Plastic pipe on full installs

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bikerbas

who uses plastice pipes when doing central heating installs,im working with a few plumbers and they only use copper were you can see it everything else is plastic.
 
Copper every time for me,but at the end of the day its the customers choice.
Also using copper for were u can see and plastic for the out of sight bits generaly means putting fittings in places that arent easily acsessable especialy when all floors are back down and carpets or laminate is in place.
To be honest a customer that wants cheap that much can get someone else to do it for them,they usually ask what would u put if u was doing it in your house and thats the end of it the difference in cost is negligable if ur splashing out 2 to 2.5 grand.
Oh and mice and squirrels love plastic!
It does have its uses though when its the only solution to issue and cant be done any other way!
Rant over (it takes 99% of the skill out of our job and turns it into a diy project) which is why alot of people these days begrudge our charges.
 
less corresion,easy to use,plastic out of the way ,and then copper stabbers on show
 
sorry but im a strong believer in copper, plastic is just not a true engineers choice, handy sometimes - but just not professional. very diy. imho.
 
I have seen too many plastic fittings leak due to scored and damaged pipe and one too many cases of vermin chewing through it to use it every day. If i do have to use it its uni pipe which is an alupex and costs more than copper anyway!
 
I prefer 22mm copper pipework with 10mm manifolds, it lasts longer and looks better IMHO but I don't mind using plastic if that's what the cust prefers due to cost of material or less labour cost, my only condition Is they have to take a magnaclean or something similar. I don't like ch in plastic with no corrosion protection. Alot of new estates round our way fitted plastic with no protection and they notorious now for choked diverter valves/pumps knackered trvs and cold spot rads
 
I can only comment on my experience.

I did my own DIY CH installation in 1976 in our Cottage and due to the solid floors and not wanting external pipes in the decor ( built in 1700), I used the dreaded plastic pipe, from a company in the USA, found in the Exchange and Mart ! . it used screw ferrules not the pushins of today .

But I've never had a single problem with the pipework in all that time.
inc little furry beings.. and there were quite a few around

I have only just just replaced all the piping with PEX pipe a couple of years ago , because just didn't know the life expectancy and because I had the oportunity ( being made redundant, and needed to do something LOL. ) and it being easy to thread through the existing holes. and it gave me the chance to up the pipe sizes a bit . as it was working on 3/8 inch pipe.

So still in the same home , and still got plastic.
Still have no visible pipework showing anywhere in the house.
That my experience anyways for whats its worth .
take care all.


Chris
 
I prefer 22mm copper pipework with 10mm manifolds, it lasts longer and looks better IMHO but I don't mind using plastic if that's what the cust prefers due to cost of material or less labour cost, my only condition Is they have to take a magnaclean or something similar. I don't like ch in plastic with no corrosion protection. Alot of new estates round our way fitted plastic with no protection and they notorious now for choked diverter valves/pumps knackered trvs and cold spot rads

Why would valves etc on plastic be more prone to bunging up without protection ?
 
I prefer 22mm copper pipework with 10mm manifolds, it lasts longer and looks better IMHO but I don't mind using plastic if that's what the cust prefers due to cost of material or less labour cost, my only condition Is they have to take a magnaclean or something similar. I don't like ch in plastic with no corrosion protection. Alot of new estates round our way fitted plastic with no protection and they notorious now for choked diverter valves/pumps knackered trvs and cold spot rads


Forgive me if this is a stupid question! but why would plastic give corrosion, that is one of the advantages of using plastic (no corrosion). 😕
 
Nelly and hamish

I understand why this seems unusual-plastic pipe/corrosion

the only reason I can give is they've not used barrier plastic, it's the only reason I can think of having seen so many of these systems, they are mostly potterton puma boilers and the wax capsules always fail eventually.

Anyone else who more clued up on the exact chemical reactions etc with the system with water/oxygen/metals/plastic may be able to explain it better

all I know is if the ch pipework is fitted in plastic (in the area I work) then the ch water is gona be as black tar, I just take it as given now. Magna protection prevents this
 
Nelly and hamish

I understand why this seems unusual-plastic pipe/corrosion

the only reason I can give is they've not used barrier plastic, it's the only reason I can think of having seen so many of these systems, they are mostly potterton puma boilers and the wax capsules always fail eventually.

Anyone else who more clued up on the exact chemical reactions etc with the system with water/oxygen/metals/plastic may be able to explain it better

all I know is if the ch pipework is fitted in plastic (in the area I work) then the ch water is gona be as black tar, I just take it as given now. Magna protection prevents this

Whenever i use plastic i always use barrier pipe and the best fittings and never had any problems. But its true copper is much more proffessional and looks like you have actually been working once fitted.!!!😉
 
Like alot of the products used in modern builds -expected lifespan 25 years-I wouldnt buy a new build
 
As I understand it if its Non Barrier it will allow oxygen through the pipe wall which is then entrained as free oxygen in the water . Oxygen + iron (rads) = the dreaded !!
Lots of systems our way blocked solid !! Barrier pipe no problems .
And from our experience inhibitor made no difference
 
As I understand it if its Non Barrier it will allow oxygen through the pipe wall which is then entrained as free oxygen in the water . Oxygen + iron (rads) = the dreaded !!
Lots of systems our way blocked solid !! Barrier pipe no problems .
And from our experience inhibitor made no difference

this is what I've always been told, I was never 100% on it though, but I can't see anything else that could cause it.
 
thing is with plastic is whats the gntee?
copper pipe with soldered e/f's ?
 
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