The reason I don't use flexis...

[Guest123]

.....I've seen too many of them burst especially the cheap imported ones to place any confidence in them at all. One was on the counter in PTS today being returned as it had burst and had a quarter inch gash down the middle of it. I've seen perfectly installed ones with no kinks, twists or strains of any kinds burst for no apparent reason. At the end of the day they are basically a rubber hose covered in braid.

I now only use copper and having come through and used the Speedfit renaissance, I have a sense of pride with my work with copper and work completed with my bending machine. I can bend an offset very quickly and know that it won't burst either.

I'm not in any way making a dig at those who use flexis and plastic plumbing, for everyone is entitled to have their own preference, but in my opinion copper and soldered fittings or Kuterlite compression fittings will outlast any plastic installation and look far more professional.

 

[MP plumb]

maybe im too young in the game to commet, but ive only seen one that has failed and that was because it was kinked. i really rate them. they are great on cold inlets to cisterns because they are less likely to cross thread as you can 'feel' it better.
i also think they are good for connections on bath taps that are on the back of a wall. you can connect hep to them, and push the bath into place without worrying you are straining it too much

 

[Best]

Glad to hear you are a "convert" to copper & brass System! Also, it is a good way to sell yourself to potential customers.
As you say, no matter how you look at it, flexis are just a light rubber hose.

 

[SimonJohns]

What happens when you have to use flexis for fan coils etc?

 

[cdodds2004]

copper and solder is first choice for me always, but plastic and braided hoses have there place,

 

[Best]

maybe im too young in the game to commet, but ive only seen one that has failed and that was because it was kinked. i really rate them. they are great on cold inlets to cisterns because they are less likely to cross thread as you can 'feel' it better.
i also think they are good for connections on bath taps that are on the back of a wall. you can connect hep to them, and push the bath into place without worrying you are straining it too much

Go on, - do it properly, - use copper straight to taps, carefully bent/ soldered & push the bath in & connect the other ends! :grin:

 

[Guest123]

you can connect hep to them, and push the bath into place without worrying you are straining it too much

The one and only failure I had with Speedfit was connecting to a 22mm flexi on a bath tap. It was properly compressed, used the correct insert and a copper olive, but it lasted for two weeks and blew itself into orbit for no reason at all. I stopped using it after this as once is enough for me.

 

[markfxy]

used loads of flexis never had a problem or seen one burst why do some plumbers think if its not copper it must be carp!

 

[Roger Welton]

But 1/2" to 15mm compression flexis make fitting rads so much easier.





Runs:ninja:

 

[Best]

but plastic and braided hoses have there place,

.... in the bin ? Lol!

 

[Guest123]

used loads of flexis never had a problem or seen one burst why do some plumbers think if its not copper it must be carp!

Not Carp, maybe a bucket of trout mate. Not snobbery or the "we're better than you coz we use copper and you dont". My post is not slating plastics and flexis it's my opinion and I have seen too many failures to feel confident about using them. If you like using plastic and flexis, then ok that is your preference.

 

[WaterTight]

That's the problem with the debate. We don't know what the actual liklihood is. We only have personal experience, anecdotal evidence and educated guesses. None of that equates to data but it can all build a superficially convincing but realistically distorted picture.

Say if we actually had the figure, right now, of how likely a flexible hose is likely to leak/burst at some point in say a 10 year period, averaged out, taking into consideration all qualities of hose and all applications, then we could decide whether we deemed that risk acceptible or a liability.

How unlikely copper is to fail is a separate point. There could be an imaginary super material that will last ten thousand years but that wouldn't invalidate the use of copper by comparison.

What we need is the odds.

something like this..

100,000-1 = fine by me.

1000-1 = not wise

 

[dancinplumba]

maybe im too young in the game to commet, but ive only seen one that has failed and that was because it was kinked. i really rate them. they are great on cold inlets to cisterns because they are less likely to cross thread as you can 'feel' it better.
i also think they are good for connections on bath taps that are on the back of a wall. you can connect hep to them, and push the bath into place without worrying you are straining it too much

tho i always stand by you claire, i just carn't on this one..sorry
YES.....it breaks my heart :cry_smile: ***

 

[Best]

tho i always stand by you claire, i just carn't on this one..sorry
YES.....it breaks my heart :cry_smile: ***

Lovers will sometimes have their disagreements!
Still.... Worth it when you get to make up again! :grin:

 

[dancinplumba]

and AND absolutely no amount of persuasion will make me change my mind on this one

 

[dontknowitall]

I use flexis most of the time but do have a few tap connectors in my boxes from my "earlier" days.

I must admit, a flexi going to the underneath of a wc looks much smarter then copper pipe (and is much easier to deal with when it comes to changing the inlet valve.)

 

[Guest123]

Claire and Dancin,
I can just imagine you two popping the question and exchanging compression rings at the alter....

 

[dontknowitall]

Claire and Dancin,
I can just imagine you two popping the question and exchanging compression rings at the alter....

22mm olives are much cheaper ...

 

[kirkgas]

Go on, - do it properly, - use copper straight to taps, carefully bent/ soldered & push the bath in & connect the other ends! :grin:

i agree, stand the bath on one short end, mount the taps, waste and feet, then measure and bend 2 square tails, fully tighten and drop bath into place then connect at the side of the basin, job done, this is the way we used to do cast baths and it was so simple to do (once we had humphed it up into the bathroom)

 

[kirkgas]

used loads of flexis never had a problem or seen one burst why do some plumbers think if its not copper it must be carp!

they are for DIY, not professionals, there isnt a place you must fit a flexi that i cant fit copper, its not snobbery its pride and skill

 

[dancinplumba]

Claire and Dancin,
I can just imagine you two popping the question and exchanging compression rings at the alter....

aah thank you system3, thats really kind of you

 

[cr0ft]

The only place I will use flexis now is when kitchen taps come with them. Rigid pipework underneath a kitchen sink isn't that easy to do, risk of molten solder dropping on you as you are upside down etc.

The only time I use plastic plumbing is if I have to run pipework in a loft that has been fully insulated, i.e. clipping pipes down is a nightmare without ruining the insulation.

 

[dancinplumba]

hot,hot,hot,topic...

 

[Guest123]

Totally agree Kirk, and copper tails with a acrylic bath adds strength to it with no movement. I've also seen taps turning after a while with flexis as they lack the rigidity of a copper tail and a tap adaptor.

Good debate this. Good to get opinions from all divides.

 

[kirkgas]

Totally agree Kirk, and copper tails with a acrylic bath adds strength to it with no movement. I've also seen taps turning after a while with flexis as they lack the rigidity of a copper tail and a tap adaptor.

Good debate this. Good to get opinions from all divides.

any debate where we are right is a good debate