toolstation isolation valves 80p

[Kyle87]

toolstation are selling isolation valves for 80p........is this a really good bargain or a load of cheap tosh that will fail before your home from the job and in your pj's?.....

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i've used them and not had a call back

 

[marleyco]

Use them all the time, as good as any I've used. They aren't full bore, so watch where you use them

 

[Kyle87]

is there anything in either plumbfix or toolstation that you would reccamend staying away from or are most things actually ok?

 

[marleyco]

Most things ok, used nearly all their plumbing fittings, but as I mentioned on another thread. stay away from the soil fitting's. Have had them fail air test as the rubber seal has been reduced in size, pipe's good enough though

 

[WHPES]

I have had a bad experience with some of the plastic traps from Screwfix, getting them to seal. Generally go for McAlpine ones. Most other plumbing stuff is OK.

What I don't understand is that Toolstation has a huge range of washers, yet they do not sell 1/2 and 3/4 tap connector washers!!

Went into screwfix for a double architrave switch. They do the single switch, and the backplate for the double switch, but not the single switch backplate or the double switch! How crazy is that?

 

[REDSAW]

only bought 10 on friday, been using them for years now and no probs.

agree with whpes on the traps from skufox, had many fail to seal, infact t/stn i think are a bit better.imo.

''they do not sell 1/2 and 3/4 tap connector washers!!''

think they do as i bought them as well, look under hose connector 3/4'' or am i on wrong track?.

 

[Guest123]

Don't buy plastic compression waste fittings from either of them, use Mcalpine. Don't buy cheap solder ring fittings either, use Yorkshire and those cheap valves leak at the screw if not turned for a while. Cheap nasty rubbish and not full bore either. Plumb fix are selling them for 75p each.

 

[dancinplumba]

all cheap iso's leak when you come to turn them IMHO

 

[Best]

Ballofix valves are poor - even for cold pipes that flow doesnt matter, like wc feed.
I now avoid them, as they leak at screw or often break inside. Heat wrecks them. Use the full flow type, as they seem to have the white ptfe seals on ball - like the lever valves, or use the small lever gas valves ( expensive but best ).

 

[Guest123]

Best, Ballofix are the originals of these type of valves and are good quality. The 80p ones are cheap foreign import copies of the original Ballofix version and are to be avoided IMO

 

[WHPES]

think they do as i bought them as well, look under hose connector 3/4'' or am i on wrong track?.

The hose washers are a different thing. I am on about the thin red fibre ones you use on solder fitting tap connectors. Anyway two of the toolstation staff looked through the catalaogue after I said I couldnt find them and they couldn't either , other than as part of the orange Holdtite washer box

 

[Best]

Best, Ballofix are the originals of these type of valves and are good quality. The 80p ones are cheap foreign import copies of the original Ballofix version and are to be avoided IMO

Good point, system3! I tend to call them Ballofix valves as the merchants still do. I know the better quality type you are talking about. I should be saying service valves.
The cheap 80p ones just can't be good, as a brass connector can cost more!
Stupid name, ballofix anyhow, - should be called ballnofix!
Lever valves for me anytime.

 

[tamz]

You can buy CP isos for 48p each if you buy them 10 at a time. They do their job...repeat business when they are moved.
Genuine ballofix valves don't leak but they are near a fiver a time so only speced and used on the likes of council contracts where money is no object.
Btw you can use genuine ballofix on gas but don't be tempted to do it if you don't know what they look like.

 

[WaterTight]

is there anything in either plumbfix or toolstation that you would reccamend staying away from or are most things actually ok?

don't buy their full-bore isolation valves. i've bought a couple of 2 different occassions and on both one or both leaked from screw while comissioning.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

all good with them valves , get all my fittings from there ! there ! much cheeper then my local supplier and the fittings are made by the same company

 

[Megaflo-Experts]

As already mentioned, I also had problems with Screwfix waste compression fittings and the bottle traps (leak everytime!)

 

[Guest123]

As already mentioned, I also had problems with Screwfix waste compression fittings and the bottle traps (leak everytime!)

The bottle traps leak like a sieve unless you horse up the bottle part really tightly with grips, which defeats the purpose of these....try getting the bottle half off for cleaning when behind a pedestal! The shallow seal bath traps have a stupid rodding eye, most of these don't have a sealing washer in the rodding eye screw on cap and again have to be horsed up tight or they leak. The trap seals are terrible and even a miniscule amount of misalignment between the trap and the grating causes a leak. I only use Mcalpine and at least I'm supporting a Scottish based company not foreign imports. I'd like Plumb fix to stock Mcalpine, Toolstation stocks some of it.

 

[Kyle87]

A lot here said about mcalpine....are they cheaply available in any of the big merchants ie..plumb centre or is it better to find a local?

 

[Guest123]

A lot here said about mcalpine....are they cheaply available in any of the big merchants ie..plumb centre or is it better to find a local?

If it's a big order I get mine online. Any decent merchants sells them. Haggle is the best way!

 

[world9563]

i use tool station alot never had any problems with anything yet from them. As others have siad you can only go for the full bore on high spec jobs wear the customer wants the best of the best no matter the cost which in these times we are in many custards want cheap as chips please.

 

[REDSAW]

The bottle traps leak like a sieve unless you horse up the bottle part really tightly with grips, which defeats the purpose of these....try getting the bottle half off for cleaning when behind a pedestal! The shallow seal bath traps have a stupid rodding eye, most of these don't have a sealing washer in the rodding eye screw on cap and again have to be horsed up tight or they leak. The trap seals are terrible and even a miniscule amount of misalignment between the trap and the grating causes a leak. I only use Mcalpine and at least I'm supporting a Scottish based company not foreign imports. I'd like Plumb fix to stock Mcalpine, Toolstation stocks some of it.

youve had it too i see.lol.

 

[PlumbingBud]

My only problem with these valves is they tend to leak from the nut and olive. It could be my technique, but I have had a few leak from the top in the last couple of weeks and I have had to nip them up really tight to stop the weeping.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

did they have brass olives? you could change for copper ones which are softer

 

[SafeGasInstall]

If you get leak over the olive and the nut !
Answer is one : DO NOT over do them when tighten them !