Fortunately, if you have an existing system of copper piping but want to make repairs or install additional pipework using plastic pipes and fittings, many manufacturers, such as FloPlast, do have compression waste ranges that can make this happen. If you already have an existing plastic waste system, or are looking to install a new one, the biggest choice you have to make is whether to use Push-Fit or Solvent Weld connections. Again, as with the connection choices for plastic soil systems, we have put together a dedicated article, (Push-Fit or Solvent Weld - which waste pipe system is better) to properly evaluate the uses of each. Soil pipes also need to be larger in diameter than waste pipes on the account of having to handle more…solid materials. While having your sink drain into a soil pipe wouldn't really matter much (apart from using up an unnecessary amount of space under it), having your toilet drain into a waste pipe would be a recipe for a very unpleasant disaster in your home. Bodily waste produces methane and other unpleasant/dangerous gasses that must be vented out of the system before reaching the sewer. For this reason, soil pipe systems are typically designed to be vented through the roof of your home to allow the gasses to escape out into the air. The wastewater produced by washing your hands, having a shower, washing your clothes, or doing the dishes doesn't produce these gasses however, therefore waste pipe systems don't require this ventilation. Dealing with plastic systems is a lot more straightforward, as most plastic drainage pipes are designed to be compatible with each other regardless of the manufacturer. If they aren't, conversion fittings are usually readily available to make connections as easy as possible. The only caveat to this is that different connection types shouldn't generally be mixed. For soil pipes, the two main connection types are either Ring Seal or Solvent Weld, meaning that if the system you are connecting to is a Solvent Weld system, you should ideally be using Solvent Weld pipes and fittings rather than Ring Seal, and visa-versa. "But what is the difference between these two connection types?" we hear you ask. Well, fortunately enough, we have written a separate article (Ring Seal or Solvent Weld - which soil pipe system is better?) to answer just that.

Properly maintaining your soil and waste systems is the best way to avoid the need to repair or replace them, and there are a few simple things you can add to your household maintenance routine to achieve this. Traditionally, most waste pipes used to be made from either copper, iron, or lead, and many properties may still have systems that are at least partially comprised of these materials. Copper is actually still quite popular today, among some professionals, as the pipes can be made to fit into tighter spaces, are more flexible at the joints (therefore offer good resistance to vibration damage), and have a certain premium aesthetic appeal. The more modern alternative to copper waste pipes, however, is plastic. Each have their own pro's and con's, but the popularity of plastic pipes has grown exponentially due to the fact that they are much less expensive than copper pipes, easier to install, more resistant to corrosion and impact damage, and quieter at high pressure and water speeds. Note: If your property uses a sewage treatment plant, septic tank, or cesspool instead of a connection to the mains drains, there must be AT LEAST one open vent in the system to prevent a dangerous build-up of gasses. Solving pressure build-up with an Air Admittance Valve Weathering Collar - used to divert rainwater away from falling directly onto the weathering slate to provide extra protection. Note: the vast majority of properties in the UK still use potable water to refill toilet cisterns after flushing. Therefore, to avoid wasting that precious water, multi-flushing should be reserved for only those times when paper rationing isn’t...practical, shall we say. Alternatively, why not look into getting ahead of the curve and invest in a rainwater harvesting system? You could save money and help the environment by using stored rainwater to fill your toilets and supply your household appliances. Have read of our “What is rainwater harvesting and why is it important?" article to find out more.PVC is one of the main materials used when constructing 110mm solvent weld soil system fittings, with this alone coming with a number of desirable qualities. PVC is one of the most durable plastics out there, being able to withstand external forces without any damage affecting the performance of the 110mm solvent weld soil system fittings. Even if they are subjected to any force, the PVC used in construction does not falter or break due to the overall strength of this material. Unless you are a qualified plumber or work in the drainage industry, it is likely that you've never needed to know the difference between the two, as both basically just remove the waste from your home and carry it to the sewer, which is all most of us are concerned about. As long as it works, why should we worry? Hopefully, for most of us, the answer is that we shouldn't need to worry at all. We should be able to run our taps, fill our baths, and flush our toilets in blissful ignorance of the dirty work these unsung heroes of the household system have to do. The problem, however, comes when something goes wrong.

Tees - used to connect two waste pipes (single Tee) or three waste pipes (Cross Tee) together at a 92.5-degree angle. A waste system, as previously mentioned, is made up of pipes and fittings designed to carry wastewater from sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines, and dishwashers out to the sewer. Because these pipes shouldn't have to carry any solid waste away (stop scraping leftover food down the kitchen sink!), they don't need to be as large a diameter as the soil system pipes, meaning that less space is required to install them. The most common waste pipe sizes in the UK are 32mm (suitable for low volume outlets, such as small hand basins), 40mm (suitable for most kitchen sinks, showers, and baths), and 50mm (suitable for more commercial applications, or for connecting multiple waste pipes into a single flow.But why is it important to make this differentiation? Why can't one pipe service all wastewater needs if they both carry it out to the sewer? Why does it matter whether you use soil pipes or waste pipes? The answer lies in what they are used for and the way they are vented. A more modern alternative solution to the pressure problem is to install an Air Admittance Valve instead of a vent pipe. Sometimes known as Durgo Valves, Air Admittance Valves (or AAV's for short) are essentially one-way valves that can be installed at the top of the soil pipe, or along a waste pipe run, to allow the free entry of air into the pipework system to balance out the pressure. The design of these valves is quite clever, as they only open when the siphoning pressure (the negative pressure caused when water flows into the pipes) builds up enough to require balancing, and only in a way that allows clean air to be drawn in without allowing foul air to escape. This is the crucial difference between the valve and the vent.