Leaking Tap Pipework - What Do I Need To Replace

[Blagard]

You could try refitting the existing Flexi's

If the plumber struggled to get the connection tight enough due to no provision for spanners etc. then he should have used some silicone grease on the O rings, as this allows you to tighten up the connections by hand a bit more than you can do without it.

 

[Skavenger]

You could try refitting the existing Flexi's

If the plumber struggled to get the connection tight enough due to no provision for spanners etc. then he should have used some silicone grease on the O rings, as this allows you to tighten up the connections by hand a bit more than you can do without it.

Had a search around in Wikes and Screwfix for Silocone Grease but could not find any apart from a tub in Wikes advertised for Soil and Waste Pipes. Can you recommend what and where to buy from?

Thanks

 

[HERTS P&D]

See below:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/Consumables/Plumbers Grease/d20/sd2711/p34053

Andy

 

[HERTS P&D]

At this rate I think I should come down and fit the new tails/tap for you!



Are you flooded out? Due to the weather and not your plumbing skills?

Andy

 

[oldbuffer]

If you think it is only leaking when used, there is a distinct possibility that the leak is not coming from either hot or cold connection, but is water finding its way under the tap when running.

You might like to try slackening the securing nut (the long brass one) a little and lift the tap a bit. There should be a black rubber washer between the flat chrome trim at the base and the body of the sink. Clean the base of the tap, both sides of the washer and the sink then try re-tightening the nut. You could even try a little silicone sealant above and below the washer and give it a few hours to cure. Then try running the tap and see if any water gets through.

May not be the answer, but virtually cost free and in my opinion worth a try.

 

[Skavenger]

At this rate I think I should come down and fit the new tails/tap for you!



Are you flooded out? Due to the weather and not your plumbing skills?

Andy

Ha Ha - thanks for the offer but I'll do it myself, not having done much in the way of plumbing always like to ask the question rather than making a costly mistake. Found some grease on Amazon forgot about Tool Station.

Lots of potential flooding again in the area (from the weather not my plumbing)!!!

All the advice is appreciated though

 

[Skavenger]

If you think it is only leaking when used, there is a distinct possibility that the leak is not coming from either hot or cold connection, but is water finding its way under the tap when running.

You might like to try slackening the securing nut (the long brass one) a little and lift the tap a bit. There should be a black rubber washer between the flat chrome trim at the base and the body of the sink. Clean the base of the tap, both sides of the washer and the sink then try re-tightening the nut. You could even try a little silicone sealant above and below the washer and give it a few hours to cure. Then try running the tap and see if any water gets through.

May not be the answer, but virtually cost free and in my opinion worth a try.

I was thinking that but if you look at the pic the cold flexi is surface rusted at the top so it has been leaking.

 

[Skavenger]

SUCCESS

I started the repair yesterday by undoing the mono block but without undoing the Flexis at the pipe end just in case, as suggested in this thread, all that was required was to tighten the Flexi at the mono block end.

Once I had access, by undoing the mono block securing bolt, I found that the cold water flexi pipe appeared to be loose at the tap end. So after cleaning up the rust deposits I tweaked the Flexi and put everything back together.

Sadly the pipe was still leaking so this morning I decided to change the Flexi's.

Once everything was apart the damage was clear. The 'O' Rings on the cold water Flexi and the hot were pretty chewed up and the guy who had fitted it had smeared it with jointing compound!!

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• Skavenger
• 7 Feb 2014
• 1

I cleaned up the pipe work and the Mono Block and cut the Oilve of the Hot Water pipe and trimmed down the cold water pipe to give the Flex a better run.

I carefully cut the old olive with a junior hacksaw and removed it with screwdriver (tip found in this forum).

I cleaned up the ends of the copper pipes and fitted the Flexi nuts and olives, I also applied a little jointing compound on the olives.

Untitled

• Skavenger
• 7 Feb 2014
• 1

I smeared some Silicone Grease on the mono block end of the Flexi's and did them up hand tight and gave them a small tweak with a spanner.

I then put the mono block in position and did up the compression fittings on the Flexi's taking care not twist the Flexi Pipes and interfere with the mono block end.

Untitled

• Skavenger
• 7 Feb 2014
• 1

Once everything was tight I turned on the water and after stopping a small leak at the cold water compression end with another tweak all looked good. I then tightened up the mono block, this proved tricky as the rubber washer that sits between the mono block and the sink kept trying to squeeze out!!!

Wev'e done three lots of washing up and so far so good.

Thanks to everyone for the advice on this repair