Is this a plumbing quick fit connector?

stuart45

Make sure you get the correct inserts for that pipe. 

ThisIsWeird

Section62 said:

I think rob7475 was right with Polyplumb - the end cap has grooves (for grip) all around the circumfrence, but varying in length in a distinctive 'wave' pattern.

Again, leaving the old sealing components on the pipe and reusing them isn't what the manufacturer recommends... so if you do that it is at your own risk.

Good forensics Yes, Polyplumb.

Cymruchris, entirely your call, but you can remove that elbow body by unscrewing the end caps, withdraw the two pipes, and then replace the elbow body with that of an equal tee, and at next to zero risk to the connection.

Obviously, every time you dismantle one of these fittings, as with ANY fitting, you introduce an element of summat going wrong. This is true of brass compression fittings, yorkies, and any type of push-fit - summat can go wrong that wouldn't do if you simply left that fitting alone. 

Polyplumb do not recommend 'reusing' these fittings, but what you would effectively be doing is 'undoing' and then 'redoing' one of them; you will not be interfering with the O ring, spacer, grab ring or pipe at all. 

I mean, if you wished to temporarily 'disconnect' that elbow, for example, you would simply unscrew the end collar, and withdraw the pipe with all the gubbins on it (video 2:25). To redo, you'd gently push the gubbins back in, and tighten up the collar - jobbie jobbed. Would you replace the whole elbow every time you'd need to undo that fitting? Surely not - it would be a waste, and would likely end up with more damage, especially to the pipe ends, which would need trimming, with all the aggro that involves - the pipes being too short for one :-)

Provided you have enough 'play' in the pipes (looking dodgy...) Will that RH plastic pipe withdraw into the cabinet a couple of inches? If so, undo that one first, and pull away the pipe from the fitting. Then undo the metal pipe at the top and pull the elbow offski.

There is only one thing you need to look out for if doing this; when reconnecting one of these fittings, insert the pipe with the bits on it straight, and watch out for the round edge of the fitting catching the grab ring as you insert it. If you are very clumsy, you could catch the grab ring, and keep pushing the pipe in, thereby pushing the grab ring further up the pipe which would render the fitting undoupable. But, you'd have to be an utter klutz to do this - the grab rings need a firm push.

At 2:25  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMapUkPCjtU&t=148s

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

Polyplumb do not recommend 'reusing' these fittings, but what you would effectively be doing is 'undoing' and then 'redoing' one of them; you will not be interfering with the O ring, spacer, grab ring or pipe at all.

^Subject to the original installation being done properly - with the right pipe insert, the pipe inserted into the fitting the correct depth, the depth to shoulder of the two fittings being the same, and hoping the previous work was done using a new fitting rather than someone bodging reusing an old one.

ThisIsWeird said:

I mean, if you wished to temporarily 'disconnect' that elbow, for example, you would simply unscrew the end collar, and withdraw the pipe with all the gubbins on it (video 2:25). To redo, you'd gently push the gubbins back in, and tighten up the collar - jobbie jobbed. Would you replace the whole elbow every time you'd need to undo that fitting? Surely not - it would be a waste, and would likely end up with more damage, especially to the pipe ends, which would need trimming, with all the aggro that involves - the pipes being too short for one :-)

Yes. As much as I hate waste, there is a limit to what is sensible to reuse and when it is wiser to invest a few pounds in doing something properly.  If it was a brass fitting I wouldn't hesitate to reuse, with a new olive if necessary. Likewise I'd be more than happy to reuse Speedfit.

But the cost implications of dealing with a flood of water if a fitting pops out because it was bodged reused without due care means it isn't really sensible to save those few pounds unless you know absolutely that it is Ok to do so and you are willing to take the risk yourself. Not being funny, but as you didn't recognise the type of fitting I'm guessing you've not used one before, or have familiarity with their unique properties... I'm not saying they can't ever be reused, but I wouldn't encourage anyone to reuse a Polyplumb fitting if I didn't know for sure that it was Ok to do so in the specific situation.

And if it was a joint I thought I might need to undo in the future then it would make even more sense to make the investment now in a safely demountable fitting - i.e. change it over now and not have to worry about it next time.  If there is going to be an 'every time' then it needs to be demountable.

rob7475

Polyplumb strongly advise against re-using their fittings. See page 9 - https://www.polypipe.com/sites/default/files/pbp-17-396_a5_plumbing_heating_installation_guide.pdf.

I'd remove, clean the pipe up and use speedfit fittings with the superseal inserts.

ThisIsWeird

Section62 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Polyplumb do not recommend 'reusing' these fittings, but what you would effectively be doing is 'undoing' and then 'redoing' one of them; you will not be interfering with the O ring, spacer, grab ring or pipe at all.

^Subject to the original installation being done properly - with the right pipe insert, the pipe inserted into the fitting the correct depth, the depth to shoulder of the two fittings being the same, and hoping the previous work was done using a new fitting rather than someone bodging reusing an old one.

ThisIsWeird said:

I mean, if you wished to temporarily 'disconnect' that elbow, for example, you would simply unscrew the end collar, and withdraw the pipe with all the gubbins on it (video 2:25). To redo, you'd gently push the gubbins back in, and tighten up the collar - jobbie jobbed. Would you replace the whole elbow every time you'd need to undo that fitting? Surely not - it would be a waste, and would likely end up with more damage, especially to the pipe ends, which would need trimming, with all the aggro that involves - the pipes being too short for one :-)

Yes. As much as I hate waste, there is a limit to what is sensible to reuse and when it is wiser to invest a few pounds in doing something properly.  If it was a brass fitting I wouldn't hesitate to reuse, with a new olive if necessary. Likewise I'd be more than happy to reuse Speedfit.

But the cost implications of dealing with a flood of water if a fitting pops out because it was bodged reused without due care means it isn't really sensible to save those few pounds unless you know absolutely that it is Ok to do so and you are willing to take the risk yourself. Not being funny, but as you didn't recognise the type of fitting I'm guessing you've not used one before, or have familiarity with their unique properties... I'm not saying they can't ever be reused, but I wouldn't encourage anyone to reuse a Polyplumb fitting if I didn't know for sure that it was Ok to do so in the specific situation.

And if it was a joint I thought I might need to undo in the future then it would make even more sense to make the investment now in a safely demountable fitting - i.e. change it over now and not have to worry about it next time.  If there is going to be an 'every time' then it needs to be demountable.

Tsk, "Subject to the original installation being done properly". Like, D'uh - of course. That statement of the bleed-obvs applies to pretty much any and every job you might undertake, from changing a fuse to replacing a lintel. In this case, it's particularly easy to check once dismantled.

"Not being funny, but as you didn't recognise the type of fitting I'm guessing you've not used one before, or have familiarity with their unique properties." Ouch! Sad to report that I sold - and extensively used - Bartol 'Acorn' fittings over 40 years ago. Bartol's successor appears to be Hep2O, but the Polyplumb is nigh-on identical; it has a 'rubber' O-ring, a spacer, and the grab ring. The latter is 'unreusable', tho' in dire straits I have done so by cutting the pipe beyond it, and slipping it off by continuing to push it the correct of its one-ways. I know these fittings intimately, as once necessitated an embarrassing trip to A&E one winter's eve...

I get your point, and due diligence is the order of the day. But, that elbow can be directly replaced by a tee, and - with your caveats - could make this a 5-minute jobbie.