DIY/Home Improvement Thread

[tom27111]

Pm me if you fancy it @Strokes

 

You can join our secret FT WhatsApp Golf group chat.

 

It's VERY exclusive 

[Raj]

9 hours ago, Strokes said:

Yeah you too mate.

Yeah it’s been rough but it’s not the only reason I’ve lost interest. I used to go with my dad, watch and talk football with him every day and since he passed, I’ve not really got that anymore.

My kids aren’t interested and I work on my own, so it’s just petered a bit.

No doubt I’ll get it back at some point.

Feel free to pop over for coffee if your in thurnby way mate take your mind off things  chin up

[Raj]

9 hours ago, Izzy said:

That's for the kind offer mate, you're a legend. I'm about 25 mins SE of Milton Keynes.

 

I've decided to give it a go myself tomorrow  

 

We've just put our house back on the market and if we get any viewings this week the main room will be freezing so I need to get it done ASAP.

 

If I fvck it up or it doesn't work then I'll let you and take you up on your offer - and pay you for your time.

 

And if I electrocute myself and die in the process, it's been nice knowing you all 

Mate, dont do it!!!

 

Stick to detailing!

 

These jobs sound easy when a professional tells you to do it but it normally ends up in a mess 4 hours later, you in tears or worse still you'll be electrocuted.

Ive done many a 5 minute jobs which have ended in my rocking back and forth 7 hours later in tears wishing i hadn't started!

 

 

[Zear0]

Did @Izzysurvive the job?

[Izzy]

42 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

Did @Izzysurvive the job?

I'm still mentally preparing myself. Just spoke to my old man on FaceTime and showed him the job.

 

There's lots of different coloured wires to deal with.

 

Feels like I'm about to diffuse a bomb 

[Zear0]

6 minutes ago, Izzy said:

I'm still mentally preparing myself. Just spoke to my old man on FaceTime and showed him the job.

 

There's lots of different coloured wires to deal with.

 

Feels like I'm about to diffuse a bomb 

No matter one's age, dad's always need calling for DIY tips. 

[jgtuk]

15 minutes ago, Izzy said:

I'm still mentally preparing myself. Just spoke to my old man on FaceTime and showed him the job.

 

There's lots of different coloured wires to deal with.

 

Feels like I'm about to diffuse a bomb 

Lots? 
I presume that you have older wiring then, red, black and green and the new appliance has brown, blue and green/yellow. 
If so, red and brown, black and blue, green and green/yellow all correlate.  
It shouldn’t be more complicated than that hopefully 👍
edit. 
Before taking any wires out, photos on phone can be very useful. 

Edited 27 January by jgtuk
Addition

[Izzy]

38 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

Lots? 
I presume that you have older wiring then, red, black and green and the new appliance has brown, blue and green/yellow. 
If so, red and brown, black and blue, green and green/yellow all correlate.  
It shouldn’t be more complicated than that hopefully 👍
edit. 
Before taking any wires out, photos on phone can be very useful. 

I appreciate this probably looks like a piece of piss to you but it looks like a minefield to me!

 

 

[Izzy]

I think I’ve done it!

 

Got power to the new radiator and it’s heating up nice so think it’s sorted  and I didn't blow the house up in the process. 
 

Lessons learnt:

1. I’m a bit of a pussy

2. Sorry for being a drama queen about this

3. I think it’s all about having the confidence to try  (and using common sense)

 

Thanks again for all your help everyone. Feeling quite happy with myself tbh 

[jgtuk]

56 minutes ago, Izzy said:

I think I’ve done it!

 

Got power to the new radiator and it’s heating up nice so think it’s sorted  and I didn't blow the house up in the process. 
 

Lessons learnt:

1. I’m a bit of a pussy

2. Sorry for being a drama queen about this

3. I think it’s all about having the confidence to try  (and using common sense)

 

Thanks again for all your help everyone. Feeling quite happy with myself tbh 

See, it wasn't that bad

 

 

[ajthefox]

2 hours ago, Izzy said:

I think I’ve done it!

