Leaking tap connector callout

[Ric2013]

Just had a call out to sort a leak under a washbasin. 1/2" tap connector (fibre) had almost split - replaced and all seems well. All copper - no flexis, and tap was fixed to basin correctly.:santa3:

But for the life of me, I cannot understand WHY the tap connector had decided to split. It did look like the joint between the tap and the pipework had been weeping for a while, but when the customer asked me why it should SUDDENLY fail, I had to say I could only speculate.

Anyone feel like giving me the benefit of their experience? I'm at a slight loss here 🙂

 

[jtsplumbing]

Had loads of them no reason for it ! maybe just poor quality, nothing seems to last these days.

 

[lame plumber]

tap movement, getting hot then cold, it is only a bit of fibre, will fail in the end

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

do you mean the washer?never seen a connector fail,you can buy plastic washers,fibre always seems to give trouble

 

[Best]

I am using on copper tap connectors the "rubber" flat washers (same size as fibre) that are supplied for plastic tap connectors.
Far better than the fibre washers that will disintegrate, especially with hot water.
Even plenty of turns of ptfe tape made in a rope to make a washer is better than fibre washer.

 

[Best]

And why people fit tap connectors to connect to 1/2" taps or Ballvalve tails that are made to take a copper pipe with nut & olive, is beyond me. The sharp end of the end of the tapered brass tail is not a good idea to be tight against a flat washer.

 

[Ric2013]

Correct: the fibre washer, not a fibre connector 🙂

Edit: Best - the same reason people put PTFE on compression joint threads? Also, I'd like to know why the person who had fitted the tap had put a piece of leather between the basin and the backnut... but that's another story.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Correct: the fibre washer, not a fibre connector 🙂

Edit: Best - the same reason people put PTFE on compression joint threads?

Williams sell them,(The plastic versions)Drop Ray Stafford a pm,he is one of our sponsors

 

[Ric2013]

Thanks for that. I was used to using fibre exclusively as had taken the impression that fibre was the better material for the job. Will have to look at alternatives again, or at least the best quality fibre washers I can get. That said, old ones (1960s) in parents' and grandparents' houses have yet to fail (possibly they contained asbestos back then?).

EDIT - Cheers gas man - I have a business card, but not a formal letterhead (still using a dot matrix printer...) so as yet fail to meet Ray's company's requirements to prove myself to be trade, unless they just want to see my name and address with a business card stapled on, which is what I usually do.