tony sayer wrote:

In article , David W.E. Roberts
writes

"kmillar" wrote in message
groups.com...

I need to add a new radiator to my house (hallway has none and it's
cold!)

I plan to tap into the CH Flow and Return pipes which already run
underneath there, and plan to use solder ring connections.

My question is this, the access panel for my crawl space is at the
opposite side of the house, so I have to go down beneath the floor and
haul myself along through the rubble to the place where the pipes will
go.

How safe is it to use a blow torch in this confined space? (About 18
inches of verticle space benathe the floors). Apart from the obvious
need to not set the house on fire, I'm more interested in the fumes
given off by the blow lamp. What can I do about those?

I'd rather not use 'speedfix' or compression if I can avoid it, just
for peice of mind.

Given all the additional precautions other posters have recommended this
does seem a high risk undertaking.

If you are averse to pushfit, have you considered compression joints?

The slightly higher cost will probably be offset by the lack of risk and
general issues over using a naked flame in a flammable substrate under a
wooden floor with a limited escape route.

Of course, real plumbers only use solder :-)

However, normal human beings can sometimes take alternative approaches.

HTH
Dave R



I think that is very good advice. If I were making some joints in a
rather inaccessible location where I couldn't be certain that I have
cleaned the pipe all the way round, or was unable to inspect the joint
either, I think I'd opt for compression fittings which I have done
before on some occasions.


I don't think I could make ANY joint on a piece of pipe I couldn't wrap
a strip of emery around and burnish, or get a pipe cutter around to cut,
or a small mirror behind to inspect afterwards...and CERTAINLY if I
couldn't get those around I'd be hard pressed to actually screw a
compression fitting on.

I've had FAR more trouble with compression fittings leaking than
soldered ones as well.




Its not a case of being a real plumber at all, just horses for courses,
otherwise why do you think they still make 'em?.....

AFAIAC the only good thing about a compression fitting is you can take
it apart without cutting a pipe. Having learnt to solder, I simply won't
ever use them unless I have to - generally when its not possible to do
otherwise - e.g. its very hard to solder a tap onto thr end of a pipe....;-)

I haven't used pushfit, but I have used teh odd flexible pipe. I think
they are extremely useful when retrofitting stuff to awkward places, and
the joints can be pretty reliable, I still prefer copper and solder
though. That IS prejudice - no reason to believe it's really any better.