Inaccessible plastic.

[Rigadon]

Hi all,

I'm after a bit of advice - I'm re-doing our en suite and putting in a new shower. Our house is a (relative) new build and the pipes are Osma Gold throughout, fittings vary but most look like this:

Untitled

• Rigadon
• 1 May 2011
• 1

The problem I've got is that the new shower is going to be slightly lower than the old one and the feeds shown above are not going to be long enough (and even if they were there is a nice scratch down the side of both pipes anyway).

This area is going to be tiled over so will be pretty much inaccessible. The best option seems to be to fit new reducing tees and new pipes, but what would be the best thing to replace them with?

Cheers,

Ger.

 

[ChrisR]

Soldered copper.
Not what you wanted to hear ?

 

[Charnwood]

What's wrong with cutting those 15mm pipes and either:
1) Fitting a couple of flexibles
2) Lowering those pipes with elbows and pipe

 

[Rigadon]

@ChrisR:
Not really what I wanted to hear, no. This bathroom was only supposed to be a relatively quick job for us to sell the house later in the year. Re-doing the house in copper wasn't really on the plan if I'm honest .

@Charnwood
Those 15mm pipes have got some pretty bad scratches up the side - which is good work by the fitters considering they haven't been pulled through anything. I'd be worried about the longevity of any connections made to them.

Ideally I'd just swap out to longer 15mm pipes, as then there is only one connection, but the tees look pretty permanent, so I'm assuming I'm going to need new ones.

Touch wood, the connections on the water have been reliable enough so far, with only one failure occurring under the sink in the kitchen, luckily. I'd be happy to use the same type if anyone can tell me what they are or if there's a better alternative:

Untitled

• Rigadon
• 2 May 2011
• 1

 

[muggles]

Cut the pipes and use compression fittings, unless it's scratched REALLY badly they'll seal, might need to use a bit of PTFE though and of course don't forget to get some pipe support inserts for the pipe

 

[PlumbGas]

Soldered copper.
Not what you wanted to hear ?

I'm with Chris, If you're going to make them inaccessible for repair then copper and solder,

 

[Whitespirit66]

Perhaps I'm fussy, but those images remind me why I would never buy new build, or anything built after the 70s. Thrown together by house bashers.

Yes, compression and correct inserts will get the job done, and will give a more long lasting seal than the stuff in the rest of the house.