DIY relocation of radiator - which pipes? pex / copper/ what else.. too many choices!

[boolie]

Planning on moving a radiator, existing one is piped up in copper.

will have to go through one joist, make a 90 degree bend, then another 90 degree bend and out into the new radiator. So what's the best way to do this.. it seems like in modern plumbing plastic is all the rage. But there's so many different types not sure what to choose.

So, time is not an issue for me.. I don't need to do things quickly. So here are my questions:

1. What's the best pipe to use?
2. Do people use plastic underneath the floorboards and then copper on the outside?
3. What looks best?
4. What type of plastic is the best without needing to buy an expensive tool?
5. What's the modern way of connecting radiator tails?.. Ive seen some pics on the internet where the plastic pipes for flow and return come through one hole in the floorboard (central to the radiator) and then they go diagonally to the radiators.

By the way, if anyone's got any pictures of any neat installs I would love to see them. You know what they say about a pic painting a thousand words and all that!

 

[terryplumb]

Do it in copper ,with soldered fittings. Each pipe to rad coming straight up through floor to valve position.

 

[boolie]

Do it in copper ,with soldered fittings. Each pipe to rad coming straight up through floor to valve position.

that's the old way which I'm used to and happy to do if that's still the best way! the tricky bit is always getting the copper to align perfectly into the radiator tails.. I thought modern methods might solve that problemo

 

[boolie]

btw forgot to ask whats the best alternative to PTFE for radiator tails? I heard there's a new kid on the market Loctite XXXX?? does anyone know what I'm talking about and can you tell me what the product is called and how to use it?

 

[terryplumb]

Various thread sealing products on the market ,down to personal preference really. I use PTFE tape and occasionally Fernox LSX with it .
No doubt others will sing the praises of their preferences.

 

[boolie]

Ive started but not finished this job! when I went underneath the floorboards I found some copper pipes which I think are redundant (it's an old house and some pipes go up to the loft where there used to be a tank in the old days) .

there's two pipes which I suspect are redundant. I think one of them is already disconnected further down the chain (so no water in it). and I think the other is live (has water in it) but has a stop end in the loft. Now , the dilemma is I want to tidy up and cut away the branches that are not required. Is there any way I can check that water is in the pipe without cutting into it? also is there any way I can check water is flowing through the pipe (e.g. if I turn the bathroom tap on does one of these pipes get any action?)

 

[Madrab]

Copper is proper. You just can't beat it.
There are modern alternatives that do the job and are just as effective ... plastic, push fit, press fit, etc but you really don't get anything as strong, long lived and fairly guaranteed that it won't leak, as long as it's made properly of course.

 

[John the plumber]

btw forgot to ask whats the best alternative to PTFE for radiator tails? I heard there's a new kid on the market Loctite XXXX?? does anyone know what I'm talking about and can you tell me what the product is called and how to use it?

I always use loctite 55 ,but I wouldn’t call it new as such,it’s been out a while.
Use it the same as PTFE ,wrap the thread.

 

[dilalio]

The only "leaking" joint that is ultimately the fault of the plumber is a "soldered" joint, because he/she "made it".

All other joints are made by others and are "assembled" by the operative!

 

[Madrab]

Do people use plastic underneath the floorboards and then copper on the outside? Yes, copper tails rise from under the floor to the radiator
What looks best? IMO copper is the best, it's also the hardest wearing and resistant to damaged (@15mm)
What type of plastic is the best without needing to buy an expensive tool? Only John Guest uses reusable hand demountable fittings - HEP uses a toll but they're not expensive. Both need proper cutters to cut the plastic to size.
What's the modern way of connecting radiator tails?.. Ive seen some pics on the internet where the plastic pipes for flow and return come through one hole in the floorboard (central to the radiator) and then they go diagonally to the radiators. That type of laying out is usually for 10mm plastic pipe. The modern way to fit the rad tails is still the old way, you either use PTFE tape or similar cord/thread.

 

[John the plumber]

Only John Guest uses reusable hand demountable fittings

Read more: https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/...t-else-too-many-choices.566750/#ixzz6pHWH6FQ2

John guest isn’t the only hand demountable fittings .
There is also Twistloc which is very similar to JG speedfit

 

[denso13]

Do people use plastic underneath the floorboards and then copper on the outside?

If you are happier with plastic you can fit it all the way to the radiator then fit pipe covers.

 

[Madrab]

There is also Twistloc

Hardly a widely known nor widely used manufacturer but for completeness and to avoid splitting pointless hairs

OP ... to be more specific ... when it comes to the mainstream and professionally used products, JG speedfit is the most widely used and well known hand demountable fitting system ... there are others but I couldn't recommend them.

 

[John the plumber]

Hardly a widely known nor widely used manufacturer but for completeness and to avoid splitting pointless hairs

OP ... to be more specific ... when it comes to the mainstream and professionally used products, JG speedfit is the most widely used and well known hand demountable fitting system ... there are others but I couldn't recommend them.

Wind your neck in for Christ sake.
I was only pointing something out as you said JG speedfit was the only one.
You never mentioned anything about others or recommendations in your answer.
You clearly said and I quote. “Only John Guest uses reusable hand demountable fittings”

yet in your other answer to me and the op you said there are others but you couldn’t recommend them.

I agree with your statement regarding JG speedfit being the most widely used and most well known.
Don’t know why people get arsey over someone correcting a false statement.
Wasn’t intended to offend as you can see from my first answer,I was just correcting a false statement that’s all.

 

[Madrab]

Oh please ... I hardly had my neck out.

Of course I do agree that there are other demountable push fit fittings available but given my experience on this forum all I was doing was making it as simple as possible for the OP and there are other ways to make a point.
Granted I should have worded if differently and added in the "but other makes are available" disclaimer.

In all my years I have only seen Twistloc fittings used once anywhere in a system and had to throw them away as they were leaking - another maker in the mix that isn't compatible with the mainstream kit, so I don't rate them. There are several other generic hand demounting systems that are copies of JG, Whitespeed comes to mind. Polypipe are different again and if you buy new grab rings then they are demountable but for this current post I wouldn't mention them either. I find that too much information can be misleading to some on here. Some of the kit made available these days, that are obviously targeted towards the DIY'er, really shouldn't be made as it just causes floods.

That being said I guess it keeps me in business having to go round and replace it all with proper stuff.