Lesson Learned

[secret squirrel]

Today, I was installing a new sink, it was a Blanco and the fitting were not standard sizes so this caused a headache.

The sink was too big for the kitchen unit but the customer said "make it fit" so using my magic powers succeeded.

Re-connected the new taps had a bit of a leak which turned into a flood, I thought I'd turn the compression joint without turning off the water.......... I was left with my thumb on the pipe holding back 3(ish) bar. Luckily, the kind daughter took my instructions well in how to turn off the water.

I was trying very hard to remain calm and explain clockwise is right! I was kicking myself afterwards because its a combi boiler!!!!!! so easy to turn off the water.

I used every towel in my van and I have quite a few........ next time I'll turn the water off........

 

[traineedrip]

always carry a 15mm speedfit end cap in your pocket. Well done for not panicing

 

[Phil]

Yes speedfit caps, also some 1/2" & 3/4" BSP caps good for when you take a rad off and the old valves let by slightly.

They even sell the 1/2" ones in B&Q 98p each, the 3/4" ones are a bit harder to find for some reason.

 

[GreenArmy]

Blanco sinks....... Quality product which i would love the pleasure of fitting this brand rather than the usual carp out there. Although it does sound as though the kitchen was designed by someone with no plumbing experiance if you had to rip down units and struggle with the tap supplies to fit it.

 

[migoplumber]

as above is ok, but sometimes under high pressures a little difficult to push on,
for emergencys use a pushfit straight with isolating valve on, easy to push on with isolating valve open, then close it.

shaun

 

[Phil]

This has nothing to do with the thread but I'm thinking about knocking up a connector comprising of a 3ft hosepipe with a 22mm speedfit elbow on one end and a 15mm speedfit elbow on the other end.

This is so I can backfill a gravity system on my own up in the loft.

Lets say the F+E tank has a blocked cold feed or a stubborn airlock, turn the water off and cut into the rising main just before the F+E ballvalve and solder a 15mm equal tee on with a few inches of pipe on the tee, connect a 15mm isolator with handle on here and turn the water back on. Now connect up the hose from here and the other end to the vent pipe and backfill.

This way it saves you doing it from the draincock or taking a hose up into the loft from the outside tap. When you're done turn the water off and solder a cap on the stub of pipe and leave it there for next time.

Has anyone else do this?

 

[stevetheplumber]

o yes many times but with so many combis now not for a long while

 

[Phil]

Steve, I don't just mean backfill, I meat actually take it from the rising main in the loft. Install tee etc.

 

[Winston]

Reminds me of the time when I went to change taps in my utility room, had not been in the house long turned the mains off! Checked the kitchen cold no water so confidently started on the utility room. Did I check the cold in the utility room? NO!

To my suprise I discovered I have two mains to my house. My wife also decided to call at the time insisting she wanted a telephone number from her filofax that she had forgotten. Funny enough now but at the time OMG