3 key benefits to using high-quality MDPE fittings

No matter the application, every plumbing and heating component needs to deliver reliable performance over the long-term. Without high levels of quality, the very foundations of installations are compromised. 

When it comes to underground installations – specifically where water first enters a property – fittings need to stand up to particularly harsh environments. High water pressures from the mains supply, the compaction of earth surrounding it, and changing conditions dictated by shifting weather patterns throughout the year all contribute to the harsh environments which are home to underground fittings. 

It’s a tough environment for any fitting, which is why it’s crucial for installers to only use the highest quality components in these settings. That’s where high-quality MDPE fittings form a key part of the arsenal for plumbing and heating installers. 

In this blog, we’ll take a look at three key features of push-fit MDPE fittings and what they mean for installers on the job, as well as the long-term performance of the system. 

Every home relies on a strong and stable water connection to the mains supply. In a typical street, several dozen homes will be drawing from the mains supply, so water pressures are high to ensure adequate performance for every home. 

It’s where the connection between the supply and the home occurs that pressure needs to be controlled, making it suitable for a domestic system. If connections here don’t stand up to the extreme pressures placed on them, leaks will be inevitable – but a leak here isn’t like a leak under the kitchen sink. 

Occurring underground where the connection to the mains supply is made, leaks at this point can go unnoticed for prolonged periods of time. Not only does this see huge volumes of water wasted over time, but it gives the water – and the pressure driving it – the potential to create significant damage. 

Across the UK, more than 3,000 million litres of water are lost to leaks across the underground network every day – enough to fill 1,200 Olympic sized swimming pools. While the majority of this is lost from the hundreds of thousands of kilometres of pipe that are owned by water companies, it goes to show the realities of the harsh environments where mains water pipes operate. 

Using high-quality MDPE fittings can significantly cut the potential for leaks to occur where water mains pipes connect to domestic system. Creating secure connections between pipes at the point of transition between the mains supply and a property, standing up to underground movement, and providing robust performance is essential to strong MDPE fittings, such as those within the JG Speedfit range. 

Where MDPE fittings are used, conditions are tough. That means, at the point of installation – or maintenance – working conditions will be challenging for installers, too. 

Accessing underground pipework means digging trenches and working in tight, muddy conditions. That means installers will want to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, while ensuring the highest levels of quality to ensure the pipework doesn’t need to be touched again for years – if not decades. 

High-quality push-fit MDPE fittings make this possible. Just as push-fit technology speeds up installations and removes complexity inside the home – which many installers will be familiar with – it can deliver the same benefits outside and underground. 

Being able to make connections quickly, easily and securely saves installers valuable time in the compact underground conditions where MDPE fittings are integral. Besides making jobs easier, push-fit technology delivers added peace of mind for installers and their customers, safe in the knowledge that once a connection is made, it will be secure for the long-term. 

Naturally, MDPE require an element of ‘fit and forget’ due to the nature of their job and their underground location. This means once they’re installed, everybody can be safe in the knowledge that they’re performing as required day after day. 

As we’ve explored, this means standing up to the pressure's placed on them, both from the mains water supply and the ground around them, to deliver uncompromising performance day after day. This ability is bedded in quality. 

When selecting MDPE fittings for installation, only high-quality components will do. JG Speedfit MDPE fittings are made from heavy duty material, specifically tailored to the harsh environments they’ll operate in. The range is further bolstered by a host of connectors – including straights, elbows and tees – that are available to support the specific requirements of every job. 

Backed by the experience of RWC and its family of brands, including JG Speedfit, installers can rely on the quality, ease of use and broad availability of high-quality MDPE components to get every job completed to the highest standards.