 

Got power to the new radiator and it’s heating up nice so think it’s sorted  and I didn't blow the house up in the process. 
 

Lessons learnt:

1. I’m a bit of a pussy

2. Sorry for being a drama queen about this

3. I think it’s all about having the confidence to try  (and using common sense)

 

Thanks again for all your help everyone. Feeling quite happy with myself tbh 

Electrics are scary.

 

I installed a new extractor fan earlier this year and it's first time I'd done anything electrical.

 

It made me nervous, but the mechanics of actually doing the thing were a piece of piss. I've got old wiring too so the bit that actually took the time was making sure I was comfortable with exactly which wire was going where.

 

I think fear is a big obstacle for people doing DIY in general. If you have the right tools a lot of it is pretty simple, it's the knowledge and the confidence.  

[sdb]

New house. I want to get shelves or a unit put up either side of the chimney in the living room, but decent ones to a high standard. Sharps are coming to give me a quote but I know that'll be stupid money. Where else can I look? Yes, I'm bad enough not to diy

[jgtuk]

Just now, sdb said:

New house. I want to get shelves or a unit put up either side of the chimney in the living room, but decent ones to a high standard. Sharps are coming to give me a quote but I know that'll be stupid money. Where else can I look? Yes, I'm bad enough not to diy

Independent builder or carpenter might be worthwhile considering. 

[Royston.]

10 hours ago, Izzy said:

I'm still mentally preparing myself. Just spoke to my old man on FaceTime and showed him the job.

 

There's lots of different coloured wires to deal with.

 

Feels like I'm about to diffuse a bomb 

[Wolfox]

Two pages to learn that a bloke can wire in a plug…

 

I was totally invested though… 😆 

 

I’ll pop on here if I ever need advice on how to empty the vacuum cleaner bag!

Edited 28 January by Wolfox

[Dr The Singh]

1 hour ago, Wolfox said:

Two pages to learn that a bloke can wire in plug…

 

I was totally invested though… 😆 

 

I’ll pop on here if I ever need advice on how to empty the vacuum cleaner bag!

That's a question for wife and a dare not even mention the vacuum cleaner............otherwise she will give me the lecture on how I don't do foook all around the house.   

 

Too dangerous, I'm out.

[FoxesWalk]

Can someone who has done it before recommend me the best tool to buy to remove old patio mortar before repointing? Seems conflicting advice online RE angle grinders yes or no, looks sensible enough option to me… 

[Wolfox]

18 minutes ago, FoxesWalk said:

Can someone who has done it before recommend me the best tool to buy to remove old patio mortar before repointing? Seems conflicting advice online RE angle grinders yes or no, looks sensible enough option to me… 

Depends on the thickness of the joints…. An angle grinder could be a little agricultural, but your only other option Ian’s multi tool…. That’s what I used for tile grout

 

 

[FoxesWalk]

35 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

Depends on the thickness of the joints…. An angle grinder could be a little agricultural, but your only other option Ian’s multi tool…. That’s what I used for tile grout

 

 

They’re pretty wide, easily 20mm I reckon 

Edited 3 March by FoxesWalk

[Wolfox]

10 minutes ago, FoxesWalk said:

They’re pretty wide, easily 20mm I reckon 

Angle grinder then I’d say…. Avoid chisels as you’ll damage the patio !

[FoyleFox]

Are any of you qualified plumbers?

 

If you do a chemical flush on a central heating system following a new boiler installation, do you need to attend to each rad as it's happening?

We and the builder did a flush when we had kitchen work and new rads a couple of years ago, I think it involved heating the system, checking/bleeding each rad, draining and refilling. Reheating the system.

When our new boiler was installed, they claimed to have completed a chemical flush, but we know the above steps weren't done. Are they an absolute necessity?

 

Some of our rads are no longer heating up, which makes us think there is debris from the boiler install. The installer claims he did do the flush.

(Same installed didn't tighten the boiler valves, causing a leak and ruining the recently fitted utility room, so I'm sceptical on his competence).

