Advice re. Flexi (Tap) Connectors

kingarthur · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:31 pm Post Subject: Advice re. Flexi (Tap) Connectors

Hi,
Want some advice. I am replacing an electric shower and need to put in some new plumbing for the mains water supply down from the loft. Should not be much of a problem but to ease some access problems is it ok to use some short flexible connectors (with 15mm compression joint on each end) as part of the pipework.

If yes, then could I use one at the end of the run to actually connect to the shower inlet pipe? (this would help considerably.

Thanks

muggles · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:00 pm Post Subject:

Flexis will considerably reduce the flow to the shower due to their narrow internal diameter, and whilst connecting several in series would theoretically work do you really want to have that many inaccessible joints inside your wall? The potential for leakage is high.

If you must use something other than copper, go to a merchants and get yourself a 3m length of Hep2o plus any fittings you might need. These fittings will also connect onto copper. Depending on what shower you have, you may well find that you need to have a copper tail coming out the wall and a compression fitting to attach it to the shower.

kingarthur · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:09 pm Post Subject:

Thanks for the reply.
Probably didnt make myself clear, majority of run will be 15mm copper pipe down from loft I was only intending to use a flexi pipe for the last connection on to the shower (for access reasons).

How much difference will the smaller bore make to the flow. If this is going to make a big difference I will work around it and use standard copper fittings / connectors.

muggles · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:15 pm Post Subject:

Depends a little on the water supply, in general mains will be affected less by the reduced diameter than tank-fed, due to the higher pressure of mains, but either way if at all possible I would advise using copper. Another disadvantage of flexis is that they are liable to kink if subjected to prolonged compressive forces such as may be experienced when pushing it back into the wall when you've made your connection (you almost certainly won't be able to connect the flexi straight onto the shower as this will kink quite quickly)

kingarthur · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:19 pm Post Subject:

Ok thanks again.

Have never used 'hep20' before as have always been worried about the effectiveness and reliability of push fit systems. Is this system ok to use on mains fed water supply?

Also is it readily available in plumbers merchants, more expensive etc?

Goldspoon · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:00 pm Post Subject:

kingarthur wrote:

Ok thanks again.

Have never used 'hep20' before as have always been worried about the effectiveness and reliability of push fit systems. Is this system ok to use on mains fed water supply?

Also is it readily available in plumbers merchants, more expensive etc?

Yes is fine - fit properly and all is well. Whole houses plumbed in this stuff nowadays.

Readily available yes.

muggles · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:52 pm Post Subject:

There are very few situations in which Hep2o cannot be used. I won't go into them now because they aren't relevant to what you're doing. Pipe is about the same price, fittings tend to be more expensive but it'll give you the flexibility I think you're after