New Radiators Being Installed - rad tails or plastic???

aj9648

I am having some new rads put in. The whole place is being decorated as we speak and there is no skirting down. We have a copper system.

The plumber recommended that we go for plastic running from floor boards to the rads. Its easier on the eye and easier to install. He said plastic is also durable.

Something like this (but would be hidden behind skirts):

https://twitter.com/payrollexcel/status/1067439541751959553?s=21

My worry is that plastic might not be as durable ad might fail. We also have LVT going down, so if it does fail then is a big repair job

I dont know the pros and cons of plastic v copper but any help from the DIYers here would be much appreciated.

Dan-Dan

If you are employing an expert in his field why would it matter to you if its easier to install ?
Has he given you a price for both ?

In any event copper all the way last years and in my opinion looks far superior

aj9648

I am not really bothered about the price - not a huge difference.

Although he says he has done the same thing in his own house, which I dont doubt, I assume he is going down the plastic route as its easier

And to be honest I dont know any different !!!

aj9648

PS - I should say that the old rads were way too big and all the pipework would need resizing for the new rads

lstar337

Ours are plastic, but they go up behind the rad and then into the wall through a triangular doohickey. You don't see the pipes at all.

It's preferable to the older copper tails I have seen in most other houses.

Owain_Moneysaver

In general, copper would be used for the tails. It's difficult to get plastic to be completely straight and rigid. You can get white or 'chrome' plastic sleeves to go over the copper tails if you want.

Plastic for the tails is certainly easier if you don't trust yourself to drill a floorboard hole exactly below the rad valve.

aj9648

lstar337 wrote: »

Ours are plastic, but they go up behind the rad and then into the wall through a triangular doohickey. You don't see the pipes at all.

It's preferable to the older copper tails I have seen in most other houses.

Thanks - do you have a pic?

bris

Plastic is the installers choice and is durable. It's triple layered now so you won't have a problem.


It also looks good as the white going straight into the rads looks better than copper as far as I'm concerned.

System

Plastic is now the product of choice for new builds. It is cheap; easy to install and durable. It also quiet: no expansion/contraction noise as the pipes heat and cool.

If the piping is to be hidden underfloorboards or behind cills, I think it is a Buildings Regulations requirement that the pipes have to be wrapped in metal foil so that they can be defected by metal/stud detectors.

fezster

Will the plastic pipe be coming out of the wall and into the radiator valve? The problem with plastic is that it's not rigid and can look unsightly - unlike copper tails painted white.

aj9648

fezster wrote: »

Will the plastic pipe be coming out of the wall and into the radiator valve? The problem with plastic is that it's not rigid and can look unsightly - unlike copper tails painted white.

No it will come from under floor, behind skirt and then will tail round the back to the valve