Apologies: Off topic plumbing advice request

[Craig]

Apologies for the non-period house related question.

Is there any way to separate solvent-welded plastic waste fittings? I need to move a kitchen unit but have to decouple all the plumbing connections - the waste is made of solvent welded sections - do I just have to cut it?

Many thanks!
Craig

 

[Lime]

do I just have to cut it?

Yes.

 

[Jon Maine]

Or if you are bad tempered you could smash it with a hammer :twisted:

You can of course if you wish to re-use cut it where you could join it back together with a straight coupler, if its a troublesome section you could introduce a twist to tighten fitting so it can be taken apart and re-assembled as required.

 

[Craig]

Many thanks!

 

[Penners]

welded

That word holds the clue! You'll never get them apart.

But, as Jon said, a bit of thought and planning as to where you cut the pipe can save you time and money.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Is there any way to separate solvent-welded plastic waste fittings? Craig

High explosives may do the trick - and avoid the need to move the kitchen fittings, or indeed the kitchen.

If you ditch the whole lot, I doubt you'll spend much more than a tenner replacing it all. If you replace it, then I would suggest push-fit fittings in future - in case someone later wants to move it back to where it was originally. :roll:

 

[Feltwell]

If you ditch the whole lot, I doubt you'll spend much more than a tenner replacing it all. If you replace it, then I would suggest push-fit fittings in future - in case someone later wants to move it back to where it was originally. :roll:

Not sure I agree with that. Push-fit can leak, and is prone to coming apart if knocked - I did exactly that once putting a dishwasher into position in a rented house, knocked the waste joint apart, one kitchen flood later......

Compresson is better, but as you say solvent weld is cheap - and a lot neater - I'd rather just use that and cut it out in the (unlikely) event that I need to move it.