Plumbing

Jul 06, 2018 15 Replies

OK so I have finally reached the coupling up the basin taps stage. Sadly the advance purchase of 15mm cu to 1/2" tap are all female fittings where the poxy flexible tails need male couplers. I think Toolstation do something suitable but delivery only.



Also do tapered thread fittings exist anymore? I have a set of bath taps with a single spout outlet. The connections appear to be parallel thread female 1/2".


Can't help on Q1 as i've never used flexi tails.

I've always found taps to have male parallel connections and need the tap connector with a thin fibre washer to seal on the end of the tail rather than the thread itself.

hth Bob

I usually use a 15mm compression / compression service valve... take the nut and olive off the tap end, and screw the flexi tail nut straight onto the valve. The tap nut should include a rubber seal in the nut.

They do. Sometimes required for gas work, but seldom for water.

Unusual for a bath tap IME.

You can get male 1/2" bps to compression adaptors that also have a flange. That will allow an O ring to go round the thread and make a seal against the base of the tap.

Alternatively you could use a taper fitting and PTFE if you preferred.

Lucky man.

Yes. I haven't described this well. See answer to John.

Yes. They do.

Inadequate description. This is a wall mounted bronze? casting for filling over the bath side.

Or even a parallel one with lots of PTFE:-)

Are they a major problem? I was thinking they might be easier when I come to renew some taps as part of tarting up the bathroom that I put in mid 80s

Tips and gotchas welcome

Bob

There was a fairly negative thread a bit back. Significant failure rate and some concern about imports not meeting wra spec. Probably not well suited to low pressure systems.

Twisting during fitting can be tricky. IANAP

So you will get a good seal on the valve.

Ah, the spout is separate from the tap bit...

Something like:

formatting link

might make it easier...

Yup, it will work, but never feels as solid as a taper fitting.

I see Toolstation do them, item 29242. I'll have to do a shopping run to a plumbers merchant at some time so I'll ask there. Ta!

Taps use a parallel thread with a fibre washer to seal - don't over tighten. The washer will swell when wet and improve the seal. I usually do "finger tight" then a bit with a spanner.

In my neck of the woods there are plans afoot to switch over to ¼" high pressure pipes. Makes a good deal of sense, but I suspect adoption will be a very slow process.

.

Spot on! The thread is the clamping device and has no bearing on the seal - (PTFE not needed). The fibre washer is the key to making the seal. Clean faces and new washer.

They aren't going to give anywhere near the flow you get from existing

15mm high pressure pipes.

In message , Tim Lamb writes

Curiously I had an E-Mail from TMH confirming the above. When I tried to respond by mail it bounced!

Can't see that PN on the TS site?

Ah! I found it in a Google search. Perhaps discontinued?

I have ordered Conex 92190

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