Correct inserts for plastic to copper?

[amfisted]

Evening all

Had occasion today to join old plastic supply pipes to new copper ones. After taking a butcher's at YouTube I decided to put metal inserts in the plastic pipe (which looks ancient, and I've no idea what brand it is) and connect the plastic to the copper pipes with brass compression connectors and brass olives. In the esteemed opinion of forum members, are these the right inserts for the job ( link below)? AFAIK the fittings have been in place for several hours with no leaks.

Hep2O Smartsleeve Stainless Steel Push-Fit Pipe Inserts 15mm 10 Pack - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. In4Sure joint recognition notifies when the pipe is connected. Safe for drinking water. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[kidgreen61]

One is supposed to use the correct inserts according to make of pipe.
Eg, Speedfit inserts won't go in Hep pipe because it has a thicker wall.
I think that as long as you've got an insert in, you'll be fine.
Others will, I'm sure disagree.

 

[amfisted]

One is supposed to use the correct inserts according to make of pipe.
Eg, Speedfit inserts won't go in Hep pipe because it has a thicker wall.
I think that as long as you've got an insert in, you'll be fine.
Others will, I'm sure disagree.

Thanks for that. As I said above, I’ve no idea what brand the pipe is (looks like it’s been there for many years) so I wasn’t able to match the inserts. But the ones I used were a pretty snug fit.

 

[CBW]

Were there no inserts previously? Could you have used these instead?

 

[amfisted]

Were there no inserts previously? Could you have used these instead?

The plastic pipe was joined to the existing copper isolators for the old tap and washing machine valve by plastic couplings of a similar vintage. Because of the age of those couplings and the likely faff of disassembling them, I thought it best to discard and start from scratch.

 

[Exedon]

If you use a insert not intended for that tube and the joint then leaks causing a insurance claim you may not be insured.
I spent many years having a couple of my team constantly sub contracted to a specialist insurance contractor.
Following any serious leak we were asked to do a report on cause .
One of tick boxes was not installed as per manufacturers instructions.
All plastic pipe is marked by manufacturer.

 

[amfisted]

If you use a insert not intended for that tube and the joint then leaks causing a insurance claim you may not be insured.
I spent many years having a couple of my team constantly sub contracted to a specialist insurance contractor.
Following any serious leak we were asked to do a report on cause .
One of tick boxes was not installed as per manufacturers instructions.
All plastic pipe is marked by manufacturer.

Thanks for that. I’ll ask my daughter to have a look on the discarded pieces of plastic pipe for a manufacturer’s mark. As said above, it’s pretty old stuff and I dont think it’s either of the major brands usually mentioned on these forums. If it is a discontinued brand, then I’m really not sure what else I can do other than use the “best fit” inserts that I can find. Unless I replace that entire run of plastic pipe, which would mean taking her sink unit apart.

 

[amfisted]

Worth adding that we had a bad experience with plastic pipe a few years back.
We bought a large Victorian house in 1996, and the Aqualisa thermostatic shower had been plumbed in by the previous owner using plastic pipe and fittings which were boxed in and tiled over. One day the cold feed blew off, sending gallons of water cascading into the room below. Fortunately I was able to get to the stopcock before too much damage was done, but it turned out that much of the integrity of the shower connections had been provided by lashings of silicone. Fortunately we didn’t need to make an insurance claim but had we done so, I wonder whether that previous owner’s bodgery would have been held against us.

 

[denso13]

Not ideal but if the insert is a nice tight fit, or at least not loose, it should be fine. Especially with compression fittings.

 

[johnny2007]

You'll be fine.

 

[amfisted]

My daughter had a look at the old plastic pipe, and the only word she could make out was “Polska”. Other than in Warsaw or Krakow, does that ring any bells?

 

[Iddy]

Rather than put the plastic pipe into a compression fitting, I'd transition to copper using a push-fit coupling, then the compression fitting on that copper....

 

[amfisted]

Rather than put the plastic pipe into a compression fitting, I'd transition to copper using a push-fit coupling, then the compression fitting on that copper....

Thanks for that response. I’ve already used the compression fittings direct to plastic, and I’ll be checking the joint on Monday. If it’s leaking I’ll nip up the nut, if it leaks again after that I may reconsider.

 

[phatboy]

I was told to use copper olives onto plastic pipe, as the brass ones are too hard and can cut into the pipe.

 

[amfisted]

I was told to use copper olives onto plastic pipe, as the brass ones are too hard and can cut into the pipe.

I also came across that advice, so I used the copper olives that came with the compression fitting.