Urban Plumbers
Maximizing Your Condensing Gas Boilers Efficiency
updated
In this video, I take you through a retrofit installation of an air source heat pump from Vaillant. We replace an oil boiler with Vaillant Arotherm Plus 5kW heat pump and discuss the improvements to the new set up over the existing oil boiler in terms of comfort and running cost.
Link to this system Open Energy Monitor Page:
emoncms.org/app/view?name=MyHeatpump&readkey=39327cf9e5ad88b570978353d2ce87f9
Click here to get a heat pump quote from Urban Plumbers:
https://app.spruce.eco/urban-plumbers#step0
In this video, I show you how to design a heating system pipework like a true pro. We discuss the following topics:
- heat loss calculations
- how to read pump graphs
- how to calculate pressure loss
- how to size pipework
- what software and apps I use to design my heating system
The concepts discussed in this video are based on a real-life air source heat pump retrofit installation that Urban Plumbers completed in Hook. On this installation, we have done the following:
- replaced a 37kW system boiler with a 7kW Vaillant Arotherm Plus Heat Pump
- replaced 300l horizontal cylinder with a bespoke 225l cylinder from Newark with a 4m2 coil
- upgraded all primary pipework sized for a low temperature and low velocity set up
You can see the performance of this system on the Open Energy Monitor website here:
emoncms.org/app/view?name=MyHeatpump&readkey=c7f9e8b5411b994bddfa86484725913d
The link to the design files is here:
'coming very very soon - promise'
Link to my website:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
In this video, Szymon (Urban Plumber) & Adam from Heat Geek visit a brand new development in Deepcut, Surrey to investigate why all of the heat pumps installed there provide a very poor performance. We talk to the residents trying to understand what went wrong with those installations and we also try to see what can be done to improve those systems.
Installed units are Mitsubishi Ecodans ranging from 6.5kW to 11.2kW and the scops they achieve are well below the minimum MCS recommended scops of 2.8.
If you want to learn how to install those systems correctly, click below:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20
In this episode, I take Adam Chapman from Heat Geek to Rye to visit a B&B running on 100% renewable heating and hot water with solar PV, heat pumps, and a couple of mixergy cylinders.
Heat Geek Youtube channel:
youtube.com/@HeatGeek
In this video, we are looking at a heat pump installation in a high heat loss property with an underfloor heating system from Jupiter.
jupiterunderfloorheating.com
In this video, I show you how to bring your underfloor heating to a modern standard and how to make sure it will be compatible with a heat pump in the future.
My First ever cascade heat pump installation. Also, my first-ever NIBE heat pumps installation.
Link to full system monitoring below:
Both units:
emoncms.org/app/view?name=TOTAL&readkey=a72728b217d080b1b6cd9964828f9875
Heat Pump 1
emoncms.org/app/view?name=ASHP1&readkey=a72728b217d080b1b6cd9964828f9875
Heat Pump 2
emoncms.org/app/view?name=ASHP2&readkey=a72728b217d080b1b6cd9964828f9875
My heat pump is now up and running. You can see its live performance on Open Energy Monitor right here:
emoncms.org/app/view?name=MyHeatpump&readkey=01e597cf3496f263957c7e693b25388a
In this video, we are checking if electric vans are suitable for heating engineers. Long-term review of a Nissan EN-V 200 electric van.
In this video I show you just how efficient a weather-compensated and low-temperature heating with a gas boiler can be.
Here, I hack my own Glow Worm boiler to work with Vaillant controls.
In this video, I take you through a full installation of a heating system with an air source heat pump and UFH throughout a property undergoing major renovations.
For booking contact me here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
In this video I am meeting with Tommy Jones from Alton & Jones Heating Solutions, to discuss the new and exciting heat pump hybrid from Intgeras, the so-called Intergas Xtend.
In this video, I take you through an air source heat pump retrofit. We are installing a 7kW unit into a 4-bedroom fully detached house including for: new radiators, new pipework, and full UFH to the ground floor.
For booking please visit my website here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
I am going back to a heat pump that I repaired and re-piped 2 months ago, but still couldn't get the required flow rates through it.
Link to the original video:
youtu.be/Gn9huaryC_E?si=qm03ucnvHuGUEZZQ
Find out what was wrong with this 17kW Grant Air Source Heat Pump
Today we are doing a small experiment to see if buffers or low loss headers are really needed on heat pump installations.
In this video, I take you through a full installation of an air source heat pump from Vaillant (Arotherm Plus 7kW) into a typical 1980-built UK house.
Visit my website here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
Heat pump flexible hoses installation trick that every installer should know.
In this video, we are looking at a full renovation of a 4-bedroom house and the installation of a new super-efficient heating system with a Vaillant Arotherm Plus 7kW air source heat pump.
I also make an argument, that in renovated properties you would have to be mad to still install gas!
In this video, we are taking on the difficult task of retrofitting a heat pump in a period, uninsulated property in South London.
