Push fittings, also known as push-fit fittings, represent compression or quick connect fittings which are easily removed. They allow a water or air pipe to be fitted, without the utilization of any tools. Entirely changing the way that broken pipes are repaired, push fittings enable our plumbers in London to fix a broken pipe permanently in a matter of minutes.
These types of fittings are used to stop pipe water leakages, as well as connect pipes made from various materials, like copper and plastic. They can even connect pipes of different diameters, being crucial pieces in modern plumbing equipment.
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Steps taken by plumbers near me to fix a broken pipe with push fittings
In order to repair a broken pipe with push fittings, our plumbers in London will follow the procedure mentioned below:
1. locating the leak;
2. turning off the water supply to that particular segment or even the entire house, if necessary;
3. removing the broken segment of the pipe;
4. sanding the ends of the pipe connections so that they are smooth for the push fittings;
5. pushing the new fittings into the ends of the pipe;
6. inserting the repair segment of the pipe between the push fittings;
7. turning the water back on;
8. verifying the pipes are not leaking anymore and that the push fittings are installed correctly.
It only takes a few minutes for our emergency plumber in London to effectuate this replacement and fix a broken pipe. We advise you address our emergency team in the case in which the situation you experience at your location is an emergency – otherwise, you can simply contact our local plumbers.
The difference between the 2 categories of plumbers is that the latter work on regular working hours and they arrive at a client’s location based on a booking done earlier that day or previous to that day, while emergency plumbers can be contacted at any given time, outside regular working schedule, but for plumbing situations that can be considered emergencies.
What are the main types of pipes available in the UK?
There are several types of pipes that can be found in London households and other types of buildings. Pipes can be internal (all the pipes that are used for various purposes, such as water or gases, inside of an unit) and external (such as underground pipes and soil pipes).
When fixing a broken pipe with push fittings, the procedure can slightly vary based on the size of the pipe and the material from which it is made of, but in general, our plumbers in London will follow the same steps presented above. In the list below, we invite you to discover some key elements of the pipes that are used in the UK, which can be important to those who want to fix a broken pipe:
- pipes are, in general, measured by their diameter – for households, there are 2 types of sizes, namely the pipes with a diameter of 15 mm and those with a diameter of 22 mm;
- in commercial units, the pipes installed are generally larger, with a diameter of 28 mm;
- external pipes tend to be much larger (we refer here to underground and soil pipes), which can have a diameter of 110 mm or 160mm;
- with regard to the period of time for which they can be used in good conditions, without creating any health threats, some pipes are guaranteed for their qualities for a period of up to 50 years.
Pipes commercialized in the UK must comply with the requirements imposed by the British Standards Institute, therefore, if you can’t fix a broken pipe with push fittings and you need to replace the entire pipe, you can rest assured that the new product purchased will be sold in accordance with the quality standards imposed by the British law.
Do plumbers need to use only certain push fittings for a type of pipe?
Although there is a 100% compatibility in size between push fittings and pipes, regardless of the material, it is recommended to fix a broken pipe with push fittings by using the same materials (in the sense that the pipe and the push fitting should be made from the same material).
Therefore, if you have a copper pipe that needs to be fixed, a push fitting used for the repair of the pipe should also be made of copper. It is also possible to use plastic push fittings on copper pipes, or you can use copper push fittings on plastic pipes (these 2 types of pipes are the most common pipes in households, along with steel pipes).
Additionally, our plumbers in London can use a copper push fitting to connect 2 different types of pipes (such as a copper one and a plastic one). The procedure of using push fittings is not limited only to fixing a broken pipe, they can be used as a way to connect different types of pipes when building a home or when you need to replumb a house.
In this case, the plumbing is intensive, and it implies that the homeowner will purchase a variety of pipes to serve different types of purposes. In many cases, these pipes will need to be connected with push fittings.
You can always rely on our team of plumbers in London if you need assistance during a large renovation project. If you live in the region of Ilford, you can address our plumbers in Ilford for both emergency plumbing and regular plumbing situations that can appear in a home or an office.
How the water lines are cut in London
Cutting the water lines is definitely a job best left to our plumbers in London to handle, as it can produce a lot of damage if not done correctly.
If the broken pipes which need repair are made of plastic, our local plumbers will use a plastic tube cutter. A lot like scissors, this piece of equipment will be used to apply pressure around the pipe and at the same time to force it back and forth over the plastic pipe. Afterwards, the pipe is squeezed and the water lines are cut, allowing for the push fitting to be installed.
When dealing with copper pipes, though, the procedure is much easier. A copper tube cutter is used around the pipe slowly, after which the copper pipe is sectioned. If you need to repair damaged pipes with push fittings, or if you have any other type of plumbing job on your property which needs to be addressed, please contact our plumbers in London.