un-coupling plastic water pipe

almeria1

Before I attempt a job I have in mind does anyone have any hints/tips to undo 40mm plastic water pipe which I have running from the sink trap to the main waste pipe. It has a number of elbows as it makes its way past a dishwasher. I tried a couple of pulls at the first elbow with now joy at all so I figure asking the question will do no harm. Every thing has been in place for about 20 years.

anotherbaldrick

First thing is are the fittings compression ring or solvent weld ?. If there are no large nuts on the joints , which I assume there are not or you would have mentioned them, the joints will be solvent welded and you will not pull them apart . Cut the pipework back and renew with new fittings

almeria1

They are just push-in pipes. They are not the same as the 15mm push-fit brand type which I have used in the garage. I have some old bits of this type of pipe in the shed and you can just push a piece of pipe into a fitting or pull it out again. Its just that the stuff under the sink has been connected for so long I guess.

anotherbaldrick

almeria1 wrote: »

They are just push-in pipes. They are not the same as the 15mm push-fit brand type which I have used in the garage. I have some old bits of this type of pipe in the shed and you can just push a piece of pipe into a fitting or pull it out again. Its just that the stuff under the sink has been connected for so long I guess.

Push fit like this ?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ge6y73552k

Ruski

Instead of just pulling, wear rubber gloves (gives better purchase on the pipes/fittings) and then twist the pipe/fittings as you pull apart. 20 years will have had them attach themselves to eachother fairly firmly

Be prepared to find nasty gunk and smells!!

HTH

Russ

almeria1

anotherbaldrick- yes that looks like my type of pipe although mine is a greyish colour. Ruski thanks I'll give that a try.

Stooby2

Almeria - whilst they push fit together, as Baldrick says, they are solvent welded together, or to put ot simpler, glued very strongly and you won't pull them apart, ever.

If you watch the video, the stuff the guy brushes on is the solvent (glue), and as he says, once you push them together with it on, they're not coming apart again. The solvent has to be used to make the joint watertight as well as stopping the pipes pulling apart. I'm afraid that cutting and replacing them is your only option.

Ruski

HaHa - I should have watched the video!
If they are solvent weld then yes, you won't get them apart.


Unless they're like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fySyTNCiMes


Let us know!


Russ

almeria1

Ruski that video shows exactly the type of fitting I am talking about.I never used any solvent all those years ago, just pushed the pipe in like the chap says . thanks for coming up with that ,now I will try your tip for getting them apart.