We are planning on having a new boiler fitted and have had several guys come
round to give a quote. The problem is that 30 years ago when my dad put the
pipe work in, there was a shortage of copper pipe but he had a fair amount
of stainless steel pipe available. The pipe work between the boiler and the
radiators is therefore a mixture of copper and stainless steel.



We have had 3 quotes for replacing the boiler. The first guy didn't mention
the stainless steel at all, but the second 2 (one local plumber and one from
power gen) said the stainless steel was a problem and should be replaced. In
fact they both refused to quote for the job unless all the stainless steel
was replaced with copper, saying that the system would be prone to leaks
unless that was done, so they would be unable to guarantee the work. The
local plumber seemed particularly concerned about the stainless steel with
regards to the power flush he wanted to do.



However, when I spoke to the guy down at the local plumbing supply shop, who
seemed to know what he was talking about, he said that he couldn't see a
problem and there was no need to replace the stainless steel. And indeed, it
has been fine for the past 30 years or so.



If the stainless steel needs to be replaced, then I will do it myself, but
it's a big job with much of the pipe work buried in walls and under floors,
so I don't want to do it if it isn't necessary.



Would anyone care to venture an opinion ?



Thanks


Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
...
We are planning on having a new boiler fitted and have had several guys
come round to give a quote. The problem is that 30 years ago when my dad
put the pipe work in, there was a shortage of copper pipe but he had a
fair amount of stainless steel pipe available. The pipe work between the
boiler and the radiators is therefore a mixture of copper and stainless
steel.



We have had 3 quotes for replacing the boiler. The first guy didn't
mention the stainless steel at all, but the second 2 (one local plumber
and one from power gen) said the stainless steel was a problem and should
be replaced. In fact they both refused to quote for the job unless all the
stainless steel was replaced with copper, saying that the system would be
prone to leaks unless that was done, so they would be unable to guarantee
the work. The local plumber seemed particularly concerned about the
stainless steel with regards to the power flush he wanted to do.



However, when I spoke to the guy down at the local plumbing supply shop,
who seemed to know what he was talking about, he said that he couldn't see
a problem and there was no need to replace the stainless steel. And
indeed, it has been fine for the past 30 years or so.



If the stainless steel needs to be replaced, then I will do it myself, but
it's a big job with much of the pipe work buried in walls and under
floors, so I don't want to do it if it isn't necessary.



Would anyone care to venture an opinion ?



Thanks


Dave

All the houses around me were built mid 60's all have stainless hot and
cold pipework
Many still have this pipework and have no problems with it.

Mine is now all copper but only because I have refitted kitchen and bathroom
and have removed water tanks and use a combi boiler. I never had any
problems with the stainless pipe whilst it was in place

Can't see a problem

Tony

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:47:35 -0000, "Dave" wrote:



However, when I spoke to the guy down at the local plumbing supply shop, who
seemed to know what he was talking about, he said that he couldn't see a
problem and there was no need to replace the stainless steel. And indeed, it
has been fine for the past 30 years or so.



If the stainless steel needs to be replaced, then I will do it myself, but
it's a big job with much of the pipe work buried in walls and under floors,
so I don't want to do it if it isn't necessary.



Would anyone care to venture an opinion ?




What markup do they make on replacing pipework?
--
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:47:35 +0000, Dave wrote:

We are planning on having a new boiler fitted and have had several guys come
round to give a quote. The problem is that 30 years ago when my dad put the
pipe work in, there was a shortage of copper pipe but he had a fair amount
of stainless steel pipe available. The pipe work between the boiler and the
radiators is therefore a mixture of copper and stainless steel.



We have had 3 quotes for replacing the boiler. The first guy didn't mention
the stainless steel at all, but the second 2 (one local plumber and one from
power gen) said the stainless steel was a problem and should be replaced. In
fact they both refused to quote for the job unless all the stainless steel
was replaced with copper, saying that the system would be prone to leaks
unless that was done, so they would be unable to guarantee the work. The
local plumber seemed particularly concerned about the stainless steel with
regards to the power flush he wanted to do.



However, when I spoke to the guy down at the local plumbing supply shop, who
seemed to know what he was talking about, he said that he couldn't see a
problem and there was no need to replace the stainless steel. And indeed, it
has been fine for the past 30 years or so.



If the stainless steel needs to be replaced, then I will do it myself, but
it's a big job with much of the pipe work buried in walls and under floors,
so I don't want to do it if it isn't necessary.



Would anyone care to venture an opinion ?


The stainless is not common (I have seen it only a couple of times before).
It should not be used with push fit plumbing. Compression joints are the
only way to make connections to it.

I would expect it to be as serviceable as the same age of copper pipe.
I.e. if it's not already leaking then it'll be just fine even with a
sealed system. Only the compression might leak a little under increased
pressure.

When working with larger companies there is a lot of backside fire
proofing.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:09:58 GMT, wrote:

Can't see any probs with stainless, but around that time (War in Katanga?
pushing up copper prices) there was some systems put in with a plated steel
pipe. These were poor from the start, and could be confused with stainless. I
doubt if any have not been replaced by now, but may be a reason why some
outfits want to replace non copper pipes.

Just added some copper pipe to my DHW system (new cylinder) and all the house
pipework is stainless - from the stopcock. Checked with magnet


Geo

On Nov 22, 3:47 pm, Geo wrote:
On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:09:58 GMT, wrote:
Can't see any probs with stainless, but around that time (War in Katanga?
pushing up copper prices) there was some systems put in with a plated steel
pipe. These were poor from the start, and could be confused with stainless. I
doubt if any have not been replaced by now, but may be a reason why some
outfits want to replace non copper pipes.

Just added some copper pipe to my DHW system (new cylinder) and all the house
pipework is stainless - from the stopcock. Checked with magnet

Geo

How do you "check for stainless" with a magnet? If the magnet sticks
it is /not/ stainless, if it doesn't then it might be stainless, or
copper, or ....

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:46:32 -0800 (PST), Martin Bonner
wrote:


How do you "check for stainless" with a magnet? If the magnet sticks
it is /not/ stainless, if it doesn't then it might be stainless, or
copper, or ....
Magnet does not attract at all. Silver colour - *much" harder than copper -
junior hack saw struggles... probably not titanium.


Geo

Geo wrote:
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:46:32 -0800 (PST), Martin Bonner
wrote:


How do you "check for stainless" with a magnet? If the magnet sticks
it is /not/ stainless, if it doesn't then it might be stainless, or
copper, or ....
Magnet does not attract at all. Silver colour - *much" harder than copper -
junior hack saw struggles... probably not titanium.



Titanium is easy - it feels warm to the touch.

Looks like polished ally otherwise.

Geo

In article ,
Geo wrote:
How do you "check for stainless" with a magnet? If the magnet sticks
it is /not/ stainless, if it doesn't then it might be stainless, or
copper, or ....

Magnet does not attract at all.

It does to at least some grades of stainless. Dunno what grade pipe is
made of.

--
* What do they call a coffee break at the Lipton Tea Company? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.