Braided flexible pipe to supply a radiator?

[Ahearsum]

A damp wall and peeling paper led me to investigate the radiator on the floor above it. Lifting a floor board revealed a braided flexible hose connected to the radiator. This didn't strike me as standard practice not to mention the severe kink in the hose. However I think the small slow leak has been the result of the compression fitting joining to the radiator down pipe not being tightened enough.
Does anyone have an opinion on whether using braided pipe in this circumstance is a good idea? Should I replace it with standard copper pipe?

 

[rpm]

Accident waiting to happen.

 

[SimonG]

Nope, no, never, no, not in a million years, no.

 

[SimonG]

're pipe in copper.

 

[Aire]

Seen it done once before, wasn't a diy job either. I laughed and removed it 😀

 

[JKG]

Shocking that’s just lazy. Change it to copper it’s not a difficult job

 

[Ahearsum]

Accident waiting to happen.

Thanks for your prompt reply and for confirming my suspicions. Not my handy work I hasten to say.

 

[Ahearsum]

're pipe in copper.

Thanks for the quick reply. Just to clarify its "no no never no" to the braided pipe?

 

[Best]

Not designed for long time periods of exposure with very hot water (only for to a hot or cold tap really)
Not supposed to be kinked or extreme bends.
Love the cut nail to hold it in place. 😛

 

[Best]

Thanks for the quick reply. Just to clarify its "no no never no" to the braided pipe?

Think Simon did say never in a million years.

 

[Aire]

A baxi rep recently told me the rubber lining of braided flexible hoses attract the iron oxides in systems and are prone to blocking up. It's for this reason they now connect their expansion vessels in copper instead of flex hoses. Hes probably telling the truth too as I've been to many Worcester boilers where the flexi to the vessel has blocked up. Point is as others have said, it's need replacing.

 

[turnpin]

That's what's known in the trade as a bodge.....get it repiped in copper asap.....regards Turnpin🙂

 

[Best]

A baxi rep recently told me the rubber lining of braided flexible hoses attract the iron oxides in systems and are prone to blocking up. It's for this reason they now connect their expansion vessels in copper instead of flex hoses. Hes probably telling the truth too as I've been to many Worcester boilers where the flexi to the vessel has blocked up. Point is as others have said, it's need replacing.

Probably the rubber lining absorbs air, same as non barrier plastic pipe

 

[townfanjon]

Braided hose or hosepipe , you decide !!!!

 

[Ahearsum]

Thanks everyone all your replies. I wasn't expecting such an instant psunami of condemnation. What a great forum. I do a bit if DIY plumbing but I have to say this was the handiwork of a professional as part of a whole bathroom refurbishment; putting in a new shower replumbing some bits and pieces. I'm nervous if what else I might find. This was done about four years ago. Too late to get him back? Maybe I should just do it my self. Should I replace that pushfut connection while I'm at it?

 

[Best]

Thanks everyone all your replies. I wasn't expecting such an instant psunami of condemnation. What a great forum. I do a bit if DIY plumbing but I have to say this was the handiwork of a professional as part of a whole bathroom refurbishment; putting in a new shower replumbing some bits and pieces. I'm nervous if what else I might find. This was done about four years ago. Too late to get him back? Maybe I should just do it my self. Should I replace that pushfut connection while I'm at it?

That wasn’t a real professional who did that.
There are lots of bathroom “professionals” suddenly appearing claiming to be plumbers.
That would have been easy to do a really rough, but acceptable throw in plastic or copper connect up.
I would replace everything that idiot fitted, so start with removing the push on connector and begin again.

 

[SimonG]

Getting a bit like that round our way. Everybody with a hole in their arse thinks they can plumb.

Still, it keeps you busy putting it right.

 

[Chuck]

Too late to get him back?

Legally, I don't think it's not too late because the work was substandard but hidden on the day it was put in so you have a breach of contract claim (implied terms - standard of workmanship).

It's probably not worth the time or effort pursuing them just for this, however, do you really want to see how bad their second attempt is? For something this small, just get a proper plumber in or, if you have the requisite skills, do it yourself.

