Grey plastic pipe in heating system.

[Collo]

Doing some decorating I discovered that some of the central heating pipe work is grey plastic. System installed 20 years ago by previous owners. My question is was that normal practice back then and is it likely to cause any problems in future? All exposed pipe work to rads is copper.

 

[steadyon]

Should be quite OK provided they have used barrier pipe. This type of pipe doesn't let oxygen in, whereas non-barrier pipe does. The oxygen can cause corrosion inside the radiators. If its worked for 20 years, probably OK. There may well be printed characters repeated along the length of the pipe. If you can see this you can identify the type of pipe for further reassurance (or not).

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If it’s 20 years old chances is it’s the non barrier type needs ripping out and starting again as they block up

 

[Collo]

Should be quite OK provided they have used barrier pipe. This type of pipe doesn't let oxygen in, whereas non-barrier pipe does. The oxygen can cause corrosion inside the radiators. If its worked for 20 years, probably OK. There may well be printed characters repeated along the length of the pipe. If you can see this you can identify the type of pipe for further reassurance (or not).

Thank you for your reply, managed to uncover some pipes in the loft.
Written on them is HBP UK Barrier H&C services and central heating. 12 bar 20c 7 bar 82c
011708L 26KJ05.
Hopefully then, this means the piping is fit for purpose ?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You should be fine as it’s barrier pipe (plastic layer in between the two plastic layers)

 

[Collo]

You should be fine as it’s barrier pipe (plastic layer in between the two plastic layers)

Thanks Shaun. Someone suggested that plastic was used back then because of a shortage of copper?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

That would of been true weld pipe was steel pipe that you could solder

 

[Scott_D]

That would of been true weld pipe was steel pipe that you could solder

Would be a bit older than 20 years also.