Why Does Roger Hate Push Fit Waste Pipe?

Roger looks at some troublesome push-fit pipework in a bathroom.

Here's our message from Mike:

Love watching your channel. We are just renovating our bathroom.

We've been removing as much as we can, but this morning I noticed a leak coming through the kitchen ceiling.

Now, the bathroom sink was used and I think I found the issue. Looks like a fractured waste pipe.

The house is circa 1997/1998 and the plastic pipes feel very degraded.

Should I work on the basis that all plastic waste pipes should be replaced to prevent future issues like this?

Best Regards, Mike

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#HomeImprovement #plumbing #bathrooms

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[guzziwheeler]

Hi Roger. Here in Germany, glued joints in sewer pipes are unknown. We only use push-fits, from 40mm (1 1/2") 500mm (20"). An they work great. They are easy to install and, more important, to uninstall (ok, sometimes they fight you a little bit after decades). One needs little tools, just a bit of lubricant to smear onto the seals so they will push smoothly together. I never had trouble with them in any of my buildings. But that's just us Germans, who have no idea about technology. Love your YT channel, by the way. Keep up the good work.

[adecarnally]

Absolutely right. Pushfit is nothing but trouble in the long run. Like a lot of things I see in my work, it's been easy for the installer with no thought for the customer in the future. Solvent weld every time.

[andrewtomlinson]

With solvent weld pipes I always do a dry fit first then mark the pipes/joints with a marker pen so when you’re glueing/assembling theirs no panic about alignment

[paullefur]

Have watched a lot of Roger's vlogs and go solvent weld all the way now ( tried push fit on shower waste, ripped it out for solvent weld not one leak), especially under floors where access can be an issue, the next project is to renew the waste on a double kitchen sink in solvent weld as the tap needs replacing so might aswell and the copper pipework needs a tidy up, keep the vlogs coming Roger 🙌

[keziasarah]

Used Push fit for many years with no problem. Much easier to disassemble in the event of a blockage. Example shown in the video has no support clips fitted.

[stephengreen]

I am a plumber by trade, nothing wrong with push fit, used hundreds of times, so long as its treat in a professional way, I went to a replace a bathroom suite, and on the bath trap to the waste pipe was a rubber hose held on by jubilee clips, while I obviously don't condone this type of work, just consider that I had gone to replace this bath 20yrs after it was put in, so it had not leaked, so its not what you do, its the way that you do it!

[skimmingstoness]

I sold those over PP pipes over the trade counter years ago and they are a bloody nightmare. Often found different brands are slightly different sizes of 15/22/32/40mm and rubber rings are often different sizes too. Traders hate them, plumbers hate them and when they fail the public hate them too.

[nikdoznamej]

lol, in my country (CZ) we dont use anything else for waste other then pushfits, never heard of a a leak

[loafersheffield]

Abso bloody lutely! Solvent weld, always the way to go. The fumes make me feel ....funny. Bonus!

[jonfenwick]

I do like solvent weld a lot, very reliable and satisfying to use. However, immediately under basins I favour push fits for ease of moving around, or if you decide to take off the basin, or vanity, you can simply push things out of the way.

I'm also a big fan of always using flexi tap connectors, as again, you can remove the connector without risking bending copper pipe, or damaging it..

[yngndrw.]

We've just moved into a house and the kitchen sink drain had a push fit bend outside just before it goes into the drain. Both of the o-rings had failed, one broken o-ring was on the floor and the other had presumably gone down the drain long ago so every time you used the sink more water ran around the outside of the pipe than on the inside. It's outside so it doesn't really matter and that kitchen will be replaced soon, so I just used some solvent cement to join it back together. I didn't think it would work because of the huge gap around the fitting where the o-rings would be, but it joined it perfectly fine and is now watertight.

[namesanmanname]

We won't let you starve Roger old boy. Keep the good work up. Thanks

[joemercs]

Tend to use push fit at the back of bidets where there is simply no access to get your hands in to a compression of solvent weld joint. It allows the unit to be removed and reinstalled easily. Below tiled or fitted floors something ‘bullet proof’ is needed and solvent weld is the most reassuring with occasional compression fittings to get from one diameter pipe to the next.

[jamesforte-mason]

I only use push fit in accessible places or if a section of pipe may need to be removed for maintenance purpose but even then I'll prefer the McAlpine adaptor with lockring. Anything indoors especially boxed in should be solvent weld as my rule of thumb.

[Graham_Langley]

I'd argue that push-fit does have it's uses as it's quick, you can adjust angles in situ and it can be used immediately after fitting. But only were it's accessible, such as under a sink as I've used it here, and the joints can be used in such a way that they can't pull out. Anywhere else it's solvent weld with with the odd compression fitting when needed.

[markatchison]

Both fittings are available in 32 - 40 - 50mm (grey, black & white), so you can mix & match. A push fitting works as well as the plumber who fits it. I personally use solvent weld fittings in areas that are difficult to access afterwards. The rest is done in push fittings. It's a waste pipe, so is usually under no pressure.

[patterdalezipsuzilil]

I remember on site in 70s everything was solvent weld on soil piping and sink waists

[ToraKwai]

The thing is if you're not sure about solvent weld then a mechanical joint like mcalpine is a great alternative, there's just so little need for push fit on stuff under 110mm

[davewright]

I do find it a little comical when plumbers go on about pushfit waste being dependent on o rings but will happily use and endorse pushfit plastic water pipes which depend on an o ring..much bigger mess if an o ring fails on a mains water pipe...

[richardlewis]

Using push fit 22 or 40mm pipe is 100% satisfactory if the pipework is installed correctly ie straight and with the correct length of insert. It is also very much more convenient when replacing a sink waste trap with one that is slightly different from the original as making push fit new pipework is much easier to adjust than weld.