UK Plumbing

Plumbing problems in the UK? Ask a plumber now.

Connect one-on-one with {0} who will answer your question

This answer was rated:

★★★★★

I and several other owners on the upper floors of my block…

I and several other owners...

I and several other owners on the upper floors of my block of flats have installed combi boilers.We were advised this is currently industry standard for flats these days. We have experienced interruptions of supply at peak times and spluttering taps (due to airlocks?) throughout the day. Other flats on the ground floor have the old boiler system. I gather the problem arises from the fact that the combis are connected to the mains. We've had different advice about how to resolve this - 1) the main inlet to the building needs to be upgraded to provide increased volume to allow all flats to receive water; 2) that the combi boiler owners need to re-configure their pipes to fit the existing system. However, I suspect option 2 will do nothing to improve the water flow if no water is even reaching the upper floors in the first place. Also, the system has not been upgraded since the block was built fifty years ago. I therefore worry that reconfiguring the pipes in individual flats will just be a waste of time and money. What do you think?

Show Less

Ask Your Own UK Plumbing Question

Answered in 6 hours by:

2/7/2012

Plumber: Brian, Plumber replied 11 years ago

Brian, Plumber

Category: UK Plumbing

Satisfied Customers: 900

Experience: 16 yrs. experience as plumber, including full bathroom and kitchen installations.

Verified

emianplumbing :

Hi my name isXXXXX have been in the Plumbing & Heating trade for approximately 15 years, lets see if i can help. Your absolutely right with your thoughts, if there is not enough water to go round then it doesnt really matter how you re-configure the pipe work, i am also at a loss as to how you re-configure the main supply pipe work to suit a combi. If you upgrade the main supply into the building it wont neccarsarily change a lot, it depends on the water pressure you have and the size of the supply pipe in the road, you have to remember that it may not be your block of flats that is the problem it could be the demand from the other properties in your road.

Customer:

Brian,

Customer:

Thank you for your reply. To supplement this, Thames Water have been called in and have confirmed the water pressure at street level is above satisfactory levels, so the problem seems to be in the block of flats. I think what is being suggested is that in some way the pipes installed inside the flats when combi boilers were put in have to be "reconfigured". But how would this help if the volume through the mains pipe was insufficient? If the pipe was made smaller, a) the combi might not work or b) we would have the old problem of a trickle of water which the combi was designed to replace. We are being told the issue arises because many people have installed combis connecting pipes to the mains. Given it's not an external problem, it seemed more likely the mains inlet to the building might need upgrading. But residents obviously don't want to outlay money if it won't resolve the problem. So given the above what is your best guess for a way forward? Thanks.

emianplumbing :

Did thames say what the pressure was by any chance? there requirements are not always that high. As long as there pipework can supply your demand then you would need to look at increasing the diameter of the rising main inside the block of flats, you need more flow basically. I cant see that anything you do inside your flats will have an effect, your main from your stopcock is only 15mm anyway so you cant decrease that. I would ask Thames what they suggest because they know what size main supply you have and what pressure there is to it. and that information is the key to whether or not a larger rising main in your block would work.

Customer:

Thanks for the further advice. The only info I have is that Thames Water have confirmed "the pressure at street level is above the legal minimum". The management company contends the problem is from Thames turning down water pressure in London as policy to meet leakage targets and people in the flat connecting boilers direct to the mains (combi boilers). But if that's the case I think the building needs updating, not the flats!

Customer:

Thanks again for your advice.

emianplumbing :

The water companies were told to turn down the supply in off peak times, they took to slowing pressure down from 9pm onwards and lower after 12. However this still had to be kept at legal minimum pressure. you could ask the building manager about installing a booster set.

Brian, Plumber

Category: UK Plumbing

Satisfied Customers: 900

Experience: 16 yrs. experience as plumber, including full bathroom and kitchen installations.

Verified

Brian and 87 other UK Plumbing Specialists are ready to help you

Ask your own question now

Was this answer helpful?

Yes

How JustAnswer works

Describe your issueThe assistant will guide you

Chat 1:1 with a plumberLicensed Experts are available 24/7

100% satisfaction guaranteeGet all the answers you need

Related UK Plumbing Questions

I have an Ideal RS40 combi boiler, the control knob is set

I have an Ideal RS40 combi boiler, the control knob is set to O (for off) however the boiler fires up when requested by stat. when set on any other thermal setting e.g 1-6 the boiler will not fire up.… read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

I drained down the hot water cylinder to do some work on the

I drained down the hot water cylinder to do some work on the shower, and now when I turn on any hot water tap (we have both pumped hot water and non-pumped taps), the taps run hot and fast for 10 seco… read more

canuck the pro

16,331 satisfied customers

I have had a 'sewer' type smell coming from the water tank

I have had a 'sewer' type smell coming from the water tank cupboard in my flat. It started on Thursday which was when I put the heating on but it now seems unrelated to my heating. The cupboard has a … read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

To:- my.Justanswer.com 19/8/15 ADVICE NEEDED ABOUT HOME

to:- my.Justanswer.com 19/8/15 ADVICE NEEDED ABOUT HOME HEATING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT BOILER & ACCESSORIES:- - HOTWATER LIMESCALE PREVENTER (on tap side of s/s plate heat exchanger) - DIRT SEPARATOR/FILT… read more

