Andy Hall wrote:
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 17:38:41 GMT, Steve
wrote:

As an occasional and always very hesitant diy plumber, I've always used
traditional soldered or compression fittings in the past. I'm just
about to fit an outside tap and my local B&Q has a very patchy stock of
fittings. As a result I've bought a brass tap plus a selection of these
new fangled push fit fittings (some copper, some plastic).

I'm a bit wary of the push fit stuff - is there anything I should watch
out for? What if it leaks on test, how do I tighten it up or get it
apart again?

TIA

Steve


The main thing is to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

This usually includes but is not limited to:

- Cut the pipe clean and square using a tubing cutter and not a
hacksaw

I don't buy this. When I started using plastic pipes I used a hacksaw
and trimmed of the pipe edge. As long as the cut is square all is fine
as the pipe indert isolates the pipe from the O ring as it is being
pushed on the pipe. For a few joints, using a hacksaw and some care,
and all is fine. I use a =A340 gun type pipe cutter as I now use lots of
plastic pipe.

Fittings are generally demountable, although some do require a special
tool to do so. On others you push down on a ring at the mouth of the
fitting.

The Hepworth slimline range are not demountable, as I found out to my
dismay. They are much slimmer than the large bulky Hep2O fittings. Osma
Gold is slim and demountable, requiring a special tool. I try to use
Osma or Hep2O. I avoid Speedfit as I don't like plastic pipe inserts. I
like to use brass Conex compression fitting and plastic where pipes are
difficult to fit and out of sight. Plastic has a DIY image and may turn
people off buying a house. I have used brass push fit fittings and
copper pipe to great effect in positions where pipes are seen. Use
grease on the pipe before pushing on the fitting, otherwisw the O ring
may get dislodged.
=20
--=20
=20
.andy
=20
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