Plastic radiator pipes?

[Frontstep]

We have had a new radiator installed as part of redoing our hall, stairs and landing. The plumber used plastic pipes to connect it - we didn't think to specify and I guess it's easier. But now I'm unsure about the look of the pipes - they don't look obviously plastic in finish, but they are, of course, 'bendy' - so they seem somehow a bit odd, especially combined with the column radiator that we've installed. Any thoughts? Am I being mad to think about changing them?

[ButteredToastAndStrawberryJam]

I suppose it depends on how much you paid for the installation, the plumber should have given you the option IMO, I know copper is expensive.
When my bathroom was installed, I noticed the fitter used the plastic pipes which wasn't too bad as non of it was visible, so didn't make much difference, but I think copper is a better look for radiator pipes. Maybe this is the new thing, they might be moving away from copper use.
Hopefully an engineer will come along to comment with what they use more now.

[Boulshired]

If it is just the look you can buy pipe covers, I have chrome effect ones over heavily and badly painted ones.

[johnd2]

As a diyer who has used plastic and copper (compression and soldered) id say plastic is a little cheaper but much much quicker (less labour)
Other advantages are less noise reverberating and less fitting needed as out can bend rather then needing corners which also cause noise.
I feel like overall it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other, but personally I don't expect to get my blow lamp out often in future.
For radiators, with plastic pipe you can feed it through the wall behind the radiator and do away with the vertical pipes, which is a killer feature! However you won't get enough heat out of pipes thin enough to do that in an old house, so I had to fit 3 rads in our lounge.

[Testificateman]

Plastic pipes are a lot cheaper and easier to use than copper pipes. Call me old-fashioned but, I always use copper.
How much of the piping is visible?

[Frontstep]

I guess there's 15-20cm pipe on each side, from floor to the valve. Does anyone have pipe covers on plastic pipes? The problem I think is that the holes in the floor are not vertically aligned with the valves, so they bend backwards underneath ...

[Testificateman]

Try Geyser designer radiators. I got some pipe covers for there. You'll need to drain your radiators to fit them over the original pipes or you can get chrome clip on ones.

[VeritysWatchTower]

Just use clip on pipe sleeves. They come in white or chrome and will cover the pipe.

It would cost you a fair amount of money to drain down the system and have copper pipes fitted.

I would second Geyser, we bought our towel radiators from them including the pipe covers.

[Frontstep]

That's brilliant! Geyser have some solid covers that look great. Technically they say they are to cover copper pipes but guess will be ok on plastic. We'll have to have the pipes moved forward a bit but that's ok. Thanks for your help!

[Hullabaloo31]

Search Radsnaps!

[lolalotta]

Following

[Ridingthegravytrain]

I don't think that would look that bad if it were straight. I'd probably drill out the hole to make it a little larger so the pipe sits straight and use a wood efffect shroud to cover the hole

[hiddenmnetter]

Getting my house replumbed I specified plastic pipes everywhere that are hidden, but everything above the floor to be copper because i think it looks much nicer.

[hiddenmnetter]

sorry pressed post too quickly. Meant to say that the plumber said it was no issue to do this, and I imagine that it wouldn't be a problem to do. Draining down is not a massive cost; depends how much it bugs you.

[PineConesAplenty]

ZOMBIE THREAD from January, I am sure this has been sorted by now.

[johnd2]

True but the debate rages on for everyone else! 😆