OT Pushfit Taptails

[Maria]

Sorry I have had to cross-post via uk.legal as I cannot get the diy group on the bt server for some reason.

I am fitting pushfit flexi tap tails to kitchen sink - this is a money-saving measure as I can't afford a plumber. I've read up about them so I know to use pipe-cutter etc. but stupid question time - I bought them from Toolstation as a pair for monoblock tap - they are different at the threaded end - they both have the same length of threaded section, but the bit behind that is longer on one than the other. I've searched the net but can't find out why - anybody assist please? I really can't afford to mess this up!

Many thanks

Sorry once again to uk.legal for the x-post.

[Rasta Pickles]

is your friend, a very nice bunch of trades people always happy to help

[Tom S]

Give us a shout when you start flooding the kitchen.

[Maria]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! :( I have turned the water off - if they leak, I'll turn it back off again. I've done without a kitchen sink tap for a couple of months now - another couple of months won't make any difference, but I hoped to get it done for Christmas as we have such a big family. It's a brand new sink top and tap, so what is the problem? Using push-fit connectors? I can swap them for compression tails if that's better. I did make an attempt to find a plumber, but they are all 'busy', and we don't have a directory of Plumbers here :)

[Unbeliever]

If you live anywhere near the Medway area you could try out the services of our resident "handyman" - he may be able to help. But be warned, he has been known to post a running commentry on the clients he likes to send-up.

Just look for The Medway Handyman and he will appear.

[Sunny Bard]

On compression fitting ones that I've fitted the rigid pipes that screw into the block of the tap are a different length so that the nuts on the compression fittings don't fall next to each other and hence are easier to tighten, can't really see why that's necessary with push fit though, perhaps they just use same lengths of rigid pipe for all types?

[Steve Firth]

You have to tighten the hose tails using a spanner. If both sections were the same length then the nuts would be side-by-side. There's not much room in there and positioning the nuts at different heights means that it's possible to get a spanner on each without interference.

Umm that should have been blindingly obvious BTW.

[Phil L]

Don't know if you'll see this cos the virginmedia news servers are down, but they are odd lengths by design - it's so that your push fittings aren't side by side - with one being longer than the other, one fitting is higher up than the other, so that the fittings aren't squashed in next to each other

[Maria]

Aha, that would explain it then. It's the screw in end that is longer on one. Thanks.

[Ret.]

Not sure what you mean by 'the bit behind' Maria. Are you referring to the metal 'ferrule' that crimps the flexible hose onto the stub of pipe coming out of the rear of the threaded tap connector?

If so - it could just be that they are of different manufacture and one has got a longer ferrule than the other. Are both the tap tails the same length in their entirety?

[Maria]

Yes, it should have been - I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment and didn't want to start without being sure I knew what I was doing. I may have realised when it came to doing them up - thanks for pointing it out!

[Maria]

Thanks - I see that now. Too busy panicking to have thought of it!

[Rupert Bear]

It is also a good opportunity to fit isolator valves under your sink,,, they come in handy at times..

[alang]

Not forgetting to use bosswhite on the screw joints

even a smear of silicone

It's a bugger if you find the tap joints leak when you get everything assembled

[Roger Mills]

> Or even a smear of silicone

Nah - don't need that! The threaded bit of the tails will almost certainly seal on an O-ring *not* on the threads.

Besides which, the description of that product says: "Suitable for use on compressed air, natural gas, steam and non portable hot and cold water services."

That's almost certainly a misprint and should read "non-*potable*" - meaning that you can't use it on fittings which are in contact with drinking water.

[joe]

Another reminder that people on usenet, cannot be trusted to give sensible advice.

[alang]

>>> Or even a smear of silicone

Not on any I have installed. And that includes three kitchens and two bathrooms

That's correct.

You sure?

[dennis]

They do on the ones I have installed even if its only two kitchens. Small sizes are easy to seal with O rings.

[joe]

Yes, it is not WRAS approved.

[Steve Walker]

Nothing wrong with that. If the copper pipe is clean and deburred, pushfit will work fine.