Copper pipe

[norfolknchance]

Having just moved in to a house (10 years old) there are a few pipe bursts in what I thought was 22mm pipes, but having bought some pipe and 22mm couplers to repair them dont quite fit the existing.
What size could my existing pipes be if not 22mm?
Thanks

 

[Dan Robinson]

3/4" Copper. You can get conversion fittings in both end feed and compression and even pushfit.

 

[echoes]

3/4" imperial. It's slightly smaller.

You can get 3/4" olives to go in 22mm compression fittings, or use the 22mm olives and give them an extra heave before they tighten up. Solder fittings will not work though - but you should be able to get imperial/metric couplers at a plumbers' merchants for pence.

I think toolstation do them as well but in packets of a million (well, 25). I got a couple from BES recently.

 

[cantaloup63]

A "few" bursts in a 10 year old house? Sounds a bit unusual

 

[norfolknchance]

Cheers guys.

Smaller? Just to clarify....Am I right in thinking imperial is slightly larger then?

I purchased the 22mm metrics today from merchants and the existing pipe (3/4"?) is very slightly too large to fit the purchased ones

 

[norfolknchance]

Hi cantaloup

Yeah the property was not drained over the winter apparently and it got down to -18 here.

Water was off when we moved in, turned it on and hey presto like a caulinder lol

 

[echoes]

Hmm no; 3/4" is slightly smaller diameter than 22mm.

 

[norfolknchance]

Echo
Yeah that is what I thought, really confusing the hell out of me?

 

[echoes]

By how much larger than 22mm is your mystery copper pipework?
Wondering if the freezing has expanded the pipes a bit in places.

 

[norfolknchance]

Oh its only mm's too thick - like you said thicker walls

Offering it up it just doesnt quite fit either the push fits or the solder rings....... frustratingly!

 

[norfolknchance]

Oh expansion through freezing - right is that a possibility

That would make sense - thanks a lot

I guess I will have to replace larger sections than I anticipated

 

[echoes]

Only a theory. Did the pipes split in the vicinity of your repairs? Or are they pin-hole style leaks?

 

[norfolknchance]

On the 22mm length I am struggling with they are split leaks.

I cut out sections about 3" either side to couple and link with new pipe

I guess if it has stretched then it will need more cut out

 

[hansthebear]

3/4 in a 10 year old house, unlikely

 

[xr4x4]

3/4 in a 10 year old house, unlikely

That's what I thought.

I have noticed tho, that new fittings are very tight on old pipe.