stumped

[stevemcg]

hello - could anyone enlighten me as to what the attached image is? Its under the sink in my apartment, to the left of the rising mains. Came to my attention as its dripping about half a mug of water per day. Before tackling it I am obviously keen to determine what it actually is (some form of pressure valve? Water filter?).
Open to any suggestions.
(Leak is coming from the base).
Steve

 

[Mushybees]

Thermostatic mixing valve.

Edite
Apologies, I didn't look at the pic properly. It looks like a pressure reducing valve.

 

[stevemcg]

OK - many thanks

first time tackling - is a leaking valve fixable, or normally symptomatic of a complete failure that requires total replacement? Anything I should watch out for? Grateful, as ever, for any advice.

steve

 

[danielp]

Comap PRV With Gauge 15mm x 22mm - NoLinkingToThis, Where the Trade Buys

turn the stopcock of to the right you may need a coupling to rejoin the pipe as the old one is in x2 male irons wich are longer , so screw this one on making sure the arrow is in the correct direction small peice of pipe and a 15 mm compression coupling if you decide to use the gauge then a roll of ptfe tape aswell hope this helps

 

[stevemcg]

brilliant! Thank you very much - some good karma in the bank!
cheers
Steve

 

[Plouasne]

Just a question off topic a bit, but are compression fittings allowed on a gas supply in the UK, middle photo bottom right hand side

 

[Mushybees]

Just a question off topic a bit, but are compression fittings allowed on a gas supply in the UK, middle photo bottom right hand side

Yes as long as the joint is accessible.

 

[Plouasne]

Yes as long as the joint is accessible.

Thank you for the answer Mushy, just shows you what 20 odd miles of water can do does it not, because that is defiantly a NO NO over here

 

[Mushybees]

Thank you for the answer Mushy, just shows you what 20 odd miles of water can do does it not, because that is defiantly a NO NO over here

I'm not a fan myself.
That said I've not had any problems with compression on gas where I've had to use them. A wrap of gas PTFE (very thick) makes a good seal.

 

[newbie1]

nothing wrong with a good compression fitting as long as its fully accessible..

 

[stevetheplumber]

I'm not a fan myself.
That said I've not had any problems with compression on gas where I've had to use them. A wrap of gas PTFE (very thick) makes a good seal.

my pet hate is tape on compression fittings just a smear of paste on the pipe behind the olive to seal the threads

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

I have come accross many people who are scared and dont 'trust' compression fittings. There is nothing wrong with them providing they are fitted correctly and are accesible and are check for leaks. I have seen so many with so much PTFE tape wrapped round it.

Shocked that they are banned in France on gas, news to me

 

[Plouasne]

I have come accross many people who are scared and dont 'trust' compression fittings. There is nothing wrong with them providing they are fitted correctly and are accesible and are check for leaks. I have seen so many with so much PTFE tape wrapped round it.

Shocked that they are banned in France on gas, news to me

At the risk of upsetting some members of the forum, but could be of information to others, if they get a chance to do a job over here

Gas work
Soft solder is a No NO, hard solder only on copper gas services, with a minimum of 6% silver
Depending on the gas, different washers to be used with flat faced unions etc
For the cooker an accessible cut off valve to be mounted close to the cooker
L P G installations, an over/under pressure cut off valve to be mounted close to the appliances, and easily accessible
Built in hob units to be tubed in ridged copper, gas flexible's are not allowed
Cooker flexies, different for LPG or natural gas, with date limits stamped on the hose, (change after the date stamped on the hose expires), normally 5 or 10 years, but there are stainless steel braided ones comeing on the market which have an indefinite life

This is just a quick run down of the differences, between the 2 countries

 

[danielp]

ptfe around the olive is diy thing me thinks

 

[Mushybees]

ptfe around the olive is diy thing me thinks

It was specified on a large site job we did recently. 20+ buildings, all compression joints had to have a wrap of gas PTFE.

 

[danielp]

It was specified on a large site job we did recently. 20+ buildings, all compression joints had to have a wrap of gas PTFE.

bet that got annoying!

 

[Plouasne]

It was specified on a large site job we did recently. 20+ buildings, all compression joints had to have a wrap of gas PTFE.

Whereabouts was the tape specified to be applied, on the threads of the fitting,, the fitting mouth between comp ring and fitting, or behind the ring the nut side of the ring
I was taught, and in those days the makers said in their fitting books, that only a smear of jointing paste between the comp ring and the comp nut was the only place for any compound and this was to allow for the nut to turn without binding on the comp ring
I have seen water exude between PTFE tape and the threads on hard chrome rad tails, and also heard from the plumber who fitted the service, that a 100 yards of 2" galvanised iron pipe, spun its-self undone when it was under test, because of the use of PTFE tape, and also there was no thrust block or other form of restraint; apparently PTFE has a lower coefficient of friction than wet ice on glass