 

[Scott_D]

No ptfe on the threads, could have been a real plumber 😛

 

[Welder]

A baxi rep recently told me the rubber lining of braided flexible hoses attract the iron oxides in systems and are prone to blocking up. It's for this reason they now connect their expansion vessels in copper instead of flex hoses. Hes probably telling the truth too as I've been to many Worcester boilers where the flexi to the vessel has blocked up. Point is as others have said, it's need replacing.

FYI - the reason they block, is because the rubber used breaks back down into the granules they use to make it from. To the uninitiated it looks like magnetite and of course some gets mixed into it. Many chemicals used in systems exacerbate the problem.

This is all about profit. Rubber is cheaper than copper so it was used. The breakdown issue can be overcome with an appropriate form of silicone hose, however that is more expensive than copper so copper is now used. Simple $£$£$

 

[Welder]

Legally, I don't think it's not too late because the work was substandard but hidden on the day it was put in so you have a breach of contract claim (implied terms - standard of workmanship).

It's probably not worth the time or effort pursuing them just for this, however, do you really want to see how bad their second attempt is? For something this small, just get a proper plumber in or, if you have the requisite skills, do it yourself.

Whoever 'installed' that, certainly isn't going to give a flying kcuf about someone coming back to him about his 'quality' workmanship. Just get it sorted by a professional and learn from it.

 

[king of pipes]

Poor workmanship I would personally redo it all in copper . Kop

 

[Sharp Point]

It’s probably a homeserve repair

Or I haven’t read the full story lol

 

[Welder]

It’s probably a homeserve repair

Or I haven’t read the full story lol

We'll come visit you - when you're doing time for defamation 🙄

FWIW, my experience with the management of Homeserve is that their focus on the quality of what they do is extremely high - higher than the job cost in fact. #JustSayin😉

 

[Sharp Point]

We'll come visit you - when you're doing time for defamation 🙄

FWIW, my experience with the management of Homeserve is that their focus on the quality of what they do is extremely high - higher than the job cost in fact. #JustSayin😉

Lol, if I ever come across some of the repairs they’ve done again, I’ll put some piccies up

 

[Chuck]

.

 

[Ahearsum]

I ended up repairing it myself
I know the compression joints are a bit amateurish but I was reasonably happy with my pipe bending. It'll be less likely to leak now.

 

[SimonG]

Get them isolation valves out. Not rated for central heating systems.

 

[Ahearsum]

Okay. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Chuck]

Okay. Thanks for the tip.

While you're at it, I'd wrap a bit of felt insulation around where your new pipe is in contact with the joist. Also check there is enough clearance between the new pipe and the skirting board to allow repainting when you need to redecorate. It maybe okay as it is but the photo makes it look a bit tight to me.

 

[Ahearsum]

, I'd wrap a bit of felt insulation around where your new pipe is in contact with the joist. .

Thanks. Out of curiosity what's the insulation for?

 

[Pickwickpick]

Thanks. Out of curiosity what's the insulation for?

As it stands when the pipes shrink and contract with temp changes they will rub on the wood causing annoying noises.

 

[BYP]

I ended up repairing it myself
I know the compression joints are a bit amateurish but I was reasonably happy with my pipe bending. It'll be less likely to leak now.

View attachment 36621

Is that your first attempt with a bender? Great work, although I’d remove them valves under the floor due to what has previously been mentioned and added to the fact that they are serving no purpose under there anyway. If you’re not confident at soldering you could use JG straights.

 

[Rob Foster]

A damp wall and peeling paper led me to investigate the radiator on the floor above it. Lifting a floor board revealed a braided flexible hose connected to the radiator. This didn't strike me as standard practice not to mention the severe kink in the hose. However I think the small slow leak has been the result of the compression fitting joining to the radiator down pipe not being tightened enough.
Does anyone have an opinion on whether using braided pipe in this circumstance is a good idea? Should I replace it with standard copper pipe?View attachment 36514 View attachment 36515

very naughty centralheatking
mind you I had to do this type of temp fix late at night just to keep things going

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Looks great