Crimping fittings

[ziggy1979]

Thanks again Doitall ... what about cost, how much are you looking at for the hand crimping tool, bevelling tool and pipe cutter ... and how do the fittings compare to speedfit ones?

Are the manifolds expensive? I read on their website that they recommend using them as it means there are no joints between the manifold and the radiator thereby reducing the risk of any leaks in the system. Are there any disadvantages with doing this?

Also, can this system be used for underfloor heating or are different pipes, fittings, etc. necessary for underfloor systems?

Thanks

 

[doitall]

I'm out of the trade now so best to get prices from your supplier BSS or Pipeline.

Cost is comparable with plastic but slightly more, on the other hand it is a far better product.

The cutters are the same snips used for any plastic pipes. Fitting are much smaller and less bulky which to me is a bonus.

I have always used the fittings and pipe in the traditional way, except of course there's no heat, again a bonus in protected building. I did use the manifold in a Church in Bath, because access was near impossible, I took the primary circuit to a central position and pulled, pushed and threaded a pair of pipes to each rad, which is another plus, the pipe stay straight.

It could be used for underfloor, but there are better products on the market, for example the same manufacturer, Wirsbo is one of the best sytems on the market.

The hand pressing tools were about £80. I think. I'll have a lookj in me book later to see if it's in there.

 

[ziggy1979]

SOrry to be a pain ... you say that its a better product than plastic (i.e. speedfit?). Can you please explain why - is it because in your experience it leaks less, is it any faster to install?

Does having an aluminium layer make the pipe any stiffer/less flexible than HEP20 or barrier pipes?

You mentioned in the earlier post that your only complaint was size (re special fittings to convert to copper). Was this much hassle or did you find that there were reasonably priced connectors which were easy to come by?

Also, just a general question re manifolds. Is there any advantage to using them as opposed to simply tying the flow and return from each rad to the flow and return from the boiler?

Thanks a lot for all your help and advice!

;P

 

[doitall]

In my opinion I have never had a leak using it. With plastic the one big problem is getting it straight, meaning when installed it hangs like curtains through the joists etc, ideal for furture air locks and circulation problems, unipipe stays where you want it and is easy to straighten off the coil.

Push fit fitting are too bulky in my opinion and can lead to problems under floors where its tight for space.

Pushfit pipe is food for rodents of all kinds, the manufacturers have actually put it in there data now.

Unipipe can be easily bent with the hands, I found the pipe formers as used for underfloor heating is good for bending the pipe.

All the fitting are available of the shelf normally but I used to keep a selection of straight couplings and adapters to copper, as I said earlier, the pipe is not standard 15 & 22mm but 16mm & 18mm & 20mm. They do a street fitting for radiators and compression fittings, and a long tail fitting in chrome or nickel, to enable the pipe to go into the elbow and the long tail for the radiator valve, very neat.

I don't see the advantage of the manifolds for normal installation, but they have there uses for difficult areas.

Somewhere on the link I posted you should be able to download a list of all the fittings, if not shout and I'll look it out.

 

[ziggy1979]

Thanks again Doitall ... i have the link ... saved to favourites!

I take it from your email that rats and mice won't eat the multi-core pipe unlike the plastic pipes?

With regards to pipe sizes, is 20mm the closest they do to 22mm? Would it be better to use a larger diameter pipe when running "supply pipes" like the flow and return to/from the boiler or is there no real difference/advantage to using 20mm as opposed to the "normal" 22mm?

Also, on a slightly different point ... in your experience, how did this system fair against traditional copper with soldered joints and the odd compression fitting? Do these pipes expand as much as copper and hence creak, etc. to the same extent?

Thanks again.

PS - Did you ever use other manufacturer's products such as Yorkshire's pressed pipe/fitting system? If so, which, and how would you rate these as compared to the upunor multi-core pipe products?