Have you been told by an engineer that you’re going to have plastic central heating pipes fitted in your home?
If so, you might find yourself worried that they won’t be up to the job. Perhaps because you’ve heard from a friend or family member that they’re inferior to copper pipework – or maybe because they just sound cheaper and less good quality.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong – as long as they’re being fitted underfloor, that is.
I’ve spent over 20 years fitting plastic – and copper – pipework in the Edinburgh area. Plastic central heating pipes do a fantastic job when fitted underfloor, and I’m going to tell you exactly why, below.
Are plastic central heating pipes up to the job?
I don’t know what you’ve heard, but plastic central heating pipes are wonderful. And more than up to the job of heating your home safely. In fact, this is my no.1 choice for fitting pipework under the floor.
Why? Well, it’s flexible, and is brilliant for running up to 25m under the floor – no joints needed! No soldering or flame required, either. Unlike when fitting copper pipes, which are very rigid and therefore can be very awkward and time-consuming to fit under flooring. Especially if you’re in a small flat or property!
And as you can imagine, saving a lot of time fitting plastic pipes also means you save a lot of money. But it’s not just about that. These pipes are fully manufactured to British standards, and are pressure tested to 10 bar. They’re also more resistant to frost – unlike copper pipes, which are more likely to freeze when it gets cold.
One other thing – on the off-chance there’s a leak, plastic pipes are easier to repair, too!
TIP: Check out my blog comparing plastic central heating pipes to copper *INSERT LINK* to learn more about this topic.
Are there any downsides to using plastic central heating pipes?
Plastic pipes don’t look good above surface – for instance for fitting to a radiator or boiler. I would always fit copper pipes above floor level, as it looks so much better, stays rigid and won’t be wibbly wobbly. However, since it’s above floor level, copper is easy to fit this way.
There is another downside, although it might not apply to you. You see, plastic pipework can be more susceptible to mice, in the correct conditions. Imagine you had a property on the outskirts of town, or live in a farm. Field mice could get under your floor, or into your attic, and gnaw on those plastic pipes.
Just the same way they could gnaw on your electric cables! So, having mice in your home is never a good thing, really. Luckily mice chewing on plastic central heating pipes isn’t a particularly huge problem.
Advice from an experienced engineer
Many of my customers express concern when I tell them we’re better fitting plastic pipes under the floor. But trust me, it’s far better to do things this way. Plastic pipework is just as good as copper, and as I mentioned above, it’s far easier to install and repair if required.
Think about it this way; if your chosen engineer were to install only copper pipework, this would most likely mean an extra day’s labour. Plus more expense and upheaval! So, plastic usually gets the vote every time!
Conclusion
Hopefully this blog has helped reassure you that plastic central heating pipework is up to the job of heating your home. Just as much as copper pipework is! And in many cases, it’s the best choice for your home if you want a quick, smooth installation with minimal upheaval.
Do you have any questions about plastic pipes? Let me know in the comments’ section. I’m always happy to help!
