Kink in copper tube, cold water

[Ben Lomond]

I’ve had new cold and hot water tubes fitted, however a plumber mixed them up. I called him back to rectify and he had them swapped. As they now cross over, he decided to bend the cold-water pipe over a joist causing a small kink. I asked him to replace that section but he refused. He said it was fine but I am not convinced, especially that this will be below suspended ground floor. There is no leak at the moment but I am worried if anything goes wrong there will be an extensive damage before I even notice it. Are my concerns justified or is it really fine?

 

[MJN]

I too would be concerned, but then I'd be the first to admit I can be pessimistic at times. That said (or perhaps case in point!), I'd be worried that the pipe walls will have thinned at the edges of that kink and would represent a potential weak point. Looking at it another way, it would only take minutes to completely mitigate the risk so why not? Of course, he's now gone so the 'only minutes' option is no longer really there. Have you already paid him?

 

[sxturbo]

Really he should have spent a bit of extra time making bends to avoid this.

He's used solder ring fittings, which although good to use they are used more by DIY people than they are professionally.

 

[oldbuffer]

1. Look more like press fit fittings to me.
2. In my opinion he should have used a bender to avoid the kink.
3. Not the highest standard of work. I'd have it fixed, but doubt you'll get the plumber to do it for nothing.
4. If you do get it done, if the kink is close to any of the elbows, you'll need someone to press fit it. If its going to be inaccessible I wouldn't use compression, and you can't solder too close to press fit fittings for fear of damaging the O rings. (Assumes I'm right about them being press fit fittings).

 

[sxturbo]

Is that 22 or 15mm pipe?

Looking closer at the pics I don't understand why he didn't bend the pipes, instead of using all them fittings. Could have had larger radius bends which would give you better flow

 

[terryplumb]

Really he should have spent a bit of extra time making bends to avoid this.

He's used solder ring fittings, which although good to use they are used more by DIY people than they are professionally.

They are not solder ring fittings ,they are press fit.
Yes ,the pipes could have been fitted with less elbows and without kinking the pipe ,but it's highly unlikely to leak where it's kinked.

 

[sxturbo]

They are not solder ring fittings ,they are press fit.
Yes ,the pipes could have been fitted with less elbows and without kinking the pipe ,but it's highly unlikely to leak where it's kinked.

I don't think they are push fit fittings they look like they have an extra length above the 'ring'

Which these don't have

 

[CBW]

I don't think they are push fit fittings they look like they have an extra length above the 'ring'

Which these don't have

I’m not sure if you’re getting confused with the terminology, nobody has mentioned push fit, they said press fit, which uses an expensive tool to press the fitting onto the pipe. They look similar to these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/conex-ba...vAvl_hRzweej-bFHPjgaAsHWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Exedon]

Is it the best? no If I found a existing pipe like that under a floor would I change it? no.
One thing if that's a suspended ground floor pipework should be fully insulated.

 

[RandomGrinch]

They are not solder ring fittings ,they are press fit.
Yes ,the pipes could have been fitted with less elbows and without kinking the pipe ,but it's highly unlikely to leak where it's kinked.

Yes,
those joints have never been touched by flux, or flame!

 

[terryplumb]

Yes,
those joints have never been touched by flux, or flame!

Yes ,only squashed and kinked

 

[mattylad]

If you still have access, wack some insulation (the grey stuff thats going over the joist) onto both of them.

 

[Ben Lomond]

Thank you all for your comments, very helpful and informative. The pipes are 22mm dia and these are press fit indeed, similar to the ones in the link to Screwfix. No, I haven’t paid him in full yet. The scope is for a complete replacement of central heating, cold hot water and boiler – a significant expense for me. The house is 60 years old and I would like the new system to last another 60 years. Both the plumber and the system came highly recommended unfortunately it’s a bit disappointing so far. I already had a few leaks amongst the other issues.

Insulation, that’s another topic. I ended up doing it myself despite having it in the quote. It was a bit too patchy to my liking. It wasn’t worth arguing so I’m just installing it myself, the grey polyethylene pipe insulation plus silver tape (those three bits are there to save me hassle squeezing them later as the tubes are quite tight). I just like to leave the tubes exposed for a few days to check for any sign of leaks – like I said I already had a few in the past.

Indeed, this only required little extra time to make it properly. I still have access to it so I’m hopeful to have it rectified, just not sure by whom yet - any recommendations for a good plumber with the required tool in Glasgow area?

 

[CBW]

There’s a few here in Glasgow area

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Those fittings look rather pricey, one suspects that whoever installed them has done little or no training before calling themselves a plumber. Anyone half-competent would have formed a crossover dip (or even soldered one in)- easy space to work in, loads of room.