off subject plumbing

[Seaking]

Has anyone used these products ?? http://www.lift-offradvalves.co.uk/buy-online.html or http://www.solderlesscopperbonding.com
i like the first product idea.

[KOY 23]

Agree, the first is a good idea.

Not happy with the second, will it withstand pressure and provide good electrical continuity as water pipes must be bonded to earth.

[Jeff]

Lift off rad valve seems a good idea, not being a plumber but have removed many rads in my time. Always ask yourself, do professional plumbers use them? It's very simple to drain the rad and save £3.50 but then you lose any additive in the rad.

Personally, I would consider fitting them as and when needed unless you are installing from the start with a new system.

('Always ask the professional', do you ever see professional painters using the pad paint systems over brushes and rollers? I haven't.)

Jeff.

[aerosilver]

I wouldn't use them personally. In my experience domestic radiators tend to collect muck and sludge after a few years use (just like Stag ones!) so draining them to remove them gives you an opportunity to give them a good flush out.

[ozman]

As a plumber myself I don't think I would use them as the first item has already been explained by aerosliver when taking a rad off its good to give them a flush out as even with chemicals in the system you will always get a sludge build up. Secondly with the "Just for copper", when you consider most pipe work is hidden i wouldn't trust it. With the pressure of water( combined with heat in the heating system ) and gas, its better to know that all the joints are, for want of a better word, welded together and not glued. After-all would any of us feel safe if we glued our cars back together??

[staginhiding]

So how do you feel about the plastic push fit water pipework that is available..

[Jeff]

I wouldn't use them personally. In my experience domestic radiators tend to collect muck and sludge after a few years use (just like Stag ones!) so draining them to remove them gives you an opportunity to give them a good flush out.

They can still be given a good flush out, it just means you don't have to faff about draining them indoors.

Only problem is they have the weight of the water and for one person to lift and carry, could be too much.

Jeff.

[Bob Heritage]

The first is just a ballafix valve in the fitting-could save messy spillage of sludge inside the rad when removing, OK if the bore size is not reduced too much. You can still open the valves once outside and flush them through.
The second I would give a wide berth- get the blow lamp out.
Plastic plumbing is quite popular now, Hep2o is widely used and is good, especially if you are working in an occupied house and want to run a pipe front to back under the floorboards with minimum disruption. Owing to the price of copper it is being used more, copper pipework is neater.


Bob the Builder

[GDPR]

As a plumber myself I don't think I would use them as the first item has already been explained by aerosliver when taking a rad off its good to give them a flush out as even with chemicals in the system you will always get a sludge build up. Secondly with the "Just for copper", when you consider most pipe work is hidden i wouldn't trust it. With the pressure of water( combined with heat in the heating system ) and gas, its better to know that all the joints are, for want of a better word, welded together and not glued. After-all would any of us feel safe if we glued our cars back together??

Concorde was glued together...... I felt completely safe flying at twice the speed of sound in it.....

[DJT]

After-all would any of us feel safe if we glued our cars back together??

Seems to work for Lotus and Aston Martin

[Doug]

Often ballofix valves leak from the slot face when they're operated after a long time undisturbed.
Not easy or guaranteed to stop them dripping after.
Installers won't use stuff like this unless they're supplied with the kit. Best avoided.
Hi, I'm new on here,
quick hijack; can I use nylock nuts on the rear shocks instead of the locknut setup?

Regz

[edd]

I'm not keen on ballofix either but it does have its uses and I will no doubt use them in the future. I use John guest fittings and have never had a problem I do however sometimes try to think of the joints in 10 years time. Heat and o rings ummmm if I want to be 100 % and I'm tiling over or boxing in I try to use a constant pipe plastic or copper or solder if there are lots of joints. If I'm under a sink then plastic is great.
Soldering is hard work with risidual water in the pipe so plastic is sometime a god send. The fact is these new valves may put the centres out of existing rad valves. Most rad valves seize up and need replacing so your draining the system anyway.
Edd

[Jeff]

Often ballofix valves leak from the slot face when they're operated after a long time undisturbed.
Not easy or guaranteed to stop them dripping after.
Installers won't use stuff like this unless they're supplied with the kit. Best avoided.
Hi, I'm new on here,
quick hijack; can I use nylock nuts on the rear shocks instead of the locknut setup?

Regz

I have,

Jeff.

[edd]

I use this handy link for all my plumbing tips , its the art of showing the but crack whist under the sink and is a time honoured skill for any plumber !
Edd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVdzP...1&feature=fvwp

[Princejohny]

I use this handy link for all my plumbing tips , its the art of showing the but crack whist under the sink and is a time honoured skill for any plumber !
Edd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVdzP...1&feature=fvwp

Indeed Edd, had this yesterday...
Gas repair man on kitchen chair, head buried in wall cupboard, trying to get at flue, trousers at half mast. "Come and look at this mate."
Cheers Johny