Plumbing help in kitchen needed - can't turn water back on!

[Taryn Hauritz]

Hi there,

I've recently done the plumbing in my newly renovated bathroom and thought I'd have a go at the renovated kitchen. All was going well until I managed to move a 15mm cold water pipe and cause the stopcock to drip! I managed to stop the drip but am nervous about continuing to experiment! If I mess up the stopcock I'm seriously messed up. I really didn't want to call a plumber in if possible as I'm trying to learn from my mistakes


.

So, my gas man had encouraged me to use quick fit plumbing fittings and I wanted to simply add a 15mm equal tee to the cold water line for my new dishwasher. I bought the Speedfit part and when I tried to fit it...things went downhill.

i carefully measured where to cut the pipe and tried to get both ends onto the pipe and then screw it back together...but without success.

I'm sure I've made a massive mess...and I now have no water because I can't put it back together!

Please see the attached photo and advise if you can.

Thanks a lot,

Taryn

(I thought about adding a few elbows which could work but would be completely bizarre and messy I'm sure).

 

[ShaunCorbs]

whats your problem you cant get the cap back onto the t or is it leaking?

 

[gmartine]

As your gasman encouraged you to use those fittings I'd give him a call.

 

[gassafe]

That grab ring is far too far down the pipe!! Your not meant to dismantle the joint even!

 

[Taryn Hauritz]

Thanks....I can't get the plastic sides back on as I used a wrench but thought I was damaging the thread. (I didn't want to call my gas man on a Saturday night as it's my fault and not an emergency!!)

 

[Taryn Hauritz]

Oh okay....I dismantled a 22mm one yesterday and managed to put it back together without any leaks. Damn....I guess that's why I can't get it to work. Anyone know how to add a tee with push fit?

 

[gassafe]

Do it in copper & you could have eliminated the earth bonding with that one plastic joint,..

 

[gassafe]

Jg 15mm slip tee...

 

[Taryn Hauritz]

Thanks! I didn't know what a slip tee was...ill get one of those and then get my electrician to check earthing for me...very good point!! Thanks.

 

[Riley]

God bless plastic :wink:

 

[joni os]

First I hope you used a pipe slice to cut the tube as a hacksaw will leave a ragged edge which could damage the O ring seal in the push fit coupling. As you have found out, in order to connect the coupling the pipes have to be moved apart then brought back together again. If you have an adjustable spanner, close the jaws so it just fits the 15mm pipe, place it behind the white fitting on the left and push fitting off end of pipe. Provided your pressure is on the inner collar at the back it will remove O ring and grab ring at the same time. Pressure on the wide part of the fitting will just make grab ring grip harder. Once removed reassemble and try again.

 

[village idiot]

Try this bloke Tyron.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGB2BWwkj2I

 

[Riley]

Obviously if you're joining copper to copper no insert required

 

[Taryn Hauritz]

Fixed!!! Thank you so much. Luckily toolstation was open til 8pm.

Much appreciated. Now I need to learn about earthing...

 

[village idiot]

Well done. Now you have to start thinking of how to do the bathroom

 

[Taryn Hauritz]

That's almost done...I just have a couple of fittings from my shower valve that are leaking very slowly. I can't seem to get the right amount of PTFE tape...(I think that's the issue) Sorry...can't get photo turned round.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

That's almost done...I just have a couple of fittings from my shower valve that are leaking very slowly. I can't seem to get the right amount of PTFE tape...(I think that's the issue) Sorry...can't get photo turned round.

locktight 577

 

[Matty7]

Following this threat early on. Well done on fixing the problem.

 

[Matty7]

Thread not threat

 

[kozak1968]

Find your stopcock out in the street or if you live in a flat it will be in the lobby maybe. Make sure it turns off the supply to your property. Then if you get a leak inside or break something, you can turn it off and repair at your leisure.

 

[walterwhite]

And put the ptfe over the olive...not the thread!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

And put the ptfe over the olive...not the thread!

or dont use ptfe on compression joints at all

 

[kozak1968]

Why not? If it stops a leak its fine.

or dont use ptfe on compression joints at all

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Why not? If it stops a leak its fine.

if a comp joint starts leaking theres somthing wrong eg wrong olive, not pushed all the way in or cheap joint out of spec

 

[joni os]

if a comp joint starts leaking theres somthing wrong eg wrong olive, not pushed all the way in or cheap joint out of spec

Good point regarding olives and out of spec. fittings. Becoming more common in recent years.