Plumbing - Copper vs Plastic

Makhaira

Makhaira

Makhaira

Soldato
Joined
23 Nov 2007
Posts
4,969
Location
Lancashire, UK
Ok, time to shine and show the true extent of my ignorance!

With redoing my bathroom, amongst other things I'm going to have to do the following tasks:

- Break into the copper piping from my hot water tank and cold water feed to install a Grunfoss twin pump in the airing cupboard to give my shower a decent pressure.
- Run pipework from the pump to the bathroom (circa 3 metres)
- Adjust the location of various cold water/hot water feeds in the bathroom (anywhere from a few inches to a couple of feet)
- Alter the entrance to the soil stack through 90degrees to allow the toilet to go on another wall

Now given the above, I'm going to get a plumber to come and quote for doing the pipework element, since I don't have the kit or experience to play around with copper pipes.

However...

Could I do this myself with plastic piping? I've not been able to find a consistent set of views on where one should be used and the other shouldn't.

I'll be tiling the walls and floor so I really don't want to get this wrong!!!!

Cheers.
 
Certainly, install Speedfit properly & you will never have a issue, been using Speedfit eight years or so, touch wood never had a leak yet.

The only issues are the stack pipe, what's it made of plastic, or metal.
One good thing is Speedfit pipe and fittings can be installed with direct connections to the cylinder.

http://www.speedfit.co.uk/Home/Tech...al-Downloads/118/DIY-Installation-Manual.aspx

And DON'T forget about earth bonding.
 
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1) It's plastic, so that bit I'd be doing myself in plastic (astounded at how much 90degree angles and similar cost for soil pipes!!!)

2) I should be a good foot away at least (presuming the outflow from the cylinder is at the bottom), or if it's at the top then I'm several feet away.

Any issues around coupling speedfit to the copper pipe initially? Any drawbacks with the plastic stuff?

Cheers!
 
Old school plumbers hate plastic.

because they are old school

Plastic IS the way forward. More expensive to buy quicker simpler to fit. Although its much closer than it was

Speedfit to copper no issues. Compression fittings to speedfit need an insert
 
mattyg said:
Old school plumbers hate plastic.

Because they are old school

Plastic IS the way forward. More expensive to buy quicker simpler to fit. Although its much closer than it was
Click to expand...


:mad::mad:

I'm old school, but I will occasionally use plastic if it makes the job easier.
And it's difficult convincing customers plastic is safe to use & isn't suddenly going to spring a leak after you leave them.

One negative, is twits who use copper compression fittings to join two lengths of plastic instead of proper plastic joiner.:(

Also I prefer using Speedfit over other makes, like HepO2,etc.
 
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Makhaira said:
1) It's plastic, so that bit I'd be doing myself in plastic (astounded at how much 90degree angles and similar cost for soil pipes!!!)

Any issues around coupling speedfit to the copper pipe initially? Any drawbacks with the plastic stuff?
Click to expand...

Use copper olives with copper compression fittings & plastic, as brass will not compress enough.

Secondly remember your earth bonding, if required,see link below.

http://help.tradingdepot.co.uk/plumbing/john-guest-speedfit/fittings-installation-guide.asp

I been buying soil fittings off Ebay lately, usually peeps who finish self build, & bought too many fittings.
Had some clay to plastic flexible couplings recently, cheaper than I could get them trade.

Also been using Toolstaion for soil/underground fittings.
 
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Read my thread for tips.

I've heard good stuff from about all different types and also stories of that version going wrong. from DIYers at work. I'm still not sure on which is best for piece of mind.

Replumbing a bathroom after moving stiff around is about £2.5k down here. Hence I got my dads mate down from midlands to help me. He's all tooled up for it and swears by speedfit.

I like the look of Hep2o. The metal inserts are less restrictive too.
 
Simon said:
They are the old hep2o (grey). The new white ones are better
Click to expand...

Better.:D

Out of touch with Hep O2,:o I was never impress with their grey fittings when I used them once.:mad:
At last 'SmartSleeve' specially designed barbs on n the metal sleeves ensure it is captive within the pipe, & dosen't fall out, great idea taken long enough, might restore my faith in Hep O2.

Most plumber/builder merchants seem to stock Speedfit, one or two also stocking PolyPipe, but I can't remember when I last saw Hep O2 fittings.
 
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Thanks all. In terms of joining the speedfit to the existing copper pipework, are the MDPE pushfit fittings what I am after?

I'm definitely going for a "do it right, do it once" approach on this, so I want to make sure I've addressed everything. I'm probably going to have to add in some copper pipe anyways to be sure I adhere to the "1m from the cylinder" rule, although I'm not sure whether this might be erroneous since it states on the Speedfit website that 65C is the normal operating condition of the piping, and that's what my hot water tank is set to on the thermostat.

I normally love DIY, but I hate plumbing!
 
MDPE Push Fit Fittings are for the BLUE mains water pipe.

You need these http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/John+Guest+Speedfit/Equal+Tee+15mm/d20/sd3307 /p48693

http://www.speedfit.co.uk/Home/Products/Plumbing-Fittings/10mm,-15mm,-22mm---28mm-Sizes.aspx

You can just use speedfit fittings to join to copper, & you can connect direct to a cylinder with speedfit, but to a boiler you need a 1mtr length of copper first.

65C isn't a problem as the fittings are use at usual working of 82C for central heating.
 
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My cousin used to work for pipelife and he swears by speedfit.

Just remember to tighten up connectors( they're not just push fit anymore)
 
Wouldn't touch that plastic trash, it's alright but it won't last 100+ years like copper plumbing will.
They say it's the way forward but as with most modern building techniques, there is an aim to cut out skilled trades and do things as quickly and cheaply as possible. Shouldn't be about that, should be about quality and durability.


You could do it yourself, while plumbers do have a huge level of skill and knowledge, moving pipes is a common request but not a highly skilled task it's just common sense.
If you're at all a practical person I daren't say you could manage to move your pipes over the weekend.
 
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