Monobloc basin tap - terrible nightmare - PLEASE HELP ME WITH ADVISE.

[rocketmanbkk]

Dear Friends

Please give me your best advice (I need it).

A customer wanted a new monobloc tap fitted.

Old one out, all OK, new one out of box, fittings all OK.

Put both flexi hoses into screw holes and did up hand tight plus a little.

Connected to pipes, turned water on, leaked, took off, tightened hoses, leaked, tried again and again. Leaked everytime.

Now, i need help!

The flexi hoses when connected to pipes are a little long. i.e. the curl a bit/flex.

The hoses that screw into the tap are as tight as hand tight plus a little, there is no opportunity to tighten them anymore as I cant get to the nut piece.

Should I shorten the copper H&C water pipes so that the hoses are straighter?

I am at a loss, what should have been an easy job is turning into a nightmare! (as always).

Please help me on the one friends.

Kind regards

Rocket

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Anyone please, I'm desperate here!

Please

 

[JAP&H]

Where is the leak from rocket?

Are the O seals in place/undamaged at the tap end of the flexis?

Is it the hose itself that's leaking, tap innards or joints onto water supply?

 

[nysk2008]

As above mate - are the o-rings ok? Maybe you could put a few turns of ptfe around the thread aswell which should sort it.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Jap

Thank you

The hoses are brand new with the tap, o rings look good, the hoses screw into tap head, when the water comes on it looks like the water comes from the bottom of the tap, not the hoses.

I cant be sure but it's what I think. The hoses are screwed in as far as I can get them.

Just cant figure it out

 

[Rickster123]

If its the hoses connecting onto the tap that are leaking then a couple of wraps of ptfe ( say that quietly)! If its the pipe connection leaking then cut them back to suit. Don't kink the flexi or it will leak!

 

[rocketmanbkk]

OK, Thanks NYSK

Is PTFE OK to put on them, i was considering it but didn't know whether it would do the trick or not.

The bloomin man is looking over my shoulder every 30 seconds!

Done a few of these now but never encountered this.

 

[SimonG]

Tap could be goosed.

 

[nysk2008]

ptfe will be fine mate - if you really wanted to you could add a lick of jet blue to be 100%

 

[rocketmanbkk]

OK, thanks.

I'll cut the pipes so the flexi's are not kinked or bent as much, try a little PTFE when he's not looking and try again.

Thank you or all your help.

Learning hands on, thanks again.

Rocket

 

[Rickster123]

Don't worry if he's looking mate no law against ptfe..... Yet!

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Is that Jet Blue a paste or is it like Boss?

 

[rocketmanbkk]

I'll try the lot! Just want outta this one!

 

[nysk2008]

let us know mate how u get on. we all get sh** jobs that dont go to plan, just stay calm abd youll b fine

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Will do, hope I can sort it! Thanks again all.

Rocket

 

[Bobleponge]

Would be surprised if the length of the H+C would make that much difference tbh, as long as the flexi's arent bent in half that shouldn't be causing the problem. Would it be possible to take the tap back off, and attach the flexi's in a space where you can actually see where the leak is coming from?

 

[Guest123]

It's the tap body itself that's leaking mate not those horrible flexies. Some imported taps are like this......

.....at the base of the tap there is a big silver chrome flange that forms the tap base where it sits on the sink then a rubber washer goes under it. Tighten this flange onto the tap body, it has a screwed thread that if you didn't look for it, you'd never have known it's there! Not too tight but hand tight plus. Kitchen sink taps that swivel from the base are notorious for this. They come loose in transit and also when you're tightening the monoblock rod and nut from underneath and you turn the tap a little when tightening it, they slacken off and lose the seal with the tap body.

If it's not this, then the tap is defective and should be replaced. Wee tip....put some LSX on the threads of the flexies and they'll never leak, but not too much that it can block the tap inlet hole. Also a small fixed head spanner will fit the nut if you need a wee jag up, but they should be handtightened. Many of these tap connectors also now have 2 O rings, check the box they came in!

 

[PETE 123]

Ive had the flexies leak where there crimped could be that ?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

so you are a PLUMBER now

 

[stevetheplumber]

id undo the nut and lift the tap up so i could see exactly whats leaking obviously you have enough slack to do this probably a dodgy casting

 

[SimonG]

How did you get on Rocket?

 

[Bobleponge]

I was thinking the same but didnt want to ask in case he was still there!!!

 

[jase158]

if all else fails (think im too late) go to screwfix and get 2 new hoses.
I had this a couple months ago, nothing would seal, felt weak and rubbish.

went to screwfix picked up 2 new hoses, they felt better and stronger. No problems since