As heating systems become more energy efficient, they also increase in complexity. Traditionally, a system would require high-temperature water, which can cause wasteful overheating and high energy use. As heating engineers, we now need to think about energy usage on behalf of our clients, not only for the benefit of the environmental impact of carbon emissions but also for our customer’s pockets. With this, you, as the expert, have to take on even more responsibility to engineer the system’s heat source and emitters. This is where Multipipe’s Pumpstations can help you enormously in the design of your next project. Increasing the efficiency and comfort for your customer, especially in older renovation work, it can mean different running temperatures are required in a single-temperature system.   It is common to use different heat emitters for different floors or rooms. Usually, you have just two choices: Remove the existing heat emitters, resize the […]

Are Heat Pumps the Future? The latest government announcement offers homeowners an incentive of up to £5,000 to fit a renewable source heat pump instead of a gas boiler in a bid to help the UK meet its net carbon goals.   For the end-user, this may seem an excellent benefit when it comes to finally changing their boiler because according to the energy-saving trust, it costs an average of £2,300 to replace a boiler, and a heat pump can be between £6,000-£8,000, of course, this depends on system size and complexity. So, having £5,000 knocked off the bill will be very tempting to the end-user.     However, the issue is not as simple as it may first seem. We’ve listed some potential challenges below, with assumed costs so you can see where the pitfalls may lie.    The age of properties What seems to be missing with this grant is the […]

Eight MLCP Pipe Myths Busted If you’re using copper or pushfit plumbing pipe, there can be doubts which stop you from making the change to Multipipe MLCP. We’re here to help bust some popular myths and maybe give you a reason to make the change to a modern piping solution.  Myth One – MLCP is expensive  MLCP pipe is actually cheaper than copper; however, you may find the fittings more expensive than copper, but you’ll use far fewer of them and be able to complete your install much faster couple this is a much faster installation time you can get onto the next job quicker. Therefore, you’ll save money on the job overall. Don’t forget that MLCP isn’t susceptible to theft like copper is as there is no re-sale value in it!    Myth Two – Plastic is bad for the environment  Undoubtedly, we’re all aware of the damage single-use plastics can do to the environment, but Multipipe MLCP is designed with […]

The Importance of Commissioning Your Underfloor Heating System This #TechTuesday article will explain why it’s vital to commission, or ‘balance’ as it’s also known, your underfloor heating system.   Underfloor Heating Flowmeters  When a traditional radiator system runs (without balancing), you will find that some radiators are warmer than others. This is because water takes the path of least resistance and flows (typically) around the radiator closest to the boiler. We fit lockshield valves to increase the resistance to the closest radiators, ensuring the water is pushed around the entire system. The same applies to your underfloor heating system.    Unlike a radiator system, you do not have lockshields with underfloor heating. Instead, you have located on your manifold a flowmeter. These serve two purposes; they should flow through the loop but also help adjust the balance. Adjusting the flowmeters depending on the size of the loop in the floor will help ensure optimum efficiency and […]

What is VDI2035, and why do I need it? VDI2035 is a set of water quality guidelines for heating water developed in 2009 by the Association of German Engineers. The equivalent in the UK would be BS7593; however, the construction industry widely accepts that the VDI2035 is based on stronger scientific evidence and is much more in-depth. Compared to the VDI2035, the UK’s equivalent set of regulations for heating water is quite brief and vague. Many engineers argue this leads to an inability to interpret or follow proper health and safety guidelines. In addition, professionals recognise the VDI2035 as a set of corrosion preventative measures within water-heating systems. In contrast, the methods commonly employed in the UK are typically a reaction to existing corrosion. Traditional UK methods use potentially harmful and unnecessary chemical inhibitors. What doesVDI2035 include? There are three important parts to the VDI2035, outlined below: Part 1: Scale […]

How MLCP helps homes with hard water Whether you are a professional fitter or just starting out, it is important you understand the long-term damage that hard water can cause to your pipes and how you can prevent the build-up of limescale. Hard water is quite common in urban regions of the UK, particularly in the south and east of the country. If you are concerned about the quality of water in your area and its impact on the health and efficiency of your clients’ pipes, it is important that you find if hard water is common where you live by talking to your local water supplier. If you live in a place which is prone to high levels of limescale, such as London, it might be worth investing in MLCP. The smooth inside of the MLCP is a great tool to prevent the build-up of limescale and calcification within […]

Ten reasons to swap from copper or push-fit to MLCP A multi-layer composite pipe (MLCP) comprises a central aluminium layer and an inner and outer layer of a polyethene raised temperature (PE-RT) plastic coating. MLCP piping is increasingly popular and, because of its many advantages, it now outsells copper and push-fit piping across Europe. Here are ten reasons to swap from copper or push-fit to MLCP. Fewer connections As MLCP pipes can be manufactured in longer lengths than traditional copper piping, they require far fewer connections. The reduction in fittings saves time during installation compared with copper, where new connections are needed for each bend and obstacle. Fewer fittings also save money and lower the chance of leaks occurring. Check out our MLCP coils here Better hygiene MLCP offers a reduction in biofilm buildup compared with copper. While copper is antibacterial, MLCP piping is protected during transport and storage, reducing […]