Repairing Speedfit pipe behind dot and dab plasterboard

[TerryWaite]

Hi all

A lot of new build houses now seem to be done in Speedfit with the plastic pipes running down the walls to a wall plate behind the radiator, then out into the rad valves.

I went to a job a couple of weeks ago where the guy had gone to hang his clock in the dining room and put a screw through one of his CH pipes.



I cut a section of wall out and repaired the damaged section, however I had to cut a chase into the block work behind the coupling I had attached, as it would have been nearly sticking out of the plasterboard otherwise.

My question is; is there any easier way of doing this, it must be quite a common problem.

Regards

John

 

[Keefy]

My first thought was a JG slip coupler repair kit but they're obviously just as bulky as the regular fittings.

 

[vern]

No you did the only thing possible, unless he wanted you to rip out the full run......had the same following a couple of Sky installers

 

[stevetheplumber]

pipes should be fitted over alumillium tape so they are detectable not that most people would use a detector before drilling

 

[SimonG]

Compression fitting, smaller than the speed fit fittings. Still have to take out a bit of the block though.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

copper pushfit even smaller

 

[vern]

pipes should be fitted over alumillium tape so they are detectable not that most people would use a detector before drilling

it looks like they had tape on Steve, looks peeled back at top of picture

 

[TerryWaite]

Good eyes there Vern, they did have tape on but custard did not have detector, only a cordless drill 🙂

 

[vern]

Good eyes there Vern, they did have tape on but custard did not have detector, only a cordless drill 🙂

Lol Terry every job I have had like this, inc 10 mm copper, has happened as follows......drill hole without checking anything, hit pipes and panic! Last one I had was an alarm engineer on a price, custard rang me direct, I went out and sorted, bizarre thing was alarm guy, was not sorry and made no attempt to stem water flow, ( not even a bucket or bowl) just carried on working according to custard moaning he was behind on installs! Good job water was clean!

 

[TerryWaite]

Gotta respect the guy who part floods another persons home and shows no remorse, top notch!

 

[WHPES]

The obvious advantage of copper pipework in this situation is you can simply melt a blob of solder over the hole and bob's your auntie.