Onoff Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 So... Running the 16mm Pex-Al-Pex around to where the rad is. I'm using a 16/15 elbow: So it'll end up like this, two stubs of 15mm copper poking through the plasterboard at 965mm centres ready for the rad. The thing is, the next step is to put the vcl on the wall and then the plasterboard so I WON'T be getting to these compression joints again! Assembling with a smear of Jet Blue Plus btw. Should I test them somehow or just take a chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 9 hours ago, Onoff said: Should I test them somehow or just take a chance? Look, I get very little excitement in my life so the adrenaline rush from taking chances like this is welcome! You've answered your own question!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 9 hours ago, Onoff said: I'm using a 16/15 elbow: So it'll end up like this, two stubs of 15mm copper poking through the plasterboard at 965mm centres ready for the rad. If that is going to be visible do you not have any chromed copper lying about as it always looks a bit neater .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 27 minutes ago, PeterW said: If that is going to be visible do you not have any chromed copper lying about as it always looks a bit neater .... Good point, thanks for the reminder! Yes I have some. I'd put it to one side and forgotten about it tbh as at one time I was looking at push fit fittings which don't play nicely with chromed copper. Tempted once the two lengths of Pex and chrome tails are in, to temporarily bridge the chrome tails to form a pseudo loop and use my (Welsh designed ) test rig to prove those elbows: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 I do so wish I'd planned for the pipes to the towel rad BEFORE I cast the floor slab! I need to get the pipes to it under this wall (where the tape is) and run parallel to the UFH pipes that are in the grey foam insulation for protection until I dig up the adjacent floor. Got as far as a 125mm core cutter through the first 2" of the slab then a 127mm Starrett through the A142 mesh. Not sure whether to try and bend the Pex-Al-Pex or just get two elbows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Use elbows . That way you won't be grazing the pipe on the concrete whilst trying to wrangle it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 27 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Use elbows . That way you won't be grazing the pipe on the concrete whilst trying to wrangle it in. Ta. I wasn't looking forward to gingerly bending it back on itself then threading down the hole. It'd be one minimum bend radius followed by another. Then, in two minds whether I need to insulate these pipes to the rad or not. On the one hand I can't see the point of heating the boxed in space under the bath...might be detrimental to the pump motor too. Or should I leave them uninsulated so the (big) bath doesn't lose heat so quick when full? Where they go thru the slab I'll either thread them through some 20mm flexible conduit then make good the concrete or run thru some 15 mm pipe insulation and again make good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Heat from those pipes will be the square root of naff all - pump motor will get hotter from the bath above than that pipe ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 11, 2016 Author Share Posted December 11, 2016 9 minutes ago, PeterW said: Heat from those pipes will be the square root of naff all - pump motor will get hotter from the bath above than that pipe ... OK, I'll insulate then on the basis of cutting down losses to the rad. Cheers. On the subject of insulation and keeping the bath warm I'm thinking to infill between these studs on the long side of the bath: Currently behind that vcl is 50mm of Celotex then the cavity wall. I've some 100mm off cuts that I'm looking to use up. Or would some 50mm EPS doubled up be better. Thinking that Celotex is a bit noxious smell wise in a warm environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Double up on the EPS and save the good stuff for elsewhere. It's not exactly going to be hot against cold under the bath . You could just drill a half inch hole in the side of the boxing in, after fitting the bath, and squirt a dozen cans of exp foam into the void . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) Pleased with the "rigidity" of the tap adapters through the ply/stainless backing plates. All seems good and solid. Now a couple of random plumbing questions: 1) Using chromed copper pipe is there any difference if using copper or brass olives? The brass ones that came with the 15/16mm elbow were a real tight fit. They went on, eased by a smidge of Jet Blue Plus but I wasn't sure they were going to! 2) Pushing the Pex-Al-Pex elbow onto the Pex was quite hard. I worried it was starting to lift the first O ring out of it's groove so I countersunk the end of the Pex a tad. Right or wrong? I also gave a little squirt of silicon spray to ease it in. With hindsight I'm sure there was an easier way of feeding this rad but with no proper flow and return anywhere near... Anyway, getting the "economy" thickness insulation on the Pex-Al-Pex: 16mm Pex-Al-Pex is a bloody tight fit in 15mm pipe clips and the retainers won't snap into place. All for 1mm! Who knew! Think I'll just snap them off. The more I try and "plumb" properly the more I respect those who do it for a living. God knows why there's the historic plumbers vs electricians issues (aside from scorched T&E ). Like the old vampires vs werewolves thing I guess, they're both pretty bad ass! Edited December 12, 2016 by Onoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) Using up some 50 & 25mm EPS. 50mm first and I should get a cover of 25mm over that: Edited December 12, 2016 by Onoff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC45 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Wouldnt it be better for any heat loss from the pipes to be lost under the bath so perhaps not covering the pipes with insulation? I always pack the space under a bath with loose insulation - I think it helps keep the water warm for longer CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 On 12/12/2016 at 21:45, CC45 said: Wouldnt it be better for any heat loss from the pipes to be lost under the bath so perhaps not covering the pipes with insulation? I always pack the space under a bath with loose insulation - I think it helps keep the water warm for longer CC I was thinking not to add any more heat under the bath for the sake of the pump motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 (edited) Slowly does it... The slab broke out quite neatly so I'll be able to get two runs in though might have to chop the Polypipe tray a bit. A bit of scrap pipe in just to gauge things but looks like the elbows will fit fine. Then sleeve the pipes and make good! Edited December 14, 2016 by Onoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Bugger! I've bought these 15mm x 3/4" to go on the taps: But they're too big diameter wise to fit down the adapter bosses unless I trim off the lugs: Or do I cut my losses and get these (again Hepworth) ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 ........."HEPWORTH!!!!" Top stuff. Go for the brass ones IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Well they fit down the adapter a treat! Guess the spare conical rubber washers are if you have tap tails that are slightly countersunk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Half a dozen Pex-Al-Pex adapters came in the post today so I've run the towel rad feeds. Going to insulate them before I concrete. Christ knows how tight you do these elbows up? Being built like Burt from The Big Bang Theory I have a habit of breaking things! (It's Doom Bar btw). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Half a dozen Pex-Al-Pex adapters came in the post today so I've run the towel rad feeds. Going to insulate them before I concrete. Christ knows how tight you do these elbows up? Being built like Burt from The Big Bang Theory I have a habit of breaking things! (It's Doom Bar btw). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 40 minutes ago, Onoff said: It's Doom Bar btw someone was going to ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Isn't that Doom Barthroom? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 36 minutes ago, ProDave said: Isn't that Doom Barthroom? Actually known as the "Halfroom" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 So...the plan is that these lengths of Hep2O PB will "pivot" up and down to feed the taps and allow their removal: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 @Onoff, when's the book due to be published? Boxing In A Bath: the unexpurgated story can now be told. By Orlando OnOff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now