Visit my website here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
In this video, I am doing my best to repair a nightmare of a heat pump installation and it is not even remotely easy to fix it.
We went to the installer show in NEC, here is what happened.
A first look at the brand new ecoTEC Plus boiler from Vaillant.
Video about an air source heat pump swap from an unusual Danfoss unit to Vaillant Arotherm +
Heat Geek Heating Mastery course link:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20
License ID: vB3mZ8kWo8m
In this video, I am challenging Worcester Bosch CEO about his comments on heat pumps not being suitable for period properties. Worcester Bosch CEO, Mr Vony Rajakoba is trying to push for hydrogen-ready boilers and he is trying to persuade the public that heat pumps do not work in old buildings. He is simply wrong. Why? Watch the video to find answers.
Link to Heat Geek Heating mastery course:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20
Heat Geek Youtube Channel:
youtube.com/@HeatGeek
My installation company website. Get in touch to get a quote for your heat pump installation:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
In this video, we are testing a heat pump in an old building (1970s build) with single-panel radiators. Can a heat pump keep up in the middle of the winter and keep this family warm?
Watch the video to find out.
In this video, I am revisiting one of my 2022 air source heat pump installations to see how the unit has performed.
Find your Heat Geek Heat Pump Installer here:
heatgeek.com/find-a-heat-geek
In this video, we are going through a full retrofit air source heat pump installation.
Here I am installing a Vaillant Arotherm Plus 3.5kW unit in a two-bedroom bungalow.
License ID: Bz8gMPb6mqO lickd.lnk.to/NI9i2kID!Urban%20Plumbers
In this video, I show you how to install a modern & ultra-efficient heating system with hot water priority using Vaillant Eco Tec Plus 618 system boiler.
Heat Geek Heating mastery course link:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20
Links to the system diagrams:
urbanplumbers.co.uk/vaillant-eco-tec-plus-system-boiler-hot-water-priority-diagrams
Get Remember (Instrumental) by Becky Hill, David Guetta and over 1M + mainstream tracks here go.lickd.co/Music
License ID: z8GbmDyQ2NO lickd.lnk.to/duqOEQID!Urban%20Plumbers
In this video, I take on the task of energy efficiency improvements to a hugely inefficient heating and hot water system in a 4000 square feet house.
Join me on this journey and let's see if we can improve this system and by how much.
In this video, I revisit one of the best boilers ever made - Vaillant Eco Tec Plus, which thanks to new Senso Comfort weather compensated controls just got so much better.
The controls are in no way perfect, but they make Vaillant boilers much better than the competition. Viessmann 200 would be the only boiler that can be considered better in terms of controls and efficiency than correctly sized Vaillant Eco Tec Plus with Senso Comfort.
License ID: 7NbW12R3mk8
In this video, I show you how I convert a highly inefficient and oversized gas boiler system into what is called a weather-compensated Domestic Hot Water Priority system and save the owners of this house an absolute fortune in their heating bills.
This job involved:
- heat loss calculations (18.50kW) and new system design
- removal of one 24kW system boiler (not needed!)
- removal of one of 300L unvented cylinders (not needed, unless there is 15 of you!)
- rewiring of the system
- supply and installation of weather compensated controls - Vaillant Senso Comfort
- integration of existing controls (12 zones) into Vaillant Senso Comfort set up
- removal of low loss header and system pump (not needed!)
- improvements to hot water performance
All those changes should save this family up to 40% on their energy use.
In this video I take you though a full central heating and hot water installation with Hot Water Priority setup using an Intergas Xclusive combi boiler and Joule High Gain unvented cylinder.
This setup recharges a 125L cylinder in around 10 minutes and gives 20L flow rate - that allows use of 2 showers at the same time.
When using only 1 outlet you pretty much never run out of hot water.
On top of that heating works on 55C flow and is Open Therm for better modulation.
The boiler is set up to 6kW heat loss (Heat Loss of the property)
Vaillant Arotherm Plus installation in a period property in South East London done under Heat Geek Assured Heat Pumps scheme.
For your air source heat pump installation quote contact me here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
How to remove a radiator for decorating in 10 seconds without having to drain the system
Finally, a cleaver way to route your cylinder cables on a heat pump-ready Vaillant hot water cylinder.
Let's fix some boilers in France.
In this video I am installing a new boiler and UFH system to a semi detached house in South East London.
We also try to answer the question of why it is so difficult to get this Viessmann boiler thing right. We may have an answer to that!
In this video I am installing a heating system at a large 300m2 house in Esher, KT10.
We are removing 3 x 20kW boilers and 375L unvented cylinders and replacig them with...well, have a guess yourself.
My Kit:
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Another episode of the heat pump conspiracy debate. Join it below. Call Roger to debate Adam from Heat geek.
