speedfit fittings on central heating

Legacy_user

speedfit fittings on central heating has anyone used these and do they leak ?

how easy are they to fit onto 8mm copper and then go to plastic

any help would be great thanks

chalky_bertie

I take it you mean the push-fit fittings without the need for flame or flux. If it is i've just taken the following out of the Screwfix book

"Suitable for drinking water, hot and cold water and central heating. WRAS, DVGW and KIWA Approved. Use with copper or plastic pipe....Maximum working pressure 16 bar."

If you are tinkering with the centrel heating would it not be better to get a Corgi registered plumber instead. I do quite a bit of DIY but I don't go near the central heating - too much trouble if it all goes wrong!

As mentioned before there is a plumber that reads the site so he may be able to help.

shelly

My hubby has used both the plastic and copper ones on 15mm copper central heating pipes with no problems at all.If its in a concealed area use plastic ones as they look a bit unsightly if on show but ok under floorboards etc.

Note of warning!! If you use the copper pushfits you need a tool to remove them again if you get it wrong or need to change something later and he would also recommend arms like Arnie to do that!!

He hasn't used them with plastic pipes personally but know you have to use special copper inserts in the ends of the plastic pipes where you plan to use them.Overall he would highly recommend using plastic pushfits.Buy them from screwfix as DIY stores are too expensive.

Hope this helps.

dark_star_3

Hi,
If you have never used speed fit before it might be worth holding the fitting next to the pipe, then drawing a mark on the pipe to show if you have pushed it in far enough (just until you get a feel for it)
Also when using with coper pipe it's better to cut the pipe with tube cutters rather than a hacksaw, the reason for this is the tube cutters give a clean edge which is less likely to damage the O-ring in the fitting.

Finally...if you are working on the "wet" side of the system, then CORGI doesn't apply as this is only for working on gas supplies.

paws_3

Just being through the same dilema, having just redone my bathroom. Spoke to various plumbers etc and they say the push fits are excellent. Even though they are more expensive the solder or compression fittings , many house builders now use them as they are so easy.

I wasn't too sure so I started using the solder parts. But they are a pain - if any residual water is left (ie if the pipe is horizintal ) it cools the solder as your trying to heat it. Then the fitting leaks.

So I swapped to push in fittings. They are so good - I have seen the light ;D. They are just so easy to use and another advantage is that the can be swivel when fitted. Which makes it so much easier.

Myself I used them with copper tube. But I was doing longer runs I would use the flexible pipe - just make sure you use the inserts. And as the other guy says - if you use copper make sure you use a pipe cutter.

The other advantage is that the are removeable are reuseable. They are quite easy to remove with your hands without a special tool. Just pull the ring back.

I have now got about 20 of them and not one of them leaked.

They have a 50 year life. (it may sound like I work for the - I don't I promise).

One thing I would recommend is that when you get them, you get more of fittings than you think you wil need. I planned mine out and listed the fittings I thought I would need. But you will decide to do something slightly different and you will need another fitting. Now I buy loads from B&Q and the just take back waht I don't use.

Give them a go - they will change your life. ::)

System

Just for your info 70% of new homes built are plumbed using speed fit, they are in no way inferior to soldered fittings except they are more expensive but this can be offset against the time saved compared to copper fittings. The only other drawback is they can be quite bulky and unsightly (Cupro fit less so) so I do tend to only use them only where they can't be seen.

As was stated in a previous posts its good practice to mark the tube prior to inserting to ensure that they are fully pushed on, and if using plastic tubing ensure you use the inserts (stops the wall of the tube collapsing inside the fitting), other than that you can't go far wrong.

bluesy

Never used the 'speedfit' stuff but, if you go for hep2o pipe[also push fit plastic], make sure you use the 'barrier' version on CH installations/upgrades.

The ordinary Hep pipe is semi-permeable & if used on CH pressurised systems you will be frorever 'topping up' the pressure.

But don't be scared at plumbing as its only water& can be mopped up ;D














Eventually!

mutley74

i was on a basic plumbing course by our local college for past few weeks, and have experienc eof using speed fit and copper.

If you use speed fit, that is fine its for smalll jobs, but beware they are plastic with just a rubber washer, so not done correctly they could leak or fail in the future. Use a proper cutter for cutting the plastic pipe, not a hacksaw, as the end has to have a neat cut. Use an insert. Do not connect copper pipe striaght to a plastic push fit - i know we have seen many people and plumbers do it, but apparently its not what the manufacturers advise. they say use a special connector ofr changing between plastic and copper.

You dont need a corgi plumber to touch the central heating - that is i mean changing a radiator or pipes - unless you are going to alter/adjust the boiler or gas pipework, then you do need specialist advise.

System

i dont like using a pipecutter as it pushes the pipe into the centre. Learning to use a hacksaw and file properly gives a better result i reckon. Make sure the pipe is dry. wire wool the pipe to get rid of dirt. and use acetone to get rid of any grease and residual dirt. Using yorkshire fitting are the easiest way to solder. just clean the inside out as you did the pipe. flux the joint and Fit together. Keep heating around the fitting evenly until you see the solder seep out of the fitting. If you havent done it before. ave a few goes on some scrap pipes. Its easy but does take a bit of practise to get right.
speed fitting ive only seen a demo on and although they are more expensive the time it takes to fit them is considerably less. they look unsightly though.
If you have any experience of DIY (puttin in radiators etc) then you should be ok

sallywl

They are fine for C.H my OH moved some of our rads and used speedfit pipe / connectors no leks what so ever, although he did get some from B&Q which were tat, so only buys the speedfit stuff, and screwfix is prob the best place to pick them up! The pipe cutter he bought is fab, you can trim just a few mm off the pipe without bending it is a proper plstic cutter that looks about like pruning shears

OK_Sauce

Guess the original person has probably made a decision by now as he asked the question 3 years ago!!!:D