Copper or plastic radiator tail.

Hi,

Quick question.

I’m plumbing radiators in using plastic pipe. Should I use copper tails into the radiator valves or use plastic pipe into the valves instead.

Whatever is visible above floorboard level will be covered by chrome pipe covers so visually it is irrelevant. I’m just wondering which would be better going into the radiator valve.

Terminology note: "tails" are the things that join the valve to the radiator, and they are always metal.

I'm not aware of any reason why you shouldn't use plastic pipe into the radiator valves.

Some people think it looks horrid. I've had some where the final 8 inches or so of pipe is 10mm plastic, and the advantage is that you can neatly mould and clip the pipe exactly where you want it. I've got it clipped vertically to the skirting, so I don't have the awkward gap between the skirting and the usual copper 15mm tail. I think plastic or copper is fine - so long as you are pleased with how it looks.

A load of unsupported and sagging plastic would look terrible, of course.

I always use copper up through the floor into the valve. Much more sturdy and better against any mechanical bangs from vacuum cleaners etc.

I’m using 10mm plastic speed fit. I know it’s probably not the best and 15mm is the optimum. But my house is old and it’s all in 8mm microbore and working fine without issues so I figured to just keep everything as it is instead of ripping up all the floorboards to re do the house in 15mm.

If I’m using 10mm plastic and the last six to eight inches is in 15mm copper into the radiator valves, aesthetics aside, does this have any impact on the flow into the radiator compared to just running the 10mm plastic straight into the valve with a reducer.

I’ve done this on one radiator already (and covered the exposed pipe with a chrome pipe cover) and it works perfectly. I just wondered if that small piece of end pipe mattered at all and by coming up from 10mm to 15mm into the actual valve changed anything or is it irrelevant.

Thanks again

Jasontenn said:

I’ve done this on one radiator already (and covered the exposed pipe with a chrome pipe cover) and it works perfectly. I just wondered if that small piece of end pipe mattered at all and by coming up from 10mm to 15mm into the actual valve changed anything or is it irrelevant.

Click to expand...

Not really, but 10mm straight to the valve, with no joins, also works. Can still cover it with pipe covers.

Its fine but make sure you get 10mm valves and not 15mm ones with reducers because that's a recipe for leaks