Book your own air source heat pump or gas boiler quote with me here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
My kit:
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License ID: r6B75Exd7kQ
New heat only Viessmann boiler installation with Joule High Gain unvented cylinder on hot water priority.
My website: urbanplumbers.co.uk
My kit:
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Music ID: M9raLRRgmnL
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Intergas HRE system boiler installation with 150L indirect unvented cylinder.
The job required removal of a vented cylinder, cold water storage cistern and shower pump.
New system is set up as Intergas X plan. It is what is called a hot water priority system. Boiler fires at two different outputs and temperatures. For hot water boiler fires at 18kW and 75C flow and for central heating boiler fires at max 7kW output (heat loss of the property) and 65C flow for super efficiency.
License ID: XY7pyPzX0go
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True story as it happened, sadly. Enjoy, share and comment.
Quick story of an air source heat pump installation gone wrong.
Music License ID: pDyab3M3Wxg
For central heating installation quotes, visit my website here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
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In this video, I show you how to install a full DHWP (Domestic Hot Water Priority) with an Ideal Vouge Gen.2 System boiler. I show you how to fully convert an S plan or a multi zone set up (S Plan+) and how to fully re wire those setups to achieve a full hot water priority set up with Ideal Vouge system boilers.
I explain principles behind system design, wiring and also take you to a real life installation - where I convert an existing S plan + with an existing Ideal Vouge 32 system boiler into a full PDHW (Domestic Hot Water Priority) set up.
Ideal Vogue Gen2 Hot Water Priority Wiring Schematics
urbanplumbers.co.uk/ideal-vogue-gen2-system-boiler-hot-water-priority-wiring-and-system-layout-diagramas
Link to my website:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
In this video, I am showing you how to commission a new installation of a underfloor heating system.
We go through:
- pipe sizing
- floor out put - how to calculate it based on the heat loss
- how to calculate flow and adjust the pump
- how to calculate flow through the manifold and adjust flow meters
- how to adjust blending valve
I also give you resources for further study and reference. I share the books, courses and online resources that I personally use.
Book Heat Geek online heating mastery course though my affiliate link below:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20/?campaign=YouTube
Contact me through my website for quotes for plumbing & heating works
urbanplumbers.co.uk
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Content:
00:00 intro
00:59 heat loss
01:33 floor output calculation
02:18 TOG values
02:36 Setting pump speed introduction
03:40 flow rate calculation
04:45 pressure loss index circuit
06:31 Pump charts and flow through the manifold
08:00 Adjusting flow meters
08:32 Floor surface temperature & blending valve setting
09:32 Resources for study and reference
In this video I show you how to wire wet under floor heating controls on a system that has 3 zones. This system has one radiator zone and two separate underfloor heating zones, each on a separate manifold.
This kind of setup does not require dedicated underfloor heating wiring centres or actuators on UFH manifolds.
Visit my website here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
My kit:
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In this video we are installing wet underfloor heating system. It is a retrofit in an existing property with huge heat loss of 150 watts per square meter. We reduce the heat loss to 140 watts per square meter by installation of 100mm floor insulation.
This underfloor heating installation will also require supplementary heating in the form of radiators, as UFH on its own should not supply more than 100 watts per square meter.
To get better heat output, we install the pipework at 150 mm centres as opposed to 200 mm centres.
For quotes on heating and plumbing installation, please contact me here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
To book a Heat Geek heating mastery course, click the link below:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20/?campaign=YouTube
My Kit:
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In this video we are converting a back boiler system into a sealed combination boiler system using a Vaillant Eco Tec 825 Plus boiler.
For boiler installation quote, contact me here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
My Kit:
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In this video I am taking on resolving a number of plumbing horrors in this large end of terrace house.
Solving the issues included installation of a new unvented solar cylinder.
Problems that I quoted to resolve were:
- not enough hot water from a 300L unvented
- radiators getting hot when only hot water is on
- boiler creating a droning noise that reverberates throughout the house, making it impossible to use heating or hot water at night
- very poor water flow throughout the property - bathrooms had around 6 litres a minute flow. Flushing the toilet would stop flow to taps and showers completely
- shocking and dangerous wiring to boiler, ufh and controls
- not a single zone valve on the system wired correctly
- under floor heating in the kitchen not working correctly or potentially at all
In this video I take you through my diagnostic steps in order to resolve all the above issues.
To book me to repair your central heating and hot water issues, contact me through my website below:
urbanplumbers.co.uk
Heat Geek heating master course:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20/?campaign=YouTube
My Kit:
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In this video we are commissioning and Intergas HRE 28/24 combi boiler.
Video content:
00:00 intro
00:52 gas pressure checks
02:02 setting CH kW
06:19 setting pump speed
16:00 checking DT between flow and return
17:40 combustion checks
20:29 system filter check
Heat Geek heating master course:
courses.heatgeek.com/ref/20/?campaign=YouTube
For boiler & central heating installation and servicing, contact me through my website here:
urbanplumbers.co.uk


