Plastic pipe is versatile, cheap, rust and corrosion-resistant, surprisingly durable, and eco-friendly/recyclable. Let’s look at a number of useful things to bear in mind if you are undertaking a plumbing project with plastic pipe.
Use plastic cement
Using plastic cement is extremely useful, as it helps ensure the connections are effective and watertight. It is important to make sure the plastic cement is compatible with the pipe you are using. You will need primer, cement, a suitable size dauber, and a cloth/cleaning towel. The stages are:
- Clean the pipes.
- Test the fittings.
- Use alignment to work out how much primer and cement you need.
- Use your primer to prepare the pieces.
- Apply the cement.
- Push the pieces of pipe together.
- Hold them together to allow the cement to set. 8 Wipe away any leftover cement.
Use a tube cutter/saw
If a pipe is too long, you can trim it to the desired size with a pipe tube cutter. These provide smooth, precise finishes. Alternatively, if cutting a larger pipe, you can use a metal saw. Whichever you use, make sure you wear protective glasses of a sufficient grade.
Do not connect plastic pipe directly to a boiler
Plastic pipes may not be able to deal with the high operating temperature of a boiler, which can be in excess of 65ºC. You should therefore have a minimum of one metre of copper pipework connecting to the boiler, which can then be connected to plastic.
Copper pipe connectors
If you prefer to work with copper pipe, you may need to join one or more. To help make this easier, several companies manufacture/supply copper pipe connectors. These allow for a flame-free connection.
Avoid using threaded tape
Threaded tape can be useful for many applications, but it can negatively affect plastic pipes and fittings. If it is wrapped too thickly around the joints, it can lead to cracking when joining sections of pipe. For this reason, it is better/safer to use a plastic-friendly pipe dope.