Why it is impossible to put polypropylene on heating: serious disadvantages of pipes, which many do not know about

Polypropylene pipes are increasingly used in high-rise buildings, private houses due to their cheapness and availability. Such pipes look more aesthetically pleasing than metal ones and are less striking. Can I put plastic on heating?

Such pipes have their significant disadvantages. Find out in advance so as not to make a mistake later.

1. Polypropylene pipes can expand under the influence of temperatures, creating a wave. When installing pipes in plaster, the waves are invisible, but from the outside it is strongly visible.

At first there will be even pipes, and after a while they will become wavy. You will say that such an extension will not affect performance and you will be right. But the appearance deteriorates.

2. Pipes are sold 2-4 meters long. One way or another, they will have to be docked. It turns out a large number of joints. If it is a large room, then there will be dozens or even hundreds of such turns and corners.

3. When welding pipes, a narrowing of the inner diameter may occur. As a result, the water flow and the entire operation of the system as a whole deteriorate.

4. There are connecting elements where there is a metal insert. The 2 materials expand in different ways. Leaks may develop over time at the joints.

5. SNiP allows the installation of polypropylene for heating. But when it comes to practice, problems arise. The working pressure is 25 atmospheres, and the maximum temperature is 95 degrees. In centralized systems, the parameters are slightly different.

Do not forget that often there may be unforeseen circumstances when the rates can be higher. Another trouble is water hammer. With fast filling, the pressure can be up to 30 atmospheres, which exceeds the norm for such pipes.

Case from practice

There was a case when a familiar craftsman changed polypropylene pipes without aluminum to steel pipes in a private house. Cut off the polypropylene and saw inside the plastic garbage pipes. I remember he said it was because of the oxygen in the water.

Oxygen could get into the coolant through the make-up of fresh water and through the walls of plastic pipes (from the atmosphere). Due to propylene, conditions for corrosion of expansion tanks and radiators are created.

The metal oxidized and, as a result, clogged pipes, the pipeline system failed. Here you need to know about oxygen diffusion in polymer pipes.

If you use polypropylene for heating, then only with an oxygen barrier. That is, polypropylene pipes with aluminum reinforcement. Only bad luck again. What about fittings that are not reinforced with anything?

Channel RepairHouse: please express your opinion (if any) on the account of polypropylene pipes for heating. Thank you!