s most likely going to be your system that needs replaced.
I just had a client recently with a large house, and half of their radiators weren’t heating. We put in a deep cleanser and left the system running for a few weeks. The 50% that were good are now great and very hot, whereas the other 50% were mediocre.
We lifted the floor to repipe just those radiators, and now they’re all burning hot. It turned out the pipes were full of black silt and magnetite. Even though the client had had a filter fitted, the problem was that it had been fitted too late. After the horse had bolted, as they say.
So, if you have the odd radiator that isn’t heating, or your system is slow to heat, a good cleanse or flush may be the answer. However, if none of your radiators are heating and the boiler is overheating and cutting out, your best bet is probably to repipe the system.
Conclusion
I hope this blog has been of some help. If you’ve been told you have bad pipework, try not to panic! Definitely get a few different opinions and see what the majority are saying. It could be that there’s an easier solution, especially if just some of your radiators don’t seem to be doing their job too well.
Do you have any questions about bad pipework? Leave me a question in the comments – or alternatively, get in touch with me directly. I’d love to hear from you!
