Push-fit tap connectors

[Hancock]

New to the forum but thought someone out there might be able to help.
Anyone experienced problems with push-fit tap connectors leaking after a short period?
Sometime ago I fitted them to a pillar mounted deck bath tap and a few weeks later the hot connection leaked severely.
On inspection the rubber seal, chamfered style not flat washer, appeared to be scored, i assume by the tap body.
Today a friend of mine (kitten fitter) told me he had a problem with such a fitting on a kitchen tap and had I come across it before.
Is this a common problem?
Do the manufacturers know and have designs changed (I haven't used one since the incident)?

 

[Guest123]

I'm assuming that you're describing the flexible connectors to a mixer tap? The end that is threaded and screws into the tap should only be hand tight or they will fail.

 

[Hancock]

Not flexi tap connector but polyplumb push-fit tap connector

 

[Guest123]

Is it the business end going into the pipe? Is the pipe deburred and cut with pipe cutters? If not it can damage the rubber o ring.

PolyPlumb make flexible tap connectors too.

 

[Hancock]

No, it's the rubber seal between connector and tap body

 

[stevetheplumber]

sounds like youve over tightened it ive found these to be ultra reliable hand tight and a little nip up with a spanner is fine

 

[glenno1]

Sounds like they have been tightened to much and the tap spigot has cut through the rubber washer

 

[Guest123]

Yep, as I said above they should only be hand tight or they will fail.

 

[Hancock]

So why did the leak take six weeks to appear?

 

[Guest123]

So why did the leak take six weeks to appear?

All the major tap manufacturers now have a leaflet or label attached to their tap connectors stating that they must be hand tightened only or premature failure can occur in the future. It may have taken 6 weeks for the rubber washer to fail against the tap if overtightened, even slightly. They don't even need tightened at all with a spanner. If in doubt, a little LSX smeared on the threads will give peace of mind, but I don't use anything, I only tighten them up by hand and they don't leak.