Hep2o Pushfit v copper

[u587162]

I'm a home owner and getting a house completely renovated (5+ bathrooms). The whole house having been gutted has new 22mm Hep20 pipe installed from the garage running to all areas of this large house with pushfit elbows, Ts etc.

People are telling me that copper is always better but then that can oxidise and give problems later. Is it true that after 10-15 years these plastic push fit fittings can leak and I'll have problems all over the home, even if they are fitted correctly at this stage?

 

[denso13]

Is it true that after 10-15 years these plastic push fit fittings can leak and I'll have problems all over the home, even if they are fitted correctly at this stage?

No, not if fitted correctly as you say.

 

[bernardgreen]

A down side to plastic pipes is the ability of rodents to chew the pipes creating leaks, often in hard to reach places.

If you have rodents then using poison to kill the rodents increases the risk of pipe damage. Many rodent poison dehydrates the rodent and they can go to extreme lengths to find a water source. Dehydrated mice or rats can chew through water pipes to get to water.

 

[muggles]

Sounds like you're trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted. Personally I avoid plastic at all costs, for a number of reasons. Copper is proper

 

[durhamplumber]

Copper is proper

Same old crud.It rhymes but that is about it..And never known a rodent chew a plastic pipe

 

[Notch7]

There has been some debate over the years about the lifespan of push fit, its not clear cut either way.

Premature failures are pretty much always due to installation error -missing out the insert for example or pipework not clipped properly.

 

[u587162]

A down side to plastic pipes is the ability of rodents to chew the pipes creating leaks, often in hard to reach places.

If you have rodents then using poison to kill the rodents increases the risk of pipe damage. Many rodent poison dehydrates the rodent and they can go to extreme lengths to find a water source. Dehydrated mice or rats can chew through water pipes to get to water.

Thankfully no rodents and unlikely to have any with our setup.

 

[bernardgreen]

And never known a rodent chew a plastic pipe

i didn't meet the varmints but have seen the damage, both to pipes and cables

Why they do it is explained HERE

Quoting from the article

Certainly all plastics and woods are fair game and if they feel the need (which is an important consideration) then copper, aluminium, cement and brick can all be broken down too.

This means rapid destruction of your household wires and plastic pipes once you’ve got them in the walls, floors and ceilings – and if they find a mains fed Speedfit pipe then you’ll soon be on the end of quite a serious flood.

 

[u587162]

Interesting read...thx.

 

[durhamplumber]

i didn't meet the varmints but have seen the damage, both to pipes and cables

Why they do it is explained HERE

Quoting from the article

Certainly all plastics and woods are fair game and if they feel the need (which is an important consideration) then copper, aluminium, cement and brick can all be broken down too.

This means rapid destruction of your household wires and plastic pipes once you’ve got them in the walls, floors and ceilings – and if they find a mains fed Speedfit pipe then you’ll soon be on the end of quite a serious flood.

They will chew anything then..not just plastic..As I said I have never known a rodent damage a plastic pipe,or any pipe.

 

[muggles]

..And never known a rodent chew a plastic pipe

I have. As an apprentice we installed a bathroom for a customer. Two weeks later the kitchen ceiling came crashing down along with a lot of water. Something (presumably mice) had chewed through a plastic elbow underneath a basin.

More recently, a couple of years ago I was called out to a property no less than 7 times in an approx 2 month period to repair leaks all around the house. Each time I found that something had chewed through the plastic pipes, both in the ceiling and in the walls, which had been studded off and boarded. They'd recently renovated and it made a huge mess.

 

[durhamplumber]

I have. As an apprentice we installed a bathroom for a customer. Two weeks later the kitchen ceiling came crashing down along with a lot of water. Something (presumably mice) had chewed through an elbow underneath a basin.

More recently, a couple of years ago I was called out to a property no less than 7 times in an approx 2 month period to repair leaks all around the house. Each time I found that something had chewed through the pipes, both in the ceiling and in the walls, which had been studded off and boarded. They'd recently renovated and it made a huge mess.

Will chew copper or plastic..OP, take your pick

 

[durhamplumber]

A down side to plastic pipes is the ability of rodents to chew the pipes creating leaks, often in hard to reach places.

If you have rodents then using poison to kill the rodents increases the risk of pipe damage. Many rodent poison dehydrates the rodent and they can go to extreme lengths to find a water source. Dehydrated mice or rats can chew through water pipes to get to water.

Do you have to catastrophise and worse case scenario everything.

 

[muggles]

Well I've never known them to chew copper pipes.

Nibble nibble...

 

[durhamplumber]

Well I've never known them to chew copper pipes.

Nibble nibble...
View attachment 200270

Very very unlikely to chew plastic either.They might chomp your bricks and concrete too!!!.