New rads, wonky pipework

[wonkypipes]

Hi everyone,

I’ve just had all my radiators and pipework replaced by a plumber. All the old underfloor copper pipes have been ripped out and replaced with plastic pipes. Here are some examples of his finished work.

In most cases the pipes appear bent due to the plastic pipe coil used, in some cases the new hole drilled doesn’t line up with the valve and in other cases were the new rads are wider than the old he has just used the original hole!!

Is this acceptable workmanship? The plumber is very experienced, came highly recommended and isn’t cheap. I would really appreciate others opinions on this and some advice on how to deal with this.

Thank you.

Untitled

• wonkypipes
• 18 Feb 2015
• 1

Untitled

• wonkypipes
• 18 Feb 2015
• 1

Untitled

• wonkypipes
• 18 Feb 2015
• 1

 

[TeaTime]

Why did you replace the underfloor pipework with plastic? Was there anything wrong with it?

Where he has drilled the new holes and the alignment to the TRV and lockshield is way out, thats not good at all.

 

[muggles]

Ooooh that's rough... Both the alignment of the pipes and the use of plastic. I'd have stuck with copper, especially where it's on show, though I never actually use plastic anywhere - nasty stuff for the DIY market IMO

 

[TeaTime]

I'd have stuck with copper, especially where it's on show, though I never actually use plastic anywhere - nasty stuff for the DIY market IMO

I suspect he didn't switch to copper because he misaligned the pipe to rads / didn't want to ask about drilling extra holes.

 

[wonkypipes]

Why did you replace the underfloor pipework with plastic? Was there anything wrong with it?

Apparently all the original pipework under the floor had collapsed due to it not being fixed up properly, bad joins/solders etc.

 

[longdogs]

The third pic is particularly bad. If he had used copper and not wished to make new holes in the floor, he could have used suitable bends which would have looked better.

Also, it would have been a good idea to have decorated behind the rad first

 

[wonkypipes]

Also, it would have been a good idea to have decorated behind the rad first

Haha, didn't know the new rad was going to be shorter and wider.

 

[TeaTime]

To really answer your question, no, it's not very good at all.

He should have explained the situation to you, how he was going to use plastic to the rads (if he didn't already)

As far as what you need to do, you can have the pipework that comes through the floor boards changed over to copper, just make sure you use compression and not push fit connections. That way, as squeaky said, you can have nice neat bends in the copper that wont look like a monterous warp. Consider if you want to have new holes drilled to really square the pipework up so it is straight though.

At the end of the day though, it will still work just fine.

 

[Boilerman2]

Also, it would have been a good idea to have decorated behind the rad first

Haha, didn't know the new rad was going to be shorter and wider.

Which makes you as bad as your Plumbert!!

 

[wonkypipes]

Which makes you as bad as your Plumbert!!

Good advice. Never ever hire a Plumbert if you want a professional job!

 

[HERTS P&D]

The guy who fitted your plumbing/radiators is not a plumber!

Andy

 

[Nige F]

But he might be Gas Safe, the OP said he wasn't cheap

 

[muggles]

Bear in mind, though, that one person's not cheap might not be the same as another's...

 

[easyflow]

Id get him to come back and correct that mess, and replace the tails with copper.

 

[sjmac]

Absolute xxxx. Plastic yeah ok under the floor, to bring poly through the floor is poor DIY, let alone charged for work.