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Hardip
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 45
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 Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: Plastic pipe work on central heating |
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Hi,
How prolific is the use of plastic piping on central heating systems?
Is it realistic/safe to replace copper directly with [rated] plastic pipe work?
Cheers,
Hardip. |
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big-all
Pro Carpenter
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 2654
Location: redhill surrey an auld reekie laddie
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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out of sight and not within 2m off the boiler quite common
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Stoday
Electricity economics consultant
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 3080
Location: Sitting on the Bog
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:52 am Post subject: |
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You wouldn't want to use anything other than plastic for underfloor heating laid directly in the screed.
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 4657
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:54 am Post subject: |
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Indeed in modern rabbit hutches chucked together as houses you will see little else. However for quality and larger jobs Copper is still king.
How save is it depends on luck, Vermin of all kinds from mice, rats and squirrels love to feast on the stuff, fittings do and will continue to leak however carefull you are.
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Hardip
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: |
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| Stoday wrote: |
| You wouldn't want to use anything other than plastic for underfloor heating laid directly in the screed. |
That is a very specific application. I noticed on some new builds (and not necessarily the cheap kind) there were instances of plastic pipe work on radiators. I'm not sure if it went any deeper than that...  |
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Stoday
Electricity economics consultant
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 3080
Location: Sitting on the Bog
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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I was showing that plastic is OK, Hardip.
Helps lazy plumbers too, because it won't creak when it heats & cools like copper does if you don't use felt pads.
For a quality job though, it's copper with end-feed fittings, except for UFH of course.
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Mooncat
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Dec 2007
Posts: 1716
Location: Wales-UK
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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I seem to remember a pipe product from Autocon, warranted to last 25 years, but did the company last that long.
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Mooncat
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Dec 2007
Posts: 1716
Location: Wales-UK
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Stoday wrote: |
I was showing that plastic is OK, Hardip.
Helps lazy plumbers too, because it won't creak when it heats & cools like copper does if you don't use felt pads.
For a quality job though, it's copper with end-feed fittings, except for UFH of course. |
Felt pads? How and where?
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 4657
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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Anywhere where the pipe touches wood or plaster.
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Scruff |
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Hardip
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:11 am Post subject: |
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| Are we talking standard felt pads, the sort you may use on furniture and other bits? |
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 4657
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:22 am Post subject: |
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| Hardip wrote: |
| Are we talking standard felt pads, the sort you may use on furniture and other bits? |
Anything that comes to hand really, plumbers would normally use hair felt lagging cut into strips.
DPC cut into strips is good as well, all you are doing is keeping the pipe from the wood to stop it creaking.
If you have Oak joists or boards, then you must use the waterproof DPC or other plastic as the acid in green oak will eat through copper in weeks.
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Hoovie
Devon DIYer
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Posts: 7773
Location: East Devon
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:38 am Post subject: |
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Don't you see a lot of plastic in new builds at least partly to avoid tempting passing scrotes to have it away with the copper pipes while they are nice and accessible?
I much prefer the idea of copper personally - tried and tested. If it ain't broke ......
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justlead1
Junior Member
Joined: 11 Sep 2008
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject: Plastic pipe work on central heating |
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| Hi.Interesting question. The answer every body seems to us it. It is also the same question someone asked me relating to waste & soil pipe/fittings some 35 years ago. Funny old game, a fortnight ago a 32 year old plumber asked if i knew how to bend 32mm copper pipe. I found the question quite sad as he is a dedicated plumber. Supply and demand seems to = fir coat no knickers. Good Luck |
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Steve the Gas
Senior Member
Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 510
Location: Notts/Derbys
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:08 am Post subject: |
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I'll bet Scruff don't use it.
I do,only when appropriate though, on hidden work only for e.g. |
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mac321
Junior Member
Joined: 01 Oct 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:43 am Post subject: |
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used it for my heating (bar copper near to boiler). No joints in roof/floor space, simple distribution points, 10mm feeds to rads/TRV (come through wall behind rads so not visible).
Horses for courses really. Quicker, simpler than copper, cleaner and no hidden joints. As for longevity.....will let you know in a few years 
M |
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