Recommended lesser known, fancy or cool components for domestic plumbing and heating systems?

[Chendy]

Hello everybody

First post here.

I'm planning a new plumbing system for my small house.

I can find lots of general guidance, but what I was wondering about was the perhaps lesser known fancy or clever design elements and components.
I guess, what would an experienced plumber's home system looked like if they weren't trying to save every penny?
Ignoring smart/internet control for now.

Can anybody recommend some resources as above, for a standard combi boiler with underfloor water heating system?
Ideally concise resources like diagrams, summary documents. Or even a book if it comes to that.

For example

• magnetic filters
• water hammer arrestors
• automatic bypass valves (to potentially save pump damage or stalling)
• automatic filling valve (to correct water pressure drop on central heating systems)

I hope you're all well

: )

 

[Aquarius]

I’d say most plumbers are different, some will be brand loyal, others may just obtain off the shelf items. Budget plays a big part. Manufacturers websites provide detailed downloadable information such as drawings, instructions etc.

 

[Chendy]

Hi Aquarius,

Thanks for your response.

Im hoping for types of components or features. Not so much which brand/model to pick

 

[SimonG]

Design works chargeable. Years of experience is worth charging for.

 

[gmartine]

Is that UFH with radiators... if so spend your time finding an engineer that knows what theyre doing.

Oh, wouldnt an AFV just disquise any issues you had with the system or boiler?

 

[WC1]

I'd recommend going with tried and tested for all of those components.

 

[siricosm]

Not lesser known, fancy or particularly cool, but isolation valves. I am shocked at how few of them there are in my house. Also proper drain taps, that you can hook to a hose, open and do not leak around the little nut that opens them. Strategically positioned isolation and drain taps make maintenance of a plumbing system much less hassle, both for the water and the heating.

Temperature gauges are also nice, so you can monitor flow and return temperatures.

A hot water tap that can be connected to a hose.

In a sealed system, as gmartine mentioned I would skip the auto fill valve, since you will want to know when the system is losing water. Of coarse you could also put an isolation valve there and keep if off in normal service. Are AFVs even allowed inthe UK? I though you needed a "fill loop" that can be physically disconnected?

Do you plan to have rads as well? or only underfloor? and how many zones?

 

[Chendy]

@siricosm

Will have UFH plus 2x radiators on the ground floor. Probably want 6 zones (3 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room)

Cheers all : )