Installers up and down the country will know that copper prices have been on the rise in recent years, placing greater pressure on plumbers to maintain standards while keeping a tight grip on costs. For many, this has meant finding new solutions to familiar challenges, with plastic becoming the favoured material.

The versatility of plastic components has driven their popularity, supporting efficiency on every job while underpinning reliable, long-term performance to future-proof systems. Innovations like plastic push-fit technology remove the complexity from installation, leading to faster and simplified installations. Plus, with plastic pipes and fittings being widely available from merchants across the country and easier to store on the van, plumbers can keep their go-to solutions on hand for every job.

JG Layflat pipe, for example, is supplied in coils, making it easy to transport and work with. When it comes to installing this pipe, its characteristic flexibility – combined with the push-fit technology pioneered by John Guest – means it can be run around corners or through partitions with ease. As well as saving time on the job, long runs of plastic pipe can significantly reduce the number of connections that need to be made as it can be piped directly to the fixture or appliance.

Of course, reducing the number of connections can make tricky and hard-to-reach installations quicker and easier, as well as strengthening system performance by reducing potential leak points. Here, push-fit fittings come into their own, with a simple push and twist – rather than the use of specialist tools and soldering – creating strong and reliable connections at every point.

Aside from pipes and fittings, plumbing manifolds also make it possible to strengthen system performance, limit leak points, and simplify installations. By centralising hot and cold water supplies and adding an appropriately placed isolation valve prior to the manifold, installers can effectively isolate areas of a building from the mains water supply. While this simplifies installation, it also paves the way for straightforward maintenance throughout the system’s service life, allowing for specific areas to be isolated and drained – rather than draining down the system across an entire property.

Whether it’s fittings, valves, manifolds, or pipes, plastic push-fit technology strengthens every connection and makes the installation of plumbing and heating systems quick and easy. 

With a 50-year guarantee, JG Speedfit’s push-fit system allows connections to be made with a simple push, while in-built multi-seal technology secures the connection and minimises the potential for leaks and failures.

To find out more about RWC and its family of brands, visit: www.rwc.com/uk