Modern day consumers and housing developers want more and more out of their kitchens, which means extra strain on plumbing installers. But there are ways to simplify these installations in tight spaces under the sink and behind cabinets and appliances, Nigel Sanger, Divisional Director Technical Support at RWC, explains. It’s no secret that plumbing and heating installers have been hit hard by COVID-19. While many are now back to working full time on housing developments and domestic projects, there are numerous challenges that still need to be tackled.
More to plumb under the kitchen sink Time is money. While this phrase is hardly new, the current economic climate means plumbers need to complete more jobs in less time to realise greater profits. And kitchen plumbing is one such area that can add to the job complexity as so much pipework gets routed from here to connect various appliances and fixtures. Dishwashers. Washing machines. American fridge freezers with water coolers. Boiling instant hot water taps. Water filtration systems. Sinks, taps and boilers. That’s just to name a few. This means the space under the sink can quickly become a mesh of pipework, with no room to manoeuver. Soldered and compression fittings are particularly hard to install in these confined spaces, given that plumbers need to use additional tools for installation, and visibility can be low in these areas.
Using copper pipes and soldering to connect appliances and fixtures can even increase the risk of fire due to the proximity of naked flames to wooden kitchen cabinets. Any approach that allows for pipework to be assembled without a blowtorch offers a real advantage in terms of safety and in this regard, push-fit fittings and flexible pipework are worth their weight in gold. Push-fit fittings and flexible Layflat pipe from our JG Speedfit brand are the ideal fit for kitchen installations. Pipe connections can be completed by simply pushing the pipe into the fitting, without the need for tools. And our Layflat pipe, available in long length coils can bend and flex behind the cabinets to enable a fast and easy connection to appliances.
From check valves to elbows, tees and flexi hoses and more, we offer a range of push-fit products to help simplify installations under the kitchen sink. Taking seconds to carry out second fix plumbing One of the trickiest areas of kitchen installation is second-fix plumbing. Every appliance and fixtures needs an individual water connection and service valve for future repair and maintenance jobs. Installers often find themselves struggling in tight spaces while installing all the various components. This is where push-fit combination valves can offer a helping hand. Our market leading JG Speedfit brand offers a range of 2-in-1 appliance taps and valves with push-fit connections that makes these jobs fast and easy.
These 2-in-1 appliance taps and valves are specially designed to simplify the second fix kitchen installations. They feature a built-in water isolation function and remove the need to install a
separate isolation valve and connector for appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. These fittings can directly connect to appliances from one end and the feeding pipework from the push-fit end. Best practice with backflow prevention To comply with water regulations, appropriate backflow prevention valves need to be fitted to the mains water supply in the kitchen. This is because several appliances and fixtures can cause backflow, these range from external hosepipes, washing machines and dishwashers to kitchen sink taps. Waste water from these areas can carry anything from stagnant water from garden pools to cleaning chemicals, all of which can present a serious health hazard if they enter the mains water supply.
To ensure adequate protection from backflow, a double check valve should be installed with outlets that pose a greater risk of back-siphonage. This type of valve allows the water to flow in only one direction and features two internal valves to provide additional safety. If one fails, the other can still prevent backflow and contamination of the mains water supply. To enable faster installation of backflow prevention valves, we offer brass and plastic push-fit double check valves from our JG Speedfit and SharkBite brands. These compact and lightweight valves are quick and easy to install, as no tools are required. We also offer a push-fit double check service valve that features a built-in water isolation function, making it a 2-in-1 valve that brings additional benefits while carrying out repair and maintenance work. Opt for push-fit technology to simplify kitchen installations Installers working in small, confined spaces, need to adopt smarter, time saving and reliable products to complete jobs faster. Moving away from techniques such as soldering, and opting for smarter methods like push-fit fittings and valves, and flexible pipes can enable quicker and easier installations.
At RWC, we can help you select a range of time-saving and reliable plastic and metal push-fit products from our JG Speedfit and SharkBite brands. So, get in touch with our team of experts who can simplify your next kitchen plumbing project.