Leaky compression

[rocketmanbkk]

Got called to a dripping compression, hard to get to as under sink in corner.

Anyway, tried to tighten but kept leaking, drip then weep.

Thought why?? Undid the nut & it was all wobbly like the pipe was hanging off. Then had a eureka moment, it was a tap connector!!!! I bunged a fibre washer in & loctite on thread & tightened it up. Hey presto all ok.

Here's a pic, yes I snipped the loctite thread hanging.

 

[Leo21]

Imsuprised that held! It looks like you've got it on the thread.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

I wrapped it around the thread as per it should be. Lovely & dry.

 

[Leo21]

It should be on the shoulder where the washer sits mate, bit if it holds, it holds.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

You've lost me? What should be in the shoulder? I'm confused, it doesn't take much.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You've lost me? What should be in the shoulder? I'm confused, it doesn't take much.

he means instead of a fiber washer, tbh a good fiber and it shouldn't leak, no need for ptfe

 

[Best]

Wonder would a male 1/2"x 15mm bend have worked to replace that elbow?
If the tap fitting fitted inside the male threads, then it would have been perfect when the new washer hits against it

 

[rocketmanbkk]

I needed to make sure of this one as it was late. I wrapped loctite front to back. I just needed it done!

But I agree with you.

Although I thought it a funny place for a tap connector

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Cheers all, comments & advice appreciated as always

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Wonder would a male 1/2"x 15mm bend have worked to replace that elbow?
If the tap fitting fitted inside the male threads, then it would have been perfect when the new washer hits against it

same size so yes would of (if you got one 😀 )

 

[Best]

same size so yes would of (if you got one 😀 )

I do carry 1/2x15mm male bends. They are also excellent for taps that come with flexi hoses that are type with nut and rubber washer. They must hit against a flat face and sometimes a male straight isn't as suitable as a male bend when the pipe is to one side. Saves bending the flexi

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I do carry 1/2x15mm male bends. They are also excellent for taps that come with flexi hoses that are type with nut and rubber washer. They must hit against a flat face and sometimes a male straight isn't as suitable as a male bend when the pipe is to one side. Saves bending the flexi

yes hate when people put them straight on iso valves

 

[Best]

yes hate when people put them straight on iso valves

Yes, it is terrible thing to do, but most plumbers seem to do that. I had to replace corroded basin pipework because hoses had been joined to iso valves. Water had started to run through ceiling. Nine years and then a flood, but customer had known better and had opted for a builder to take the bathroom job rather than get me.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yes, it is terrible thing to do, but most plumbers seem to do that. I had to replace corroded basin pipework because hoses had been joined to iso valves. Water had started to run through ceiling. Nine years and then a flood, but customer had known better and had opted for a builder to take the bathroom job rather than get me.

😀 serves them right, people wont learn/ go on experience

 

[Leo21]

I hate it when people do that, the chamfer cuts into the washer. I carry m/I,s just in case.

 

[SimonG]

Stick a rad tail in the bof.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Stick a rad tail in the bof.

thats what i do

 

[SimonG]

thats what i do

Always seem to have a nation of them kicking around anyway. At least they come in handy 🙂

 

[Leo21]

I've actually started weighing in olives, got millions of the buggers!

 

[plumben]

I use the rad tails for flexi's too, although I've got a stock of valves without tales now

 

[mache]

Got called to a dripping compression, hard to get to as under sink in corner.

Anyway, tried to tighten but kept leaking, drip then weep.

Thought why?? Undid the nut & it was all wobbly like the pipe was hanging off. Then had a eureka moment, it was a tap connector!!!! I bunged a fibre washer in & loctite on thread & tightened it up. Hey presto all ok.

Here's a pic, yes I snipped the loctite thread hanging.

Just interested to make sure I understand this correctly.
The 90 Deg elbow is a standard compression elbow, but Tee on the bottom of the left hand pipe actually has a tap connector soldered into it. The nut on that part is part of the original tap connector and the prep on the end of the pipe would be with a raised upset creating a flat for a flat washer to sit on. Then someone has discarded the original nut and olive on that half of the elbow and stuffed the tap connector into the elbow ??

Or have I completely misunderstood.

Thanks
Martin

 

[SmokeyJ]

I'm not quite sure what's going on there either. Is it a 'Male' soldered tap conn going into the tee? Have never seen a 'male' soldred tap conn, usually 'female'. Didn't know they existed

 

[Stigster]

I think it's a common or garden tap connector bodged straight on to a 15mm compression elbow. The original installer put the elbow on the pipe, chucked away the nut and olive and put a tap connector on it.

