Central heating pipe pipework.

[kenbro]

Hi,
Wifey and I have just been to visit a daughter for her Birthday Anni.
On leaving her home we noticed (Few months ago she had gas central heating fitted.) there were 1 inch copper pipes running from her porch, (Gas meter here) up to her lounge window, along under the window then up to her front bedroom area and through the wall, all on the outside of the house!
These pipes are not boxed in.
As yet I don’t know what the pipes carry.
I’ve never known central heating pipework to be outside before.
The work was done using a grant to pay.
Does this sound okay/legal.
Haven’t talked with daughter about it yet.
Thanks, Ken.

 

[Mike1979]

It must be carrying the gas as there is no way you would run anything else in copper. We have a gas hob and thats run in copper along the outside wall (we are somewhat remote) so LPG.

 

[Jim Hutton]

Almost. certainly gas pipes. Contractors place them outside because it is easier to route them. Unless you insist on a better route for you as the consumer. I hate surface pipework especially outside on the brick walls but unless you are there to stop them doing it ……..

 

[wytonpjs]

Sounds like gas supply to me. 90 degree bend introduce pressure drop so supply end needs to be larger if a long run. We had 28mm running from the meter into the kitchen, 90 deg bend into 22mm, up to ceiling, 90 deg bend into ceiling void with 2 x 90 deg bends mid-course before emerging into our outhouse with another 4 x 90 deg bends before it reached the boiler. After that lot, we had low pressure! During renovations, I dug a trench around the house to feed the boiler straight through the outshot wall - I felt a lot safer, especially having mistaken a 15mm copper gas pipe once for water pipe and cut into it (thankfully not with an angle grinder ). However, such ground works cost money - in my case not for the digging as I had a mini-digger, but to have the supply connections properly connected and certified by a CORGI member wasn't cheap. If this was grant-funded, expect the lowest cost job!

 

[suburban bushwacker]

Considered safer, needs to be marked as gas, with the correct shade of yellow tape ( yep there's a RAL number), there is question mark over the use of plastic clips which could trap condensation leading to corrosion - I always used Munson's but you do see a lot of plastic Tallons still being used. Any doubts or concerns ring Gas Safe.

 

[Brighty3006]

most certainly a gas pipe to supply correct pressure at the boiler. Incorrect working pressure at the boiler is a no no with these new condensing boilers. It will be bloody cold if that pipe ever freezes

 

[kenbro]

I knew I’d get the answer here on SD.
Thanks for all replies.
Ken.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Good to see I'm not alone in running a gas pipe externally! Had to replace my boiler shortly after a kitchen refit and wasn't keen to part remove units and channel a long length of wall to take a new 22mm copper pipe as the old was 15mm. Will attend to latter this year.

K

 

[Turkish]

It's the gas supply. In the good 'ol days we used to paint gas pipes pink to indicate what they contained.

Probably upset the MGBGT crowd doing that these days.....................