Plumbing copper or plastic

If you do decide to use plastic, try to get the straight lengths of pipe, and not a coil. It is next to impossible to straighten a coil without using excessively many clips.

I use plastic all the time now. Far easier, and completely reliable if done well.

R.

so the Toolstation offering with straight coil technology is not what it seems?

Regards

Plastic is ridiculously easy - but note that hot water plastic pipes tend to sag, which does look really rubbish on exposed pipework. I don't use plastic unless the pipes can all be firmly mounted - fittings swivel around too easily in service, again looking rubbish and possibly exposing them to damage. However, if it's all cold plumbing, and well mounted, it could stay looking pretty good though.

In article , TMC writes

I've used speedfit barrier pipe in the past and it is a bugger to straighten out but if it's not on the surface then don't worry about it and let it find its own path, it's easy to control on long runs. Coil will let you do the job with fewer joints which is what you want for keeping costs down and reducing the chance of leaks under wetroom floors.

On fittings, remember you can use brass compression too which are ten a penny in 15mm and result in a bombproof connection. Don't forget the pipe inserts.

Hepworth Hep2o is reputedly easier to bend about.

Overall, use plastic in coil.

If it's visible and your keen to keep it looking nice then use copper as it stays straight without the need for loads of pipe clips. Plastic wants to meander wherever it can (alright maybe not 'meander') but you get the idea!

also, copper fittings are less obtrusive than pushfit (and cheaper).

Also, if you haven't sweated a joint for a while, the new lead free solder and flux is not as easy to sweat and wipe as the old lead stuff.

For best results use chrome or plastic coated copper tubing and appropriate joints and clips.

Enjoy... Deano.

Plastic is great for feeding through awkward places - but I *never* use it where it will be visible. Copper is *much* neater.

Yup. When I put a second toilet in, I used plastic for the feeds under the floor, which saved ripping up half the house, as I could thread it around and I used copper as it came through the floor, all neatly bent to shape, so the only fittings in there are at either end of the copper pipes.

SteveW

What?s the expected lifetime of this kind of plastic pipe?

pipe. I had to replace copper pipe when the combi was fitted as the 50-year-old pipe near the cooker couldn't take the 5 Bar pressure. The fumes and condensation had corroded it to pinhole drips. All of the HW & CW piping was replaced, on the grounds that if one part was leaking...

Well, on page 4 of that link for Hep, they say 50 year guarantee, so thats quite some time... Longer than my guarantee anyway :)

What's the guarantee period on copper pipe?

Not long with the scrap value of copper these days ;-)

I've just been under my floor adding a couple of connections to the central heating system - I'd completely forgotten the quantity of disused copper and lead pipes and wires down there. Over the years I've basically totally re-wired and re-plumbed the house and never got round to stripping all the old stuff from under the floor. I think that I may have to do so with current metal prices!

SteveW