Push-fit Fittings, Useful?Types of Plumbing FittingsWithin the UK there are two common ways that plumbing is carried out.The most established way is with the use of copper pipe and fittings.The alternative is the Push fit system which is made from plastic.Copper pipes have been the standard for plumbers until of late, its decline is because of the increasing complexity and awkward nature of copper pipes, this can be seen in the difficulty of being able to manipulate copper making it hard to twist and bend in order to satisfy consumer needs. Plastics however, offer an alternative and with thesimple Push fit system the awkwardness is removed. Push fit offersa straightforward way of connecting joints which can be broken down and reorganized. Pros of Push-fitPlastic pipe is flexible; it is able to bend in a non-linear fashion. Copper piping has limited flexibility.Plastic piping will not burst. Copper piping has a tendency to freeze and burst leaving huge amounts of damage making it harder to introduce this into cold areas like cellars. Very much in contrast to plastic pipe.Due to its flexibility plastic pipe can be pushed thought holes in joists rather than being laid in notches. This is not realistic with copper piping as it is hard to get the holes in line. Push fit systems can also be used with copper pipe when so desired as it is very adaptable. Cons of Push-FitUnfortunately due to the nature of plastic, contact with anything of significant heat will cause the pipes to melt and not work properly. For instance direct contact with a boiler is out of the question. However, using copper first then connecting it to the copper piping will not cause any problems.Push fit plastic piping cannot be used to carry anything except water. Therefore carrying gas in the pipes is out of the question due to plastic pipes inability to deal with this type of pressure. Due to the increased flexibility that Push fit plastic gives the user the piping is unable to support its own weight. This should not be a problem in most instances' and will in no way effect the way piping works but it may be difficult to poke a hole through the floor boards.AccessibilityAll available in 15mm and 22mm piping.Useful HintsIf you don't normally use plastic fittings it is certainly worth keeping some around, especially in the winter. If a pipe bursts you will be able to fix the problem in a matter of minutes and the effects will be long lasting.