A Complete Guide to Push Fit Plumbing Fittings

When it comes to plumbing, there is very little that is easier than push fit plumbing fittings. You don’t require any special tools or have to learn advanced techniques to make them work. With a little bit of knowledge and the correct fittings, this is a straightforward task for nearly everyone.

How to use Push Fit Plumbing Fittings

First you will need to make sure that you have all correct shaped and sized fittings, work this out by measuring the diameter of the pipes and working out where the pipes need to go. Make sure that you have enough elbow and straight joints for the task in hand.

Note: push fit fittings can be used on copper or plastic pipe but not chrome plated pipe, as the fittings are not strong enough for this application.

Step One: First you will need to cut the pipe to the correct length using a pipe cutter – this will provide a much smoother, straighter cut than a hacksaw. If you’re using a copper pipe then it may require a little sanding to remove any brays.

Step Two: This step is not necessary with copper pipes. Push an insert onto the end of the pipe, making sure it is firmly in place. It is also important that you are using the correct inserts for the pipe you are using.

Step Three: Line up the pipe and fitting and mark on the pipe how far the fitting needs to be inserted to. This will give you an easy visual guide to confirm that the pipe has been pushed all the way in – if the pipe is not correctly inserted then the join is likely to fail.

Step Four: Push the pipe into the fitting fully, making sure that it goes in till your mark. Some fittings have a twist lock mechanism, so make sure you tighten these fully by hand. Once the pipe has been fitted, give it a firm pull to ensure that it is locked in place and then carry out the same process on the other side.

That’s all there is to installing push fit plumbing fittings, four simple steps and you’re done. There really is no surprise to find that these are being used more and more frequently by plumbers and DIYers alike.

How to Remove Push Fit Plumbing Fittings

If you have the twist to lock model installed then you will simply need to twist them the opposite way and pull them off. This is a straight forward task and can be completed in just minutes – additionally you will be able to re-used these fittings in other applications as they are not damaged.

Other models have a plastic locking collet which you will need to remove before you are able to get the fitting off the pipe. This will be done by pushing the extended part, which is an inner sleeve, which will move in and out if its loose allowing you to remove the fitting in two bits – inner and outer parts.

Hep20 fittings simply unscrew from the pipe, although these use a stainless steel grip ring that often damages the pipes when trying to remove them. This can be extremely annoying and create more work for you as a result of this grip ring.