plumbing repair advice

benson1980

Hi all,

This follows on from an "is this quote fair" post regarding an emergency plumbing repair I had done, and would really appreciate some advice as I don't really understand plumbing, or that much about CH systems, as evidenced by the below...

Yesterday I was trying to secure a squeaky floorboard and unbeknown to me there were 2 central heating copper pipes running right underneath the floorboards- so accidentally put a screw through one of them. I called an emergency plumber and I took up a section of the floorboard to give him access. Water went everywhere and the system effectively drained itself.

He immediately commented that it was 28mm pipe but as he embarked on the repair he seemed to be struggling with the repair sections. He then said what he had done was a temporary fix but would hold for now, he'd need to order 1 inch pipe, and he'd come back as it was an issue that I had very odd sized pipework.

I have lost confidence in him somewhat as he left offering no advice re: potential issues, and I proceeded to turn the valve back on up in the loft (gravity fed system). It took me several hours to realise that the CH wasn't working. He mentioned nothing of potential airlocks before he left and having to bleed radiators and pumps, which I then did and now I realise that it takes a fair bit of time to get these airlocks out of the system after an event like this and that I have to bleed the pump as well. All he advised when I told him later one after he left, was to bleed my radiators and that it would sort itself out- so even the follow up advice seemed a little bit lacking.

My main query is the pipework. I've measured the existing pipework with a digital caliper and outer bore is definitely 28mm. Is this not standard piping diameter? Are there different sizes of copper pipe that would have caused any issue? I really don't understand what he's done, now that I've measured it myself and why this was so complicated- but as above I appreciate I may be missing something potentially. I've attached a picture of the repair. There's two sections as I damaged a further bit as I was getting the floorboards up. Not my finest hour...

nofoollikeold

1. The standard pipe sizes are 15, 22, 28, 35, 42 mm  There are more
2. Microbore pipe sizes are 8, 10 and 12.
3. Standard pipe sizes in other countries are different, but of the same order of magnitude.
4. Before metrication, standard pipe sizes in general use were 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4".  Very roughly equivalent to 15, 22, 28 and 35.  Imperial pipes are measured as the internal diameter, metric on the external diameter.  
5. Your photograph looks to me like a reasonably neat repair, rather than a temporary fix.  
6. Not sure what the marks on the right hand (un-mended) pipe are, but if they are at all deep, might be worth getting that section replaced while the floor boards are up.  
7. Emergency plumbers are, in my experience, generally not all that good (except Pimlico who are expensive but in my experience excellent).  However, they charge by the hour or part thereof, so to stay and explain, let alone actually help you, was going to cost you a great deal of money.  Assuming the plumber knew the issues!
8. When the floorboards go back down, mark the locations of the pipes with a permanent marker or paint.  Better still, if there is room, rebate the joists very slightly and put a steel plate over the pipes, making sure they don't touch it.  

bob_a_builder

re 6 : I noticed those, and the same sort of marks are round the middle of the new joints too  - not sure what made them, some sort of gripping tool 
why on the good pipe and on the joint

benson1980

Thanks that is most helpful- so yes I guess it could be 1 inch internal and that is what he was referring to. The exact measurement on the digital caliper just checking again is 28.3 so perhaps that's it and that 0.3 of a mm is what was causing the issue.

The marks on the pipe- I was obviously hasty in my efforts to get the boards up as I didn't know really what I had gone through or how to isolate it. These are saw marks (!), so he replaced the damaged section on the left hand pipe where it went a bit deeper. To be honest it's pretty superficial on the right hand side pipe.

The similar marks on the repair section- they do look identical now I look at them but they go all the way around so yes- must have been some form of gripping tool. He used. These do seem a little deeper though...

When I say emergency plumber, he's a regular plumber who advertises as dealing with emergencies as well. Good to know the repair looks ok, but he did say several times he'd need to come back and do it properly, but I'd have to chase him, which isn't ideal.

And yes I will definitely be marking the location of the pipes when I get it all fixed.