Edited 4 March by FoyleFox

[The Year Of The Fox]

1 hour ago, FoyleFox said:

Are any of you qualified plumbers?

 

If you do a chemical flush on a central heating system following a new boiler installation, do you need to attend to each rad as it's happening?

We and the builder did a flush when we had kitchen work and new rads a couple of years ago, I think it involved heating the system, checking/bleeding each rad, draining and refilling. Reheating the system.

When our new boiler was installed, they claimed to have completed a chemical flush, but we know the above steps weren't done. Are they an absolute necessity?

 

Some of our rads are no longer heating up, which makes us think there is debris from the boiler install. The installer claims he did do the flush.

(Same installed didn't tighten the boiler valves, causing a leak and ruining the recently fitted utility room, so I'm sceptical on his competence).

Qualified plumber here 👋 

 

 

Officially you’re supposed to flush the system out again yes. 
 

Depending on the chemical cleaner you used depends whether the entire system and each rad needs to be drained. If a chemical like X 400 was used then the system doesn’t need to be completely drained. If you use X 800, which is a stronger chemical than 400, then the system should be drained completely and emptied of all the chemical within a couple of weeks of putting the chemical in the system.

 

It’s possible that draining the heating has dragged crap further down the pipes, blocking them and preventing the radiators from working. I had that happen to me once recently.

 

Is it microbore 8/10mm pipe work to each radiator or 15mm?

 

Note that a flush out as you describe is completely different to a power flush which should get all the crap out, but can leave old rads/pipe work susceptible to leaks at weak points, especially if your new system is a pressurised system. 
 

Did you have a boiler filter fitted? These are excellent 

[FoyleFox]

13 minutes ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

Qualified plumber here 👋 

 

 

Officially you’re supposed to flush the system out again yes. 
 

Depending on the chemical cleaner you used depends whether the entire system and each rad needs to be drained. If a chemical like X 400 was used then the system doesn’t need to be completely drained. If you use X 800, which is a stronger chemical than 400, then the system should be drained completely and emptied of all the chemical within a couple of weeks of putting the chemical in the system.

 

It’s possible that draining the heating has dragged crap further down the pipes, blocking them and preventing the radiators from working. I had that happen to me once recently.

 

Is it microbore 8/10mm pipe work to each radiator or 15mm?

 

Note that a flush out as you describe is completely different to a power flush which should get all the crap out, but can leave old rads/pipe work susceptible to leaks at weak points, especially if your new system is a pressurised system. 
 

Did you have a boiler filter fitted? These are excellent 

Thanks. The cleaner used was ADEY MC3. It definitely wasn't a power flush, just the chemical one. Although, we're sceptical that they actually did it. Depending on your answer to the question below, we may be able to prove they didn't.

The instructions for the MC3 are:

How to use
Introduce MC3+ to the system via the filling loop or radiator using a suitable injector, or via a MagnaClean® filter.
Clean and flush the system as recommended in BS7593 using ADEY MagnaCleanse® and MC3+. Following the
cleanse, drain and flush thoroughly until the water runs clear. Refill the system and add the correct dosage of
MC1+ for the optimum protection against the build-up of corrosion and limescale.
MC3+ Cleaner should be circulated in the system for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 28 days.

 

BIB - Can you flush/circulate just using the pump or do you need to switch the heating on to do it?

 

We've got microbore 8/10mm pipes to the rads, which are all probably too old to survive a power flush - 20+ years. But, we do have a boiler filter.

[The Year Of The Fox]

18 minutes ago, FoyleFox said:

Thanks. The cleaner used was ADEY MC3. It definitely wasn't a power flush, just the chemical one. Although, we're sceptical that they actually did it. Depending on your answer to the question below, we may be able to prove they didn't.