 

[Staffy85]

I was 99.9% sure its a tap connector coming out of the tee but smokeyJ you make a good point which now makes me not sure at all,

 

[Best]

Maybe it is not a tap connector, but the pipe is short of going into fitting and the olive is on the end of pipe, possibly with a bodge of a job of hemp?

 

[Staffy85]

and the olive is on the end of pipe, possibly with a bodge of a job of hemp?

your probably right but Op said he bunged In a fibre washer. But that wouldn't seat right against an olive ? unless he didn't push the nut back to expose the seating and just assumed It was a tap conn?..

 

[Leo21]

your probably right but Op said he bunged In a fibre washer. But that wouldn't seat right against an olive ? unless he didn't push the nut back to expose the seating and just assumed It was a tap conn?..

Op said washer and loctite. Putting compound or tape on a compression or swivel type fitting just makes it harder to tighten up. Giving a false sense of "tight"

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Op said washer and loctite. Putting compound or tape on a compression or swivel type fitting just makes it harder to tighten up. Giving a false sense of "tight"

i agree,putting tape on threads is pointless,it serves no purpose ,looks diy,and shows a lack of basic plumbing knowlege,bit crap finding a tap connector on a compression as well

 

[ed209]

Dig out the plaster behind, cut off old fittings, replace with two new 15mm elbows and new pipe

 

[JCplumb]

Just out of curiosity, as it would have helped me today.
If there is a need to connect something other than a tap to a soldered on tap connector, an 1/2 inch male to 15mm compression and fibre washer will work(long term) ?
Thinking about it, the 1/2 inch male would be the same as the bottom of a tap so can't see why not, any views?

 

[Leo21]

Just out of curiosity, as it would have helped me today.
If there is a need to connect something other than a tap to a soldered on tap connector, an 1/2 inch male to 15mm compression and fibre washer will work(long term) ?
Thinking about it, the 1/2 inch male would be the same as the bottom of a tap so can't see why not, any views?

Don't connect a swivel to a fitting designed for compression, the chamfer cuts into the washer. It needs to be a flat surface. They do tap extensions that work well.

 

[JCplumb]

Don't connect a swivel to a fitting designed for compression, the chamfer cuts into the washer. It needs to be a flat surface. They do tap extensions that work well.

Not sure I get you.
Do you mean don't connect a fitting made for an olive to a tap connector? Yeah I know that, works for a while then drip drip.
I mean a 1/2'' male to 15mm compression, where it is the male that will sit against the tap connector.
I had to move a toilet valve feed from one side to the other to go in a vanity w.c. unit and there was an ISO, then a soldered tee and about a cm above the tee was the soldered on tap connector that used to serve the old fill valve. The customer warned of air locks and said the last guy who changed the fill valve spent 4 hours chasing air locks after draining down water in that section of the house.
I didn't have any 1/2' male' - 15mm compression elbows with me so didn't even think about using a fitting to go on the tap connector, but remembering this post on the way home (after chasing air locks for half an hour), I thought I'd ask.
This is the kind of elbow I mean.

 

[Best]

Not sure I get you.
Do you mean don't connect a fitting made for an olive to a tap connector? Yeah I know that, works for a while then drip drip.
I mean a 1/2'' male to 15mm compression, where it is the male that will sit against the tap connector.
I had to move a toilet valve feed from one side to the other to go in a vanity w.c. unit and there was an ISO, then a soldered tee and about a cm above the tee was the soldered on tap connector that used to serve the old fill valve. The customer warned of air locks and said the last guy who changed the fill valve spent 4 hours chasing air locks after draining down water in that section of the house.
I didn't have any 1/2' male' - 15mm compression elbows with me so didn't even think about using a fitting to go on the tap connector, but remembering this post on the way home (after chasing air locks for half an hour), I thought I'd ask.
This is the kind of elbow I mean.
View attachment 25454

Yes, the I/2" x 15mm male bend (or male straight) should work perfectly. It would be same as bottom of a tap thread or end of a ballvalve tail that have flat faces. All that matters is the male fitting has nice flat surface and isn't too heavy walled so to allow the tap fitting to insert inside the male fitting.

 

[Leo21]

Yes, the I/2" x 15mm male bend (or male straight) should work perfectly. It would be same as bottom of a tap thread or end of a ballvalve tail that have flat faces. All that matters is the male fitting has nice flat surface and isn't too heavy walled so to allow the tap fitting to insert inside the male fitting.

What he said.