New build first fix - mains (cold) water questions

BarneyMc

My plumber met me on site today to run through a few things. Can someone please help me decide on the following (thanks for any help):

1. Mains supply for FF cold taps
My plumber said he will feed the FF cold tap from the mains rather than the tank in the attic. The main reason is to be able to drink this fresh water rather than carry it up from GF. Initially I thought this was a great idea but does this mean my taps, joints, etc. will be under considerably stronger pressure and therefore a risk of leaks, i.e. is it really worth the risk?

2. Getting mains supply into house
The attached photos shows 2 ducts coming into my kitchen. The near, black one is 6 inches and the far one is 4 inches and is for the waste from sinks, diswasher, etc. I think.

I asked the plumber to foam up the near, 6 inch one and have it there if ever needed in the future. He can fit the incoming mains pipe along side the 4 inch pipe (I have precast slabs on the GF).

If, in future I should ever need to repair or replace the mains water pipe then would this be very difficult as it's not sitting in a duct of its own?

Perhaps I would be better using the 4 inch duct to hold the water mains pipe and use the 6 inch for all the waste pipes?

Dtp1979

BarneyMc wrote: »

My plumber met me on site today to run through a few things. Can someone please help me decide on the following (thanks for any help):

1. Mains supply for FF cold taps
My plumber said he will feed the FF cold tap from the mains rather than the tank in the attic. The main reason is to be able to drink this fresh water rather than carry it up from GF. Initially I thought this was a great idea but does this mean my taps, joints, etc. will be under considerably stronger pressure and therefore a risk of leaks, i.e. is it really worth the risk?

2. Getting mains supply into house
The attached photos shows 2 ducts coming into my kitchen. The near, black one is 6 inches and the far one is 4 inches and is for the waste from sinks, diswasher, etc. I think.

I asked the plumber to foam up the near, 6 inch one and have it there if ever needed in the future. He can fit the incoming mains pipe along side the 4 inch pipe (I have precast slabs on the GF).

If, in future I should ever need to repair or replace the mains water pipe then would this be very difficult as it's not sitting in a duct of its own?

Perhaps I would be better using the 4 inch duct to hold the water mains pipe and use the 6 inch for all the waste pipes?

Sorry your post makes absolutely no sense to me

K.Flyer

Check the specification of the taps to see what the max pressure is as compared to your incoming mains. Otherwise once the connections are made properly there should be no issue. BTW Do you know what your mains pressure is?
Just as an aside, some councils prohibit any other connection to the mains water supply coming into the house other than the cold kitchen tap and the water storage tank.
Although 1,000s of houses across the country ignore this once they connect up a mains fed electric shower or a combi gas boiler without a break tank.

BarneyMc

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Sorry your post makes absolutely no sense to me

1. Mains supply for FF cold taps
Is there any catch to feeding the first floor cold taps directly from the mains rather than via a tank in the attic, e.g. higher than normal pressure on the fittings?

2. Getting mains supply into house
Should the mains supply enter the house via a duct rather than just brought up through the ground floor and then packed around with the finished floor? My concern is that if it's not in a duct then it would be next to impossible to service in the future should any leak, etc. happen?

Dtp1979

BarneyMc wrote: »

1. Mains supply for FF cold taps
Is there any catch to feeding the first floor cold taps directly from the mains rather than via a tank in the attic, e.g. higher than normal pressure on the fittings?

2. Getting mains supply into house
Should the mains supply enter the house via a duct rather than just brought up through the ground floor and then packed around with the finished floor? My concern is that if it's not in a duct then it would be next to impossible to service in the future should any leak, etc. happen?

The problem with feeding all the taps from mains is demand. If all taps are open the the flow and pressure will drop significantly. If the fittings are made correctly then high pressure will not be an issue. There's no need to have upstairs all on mains but in my own house I have my hand basin where I brush my teeth on mains. Simply because if I'm thirsty at 4am I can drink from it because I'm too lazy to go down stairs.
As for your rising mains, if there's no joints underground, then it's not gonna leak so don't be worrying

BarneyMc

Dtp1979 wrote: »

The problem with feeding all the taps from mains is demand. If all taps are open the the flow and pressure will drop significantly.

Surely the cold taps in the bedrooms are so rarely on this should never really happen?

Dtp1979

BarneyMc wrote: »

Surely the cold taps in the bedrooms are so rarely on this should never really happen?

True but there's no point for it either.

BarneyMc

Dtp1979 wrote: »

True but there's no point for it either.

But what about the 4am pint?

Dtp1979

BarneyMc wrote: »

But what about the 4am pint?

It's my choice cause I'd often wake thirsty. But feeding too many taps off mains will drop the pressure everywhere. When designing a system, you can't use the saying " Shur chances are they'll never be on at the same time"

BarneyMc

Dtp1979 wrote: »

It's my choice cause I'd often wake thirsty. But feeding too many taps off mains will drop the pressure everywhere. When designing a system, you can't use the saying " Shur chances are they'll never be on at the same time"

I always take a pint of the H2O to bed with me so it would be handy for me also. But I wouldn't like to compromise the system just for this small benefit. I'll reconsider...

Dtp1979

BarneyMc wrote: »

I always take a pint of the H2O to bed with me so it would be handy for me also. But I wouldn't like to compromise the system just for this small benefit. I'll reconsider...

Just have mains in the basin nearest your room and the kitchen.

rightjob!

There is no problem running one tap off the mains, I wouldn't put all the basin taps off mains but its perfectly fine to run mains to one.

If you run one length of hydro with no joints you will have no issue with leaks.

BarneyMc

rightjob! wrote: »

There is no problem running one tap off the mains, I wouldn't put all the basin taps off mains but its perfectly fine to run mains to one.

If you run one length of hydro with no joints you will have no issue with leaks.

OK maybe the main bathroom is the way to go and leave the ensuites.