Brian

Plumber

900 satisfied customers

Hi, symptoms: no central heating on an ideal C32; hypothesis

Hi, symptoms: no central heating on an ideal C32; hypothesis is airlocks as boiler the hghest part of the system. removed pump and looks ok and sounds like it is working; removed and cleaned automatic… read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

can you advise on a likely cause of a problem with

Hi Doug can you advise on a likely cause of a problem with a Vaillant ecotec plus 831. There is no water or very low pressure coming from all the bathroom taps. B4 christmas the could sink tap worked.… read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

In July I had no hot water and the the pressure was right down

In July I had no hot water and the the pressure was right down in the red. British Gas came and fitted two O rings to 3 way valve. The same thing happened yesterday and I have no hot water or central … read more

Rick Ridley

Retired, well Semi,

30 years on the tools

2,707 satisfied customers

Hello there, I have 5-7 small bedsits in my house in London

Hello there, I have 5-7 small bedsits in my house in London (UK) and want to install a Borcester Bosch Highflow 550 CDI combi boiler for central heating and hot water. Can I do the zoning for central … read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

Hi - I have a combi boiler worchester 37d and the water pressure

Hi - I have a combi boiler worchester 37d and the water pressure is very low in the showers plus all the showers have low pressure with mix of cold and hot water not happening - either too hot or too … read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

we have a 5 bed detached house with 15 rads 1 bath 1 ensuite

we have a 5 bed detached house with 15 rads 1 bath 1 ensuite with 2 elec showers may convert one to mains we want to replace our sime floor standing gas boiler with a combi can you recommend one thank… read more

Brian

Plumber

900 satisfied customers

I have had a condensing Worcester boiler that has been in for

I have had a condensing Worcester boiler that has been in for a year. I now find that the metered water bill has gone up about 5 fold. I'm sure I've eliminated all other possibilities and it now looks… read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

i am plumbing up my heating system ready for my oil boiler

i am plumbing up my heating system ready for my oil boiler to be installed (second hand firebird 150 ) how do i tell what pipes go were? boiler has four outlets so am a bit confused, please help… read more

Brian

Plumber

900 satisfied customers

When I flush either of the upstairs toilets, they make a loud

When I flush either of the upstairs toilets, they make a loud "groaning" or "fog horn" noise. The cold water pipe seems to vibrate until the cistern re fills with water. The house is approximately 5 y… read more

Chamberlain Maintenance

Plumber

324 satisfied customers

Am buying a house that has a gas back boiler behind the living

Am buying a house that has a gas back boiler behind the living room gas fire. Nver had any experience with gas central heating before - always lived in rural areas with oil fired boiler or solid fuel … read more

Rick Ridley

Retired, well Semi,

30 years on the tools

2,707 satisfied customers

Hi, Id like some advice on issues we are having with the

Hi, I'd like some advice on issues we are having with the newly installed plumbing system in our home. We completely renovated the property (a former pub) and our plumber was free to put in a complete… read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

I live the ground floor flat of a converted, terraced house

I live in the ground floor flat of a converted, terraced house built around 1910. A few months ago my upstairs neighbour replaced his old boiler and water tank with a combi boiler. After that, a pipe … read more

Andrew Smith

M&E Project Manager

Vocational, Technical or Trade Scho

3,091 satisfied customers

Hi. Three months ago we had a new combi boiler plus and all

Hi. Three months ago we had a new combi boiler plus and all new radiators fitted. Within a very short time we head a 'knocking' noise from the pipes. Called back the installer and he told us us that t… read more

Rick Ridley

Retired, well Semi,

30 years on the tools

2,707 satisfied customers

hot water tap - little or no water coming out. Starts ok then

hot water tap - little or no water coming out. Starts ok then within seconds stops running. Hot water system fires as normal. Have tried the suggestion to cure air lock with limited success. Thanks.… read more

Rick Ridley

Retired, well Semi,

30 years on the tools

2,707 satisfied customers

Disclaimer: Information in questions answers, and Show Less

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.

JustAnswer in the News:

What Customers are Saying:

You did one super job of explaining to me everything there is to know about this fridge. I'm looking forward to asking you questions in the future.
JimmyBagley, IA

Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn't have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help.
Mary C.Freshfield, Liverpool, UK

This expert is wonderful. They truly know what they are talking about, and they actually care about you. They really helped put my nerves at ease. Thank you so much!!!!
AlexLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for all your help. It is nice to know that this service is here for people like myself, who need answers fast and are not sure who to consult.
GPHesperia, CA

I couldn't be more satisfied! This is the site I will always come to when I need a second opinion.
JustinKernersville, NC

Just let me say that this encounter has been entirely professional and most helpful. I liked that I could ask additional questions and get answered in a very short turn around.
EstherWoodstock, NY

Thank you so much for taking your time and knowledge to support my concerns. Not only did you answer my questions, you even took it a step further with replying with more pertinent information I needed to know.
RobinElkton, Maryland

< Previous | Next >

Meet the Experts:

Chamberlain Maintenance

Plumber

324 satisfied customers

Qualified Plumber with over 17 years experience in Domestic & Commercial plumbing.

qwasert

Plumber

212 satisfied customers

Condensing and Combi Boilers

Dan_Robinson

Plumber

33 satisfied customers

Owner and Director of Jennings Heating Ltd. Registered to work with Gas and High pressure hot water systems.

Elliott Louis

Plumber

15 satisfied customers

Lead engineer at eogasservice

Brian

Plumber

900 satisfied customers

16 yrs. experience as plumber, including full bathroom and kitchen installations.

bshull17

Architect

2,153 satisfied customers

Licensed Architect- 17 years, L.E.E.D. AP

The Home Smithy

Home Builder

2,085 satisfied customers

#1 Home Improvement Expert 30+ years experience

< Previous | Next >

Show MoreShow Less