How to Plumb

How to Plumb

Feed pipes from the cold water storage tank in your loft may be either 15 or 22mm pipes. There is also pipe work that connects the main to the cold water storage tank. Pipe work to a hot water storage cylinder will be 22mm pipe as will that going to bath taps. The basins and sinks as well as the shower will use 15mm pipe.

There are many different types of fitting for both 15 and 22 mm pipes. One type of fitting is called a compression fitting. On this type of fitting you need to tighten the nut and as this is turned the ‘olive’ ring is compressed tightly against the pipe creating a watertight seal. This is an ideal way for an inexperienced plumber to do this as it requires no special tools. They can be quite expensive and will require the use of a spanner. A solder ring fitting is another type of fitting that requires a blowtorch to be used. The solder is already built into a groove inside the outlets. They are much cheaper than compression fittings and also less bulky. It will require practice to get these fittings correct and several attempts may be required. A much cheaper and easier to use fitting is something called a push fit. These usually come in both copper and plastic versions. The most important thing when using a push fit is the preparation of the tube and this needs to be cut using a tube cutter. This will make sure that the tube remains round at its ends ready for an ‘O’ ring to be fitted.

For bending pipes you can get 90 degree elbows for going around corners, however, not all bends will be 90 degrees. The fewer connections that you need the better as there is less risk of leaks and the work will also take less time. For pipe bending work you will need a pipe bending spring. This is inserted into the pipe centrally in the place where the bend is desired. You need to bend the pipe over your knee to the angle required using this tool. It is important to note that you cannot make sharp bends and you can only bend the pipe less than 90 degrees. All bends made will be gentle turns otherwise you will note be able to remove the tool from the pipe. If space is limited you must use elbows to allow for sharp turns. However, for complicated issues, it is advisable to call for an emergency plumber in springfield pa. With the right skills, knowledge and equipment, they can certainly help you with any plumbing issues.

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