The radiator circuits in most modern wet central heating systems are made from standard 15mm copper pipe, while the pipes that link the boiler, pump and points where the circuits split off will be 22mm or 28mm in diameter.

Do a boilers need a 22mm gas pipes?

For combi boilers to provide instant heating and hot water on demand, they need a high volume of gas in a short space of time. As a result, Gas Safe regulations now state that gas supply pipes from the meter to a combi boiler must be at least 22mm.

What diameter are central heating pipes?





Pipes for central heating systems can be either copper or plastic, and come in many sizes from 8mm to 35mm in diameter. In domestic central heating systems the most common pipe sizes are 28mm, 22mm and 15mm.

What pipes connect to boiler?

You will find seven pipes attached to the boiler:

  • A gas supply pipe.
  • Mains cold water inlet.
  • Hot water outlet.
  • Central heating flow pipe.
  • Central heating return pipe.
  • Pressure relief pipe.
  • Condensate pipe.

Do I need 28mm gas pipe?

Yes, if the pipe run is longish, 22mm can be inadequate. There are calcs to work this out before install – always better than guesswork, especially when it’s known it’s a ‘long’ run. (The water leak has nothing to do with the gas pressure). If it turns out that you really do need 28mm pipe, then that’s what you need.

Is 10mm copper pipe OK for central heating?





The bottom line is, if you want a modern high performance heating system in a normal sized home or larger, it’s unlikely to be achieved on 8 or 10mm pipes.

How big are heating pipes?

The radiator circuits in most modern wet central heating systems are made from standard 15mm copper pipe, while the pipes that link the boiler, pump and points where the circuits split off will be 22mm or 28mm in diameter.

When should I use 22mm central heating?

For 22mm pipe the maximum load would be about 22 kW. So, if your total heating requirement is greater than 10 kW (34000 Btu/hr) then you will have use 22mm – at least up to a point where you tee off into separate heating zones.

Can you run a combi boiler on 15mm pipe?

According to Gas Safe regulations, a 22mm supply pipe must be fitted from the combi boiler to the meter. So, if you have an old 15mm pipe, it must be replaced.

How do I calculate gas pipe size?



To obtain the cubic feet per hour of gas required, divide the input of the appliances by the average Btu (kW. h) heating value per cubic foot of the gas. The average Btu per cubic foot is 1,100. Longest Length Method.

What is standard pipe size?

The most common standard diameters are as follow: 0.5 inch (15 mm), 0.75 inch (20 mm), 1 inch (25 mm), 1.5 inch (40 mm), 2 inch (50 mm), 3 inch (80 mm), 4 inch (100 mm), 6 inch (150 mm), 8 inch (200 mm), 10 inch (250 mm), 12 inch (300 mm), 14 inch (350 mm), 16 inch (400 mm), 18 inch (450 mm), 20 inch (500 mm), 22 inch …

How do you size a pipe?

Tubing is measured by the OUTSIDE DIAMETER (O.D.), specified in inches (e.g., 1.250) or fraction of an inch (eg. 1-1/4″). Pipe is usually measured by NOMINAL PIPE SIZE (NPS). Although it is related to the outside diameter, it is significantly different.

How do I calculate pipe size?



The equation for pipe diameter is the square root of 4 times the flow rate divided by pi times velocity. For example, given a flow rate of 1,000 inches per second and a velocity of 40 cubic inches per second, the diameter would be the square root of 1000 times 4 divided by 3.14 times 40 or 5.64 inches.

How important is pipe size selection?

By selecting an economic pipe diameter for the designed flow rate, the system will have maximum efficiency. As one increases the pipe diameter, the cost of the pipe increases but the pressure drop decreases, so that less power is required to pump the liquid.

What size is the water supply pipe?

The most common pipe diameter for water mains is 6 to 16 inches, with 8, 10, and 12 inches also being used. Branch lines providing service to individual homes, offices, buildings, and businesses vary in size from as small as half an inch in diameter up to 6 inches.