The instructions for the MC3 are:

How to use
Introduce MC3+ to the system via the filling loop or radiator using a suitable injector, or via a MagnaClean® filter.
Clean and flush the system as recommended in BS7593 using ADEY MagnaCleanse® and MC3+. Following the
cleanse, drain and flush thoroughly until the water runs clear. Refill the system and add the correct dosage of
MC1+ for the optimum protection against the build-up of corrosion and limescale.
MC3+ Cleaner should be circulated in the system for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 28 days.

 

BIB - Can you flush/circulate just using the pump or do you need to switch the heating on to do it?

 

We've got microbore 8/10mm pipes to the rads, which are all probably too old to survive a power flush - 20+ years. But, we do have a boiler filter.

Well, if you’re asking whether the pump will circulate without the boiler actually firing up, then yes, it should be possible. 
 

Personally, I’d stick the heating on too though, and if problems with your heating system were made aware to me prior to the boiler swap, I might’ve come round a couple of weeks prior to stick the cleaner in and get it circulating properly.

 

I do sympathise though with any plumber in this sort of situation.
 

Using that cleaner and flushing does not guarantee a problem free heating system at all. Particularly with microbore as it’s renowned for clogging up, and obviously the bore of the pipe is much smaller than 15mm.

 

He might’ve done a flush properly, he may not have, but you still may have had this problem- Plumbing is shit
 

Im assuming you’ve checked all lock shields are open on the radiators that aren’t working? And that TRVs if fitted are fully open and the pins under the head aren’t seized? Have you temporarily turned off all the rads that are getting hot, and tried to force the water through the rads that aren’t working? (Potential air lock) 

 

Edit- you’d be able to be certain you’ve a blocked pipe by taking one of the rads off after isolating it on the valves. Once the rads removed you can carefully open one valve, into an ice cream tub or something. The water should blast/spray out if it’s not blocked. Do the same with each valve.

 

It still doesn’t mean the guys not flushed it out properly though, and again, I do feel for a plumber in this sort of scenario. I understand a flush etc will have been part of the quote, and your comeback will be that he’s not done the work as quoted. Believe me though, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the lack of flush has caused this. Like I say, plumbing is shite 

Edited 4 March by The Year Of The Fox

[FoyleFox]

6 minutes ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

Well, if you’re asking whether the pump will circulate without the boiler actually firing up, then yes, it should be possible. 
 

Personally, I’d stick the heating on too though, and if problems with your heating system were made aware to me prior to the boiler swap, I might’ve come round a couple of weeks prior to stick the cleaner in and get it circulating properly.

 

I do sympathise though with any plumber in this sort of situation.
 

Using that cleaner and flushing does not guarantee a problem free heating system at all. Particularly with microbore as it’s renowned for clogging up, and obviously the bore of the pipe is much smaller than 15mm.

 

He might’ve done a flush properly, he may not have, but you still may have had this problem- Plumbing is shit
 

Im assuming you’ve checked all lock shields are open on the radiators that aren’t working? And that TRVs if fitted are fully open and the pins under the head aren’t seized? Have you temporarily turned off all the rads that are getting hot, and tried to force the water through the rads that aren’t working? (Potential air lock) 

The system and rads were all working fine prior to the swap, they all got hot every time the heating fired up. They all worked on install day and for a few days after. 

The only issue we had was with the boiler fan, old age so didn't always fire up and, given the age of the boiler, it wasn't worth just replacing the fan.  

 

We turn off the rads to get the non-working ones working, that usually sorts it but, then the next time the heating fires up, they don't always work. Fine yesterday morning, but not in the evening.  We've been doing this for over 2 weeks now. The plumber came back 3 weeks ago (to look at the leak damage) and rebalanced them, for the second time, but the problem persists.

 

With the flush, we know from our energy stats the heating only went on 30 minutes before they left, so, hoped it needed to go on to circulate the chemical. If the pump can do it, that's killed that theory. Said plumber has given different and vague answers regarding the flush process he did, so it's adding to our scepticism and debris would explain the rad issue. It was just a theory. I've just emailed the quotes for the replacement / repair work required in the utility, with an update the rads aren't working again. I'll await their next plan. Cheers for the advice.