Tap Connectors Fibre washers

Problem always leak eventually?

Ok just replaced those dam fibre washers in the 2 kitchen sink taps and now
the  bathroom basin hot tap also beginning to drip (Bathroom basin tap less
than year old).



I am sure I fitted them correctly just finger tight then tighten just enough
to stop water leaking (being carefull not to overtighten). Anyone else find
the fibre washers dont last long,
anything I am doing wrong or is this  a common problem with fibre washers?




BES page 150
Tap Connectors
Female  copper x BSP union nut Washer included

tinklemagoo wrote:

> Tap Connectors Fibre washers
> 
> Problem always leak eventually?
> 
> Ok just replaced those dam fibre washers in the 2 kitchen sink taps and now
> the  bathroom basin hot tap also beginning to drip (Bathroom basin tap less
> than year old).
> 
> 
> 
> I am sure I fitted them correctly just finger tight then tighten just enough
> to stop water leaking (being carefull not to overtighten). Anyone else find
> the fibre washers dont last long,
> anything I am doing wrong or is this  a common problem with fibre washers?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> BES page 150
> Tap Connectors
> Female  copper x BSP union nut Washer included
> 


Having just fit some yesterday and having the same problem I find 
jointing paste smeared over the thread a minor miracle (I couldn't fit 
PTFE since the [bath] taps were within a bloody cm of the wall).

tinklemagoo wrote:


> Tap Connectors Fibre washers
> 
> Problem always leak eventually?


To be fair I have never had one develop a leak if it did not leak to 
start with...


> I am sure I fitted them correctly just finger tight then tighten just enough
> to stop water leaking (being carefull not to overtighten). Anyone else find


That could be the difference. I do them up tighter than that.


-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

In article <431ad2aa$0$6483$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com>,
	Mike Dodd <no-address@lo0> writes:

>Having just fit some yesterday and having the same problem I find 
>jointing paste smeared over the thread a minor miracle (I couldn't fit 
>PTFE since the [bath] taps were within a bloody cm of the wall).


Strange, as the thread is not part of the water seal on a tap connector.
If you put it on the washer, I might understand it.

-- 
Andrew Gabriel

Andrew Gabriel wrote:


>>Having just fit some yesterday and having the same problem I find 
>>jointing paste smeared over the thread a minor miracle (I couldn't fit 
>>PTFE since the [bath] taps were within a bloody cm of the wall).
> 
> 
> Strange, as the thread is not part of the water seal on a tap connector.
> If you put it on the washer, I might understand it.


Putting it on the thread may lubricate it enough such that it will do up 
that bit tighter with the same amount of torque.

-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

In article <yywSe.3810$VB1.2261@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>,
   tinklemagoo  wrote:

> I am sure I fitted them correctly just finger tight then tighten just
> enough to stop water leaking (being carefull not to overtighten). Anyone
> else find the fibre washers dont last long, anything I am doing wrong or
> is this  a common problem with fibre washers?


Use some Fernox silicone sealant. Brilliant stuff - although not cheap.

-- 
 

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

John Rumm wrote:

> Andrew Gabriel wrote:
> 
>>> Having just fit some yesterday and having the same problem I find 
>>> jointing paste smeared over the thread a minor miracle (I couldn't 
>>> fit PTFE since the [bath] taps were within a bloody cm of the wall).
>>
>>
>>
>> Strange, as the thread is not part of the water seal on a tap connector.
>> If you put it on the washer, I might understand it.
> 
> 
> Putting it on the thread may lubricate it enough such that it will do up 
> that bit tighter with the same amount of torque.
> 


Hmmm   <goes off to remove bath panel to check>  Nope, still drip free. 
Maybe you're right, and its the re-tightening that's cured the problem?

So what is "Threadseal", "Sealing compound for watertight and gas tight 
thread connections" for?, is this type of product (PTFE tape, included) 
just for compression fittings? Do the flexible, braided tap connectors 
rely soley on the fibre/rubber washer?

"tinklemagoo"  wrote in message
news:yywSe.3810$VB1.2261@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net

 

> Do tap fibre washers always leak eventually?
 
> Ok just replaced those dam fibre washers in the 2 kitchen sink taps and now
> the  bathroom basin hot tap also beginning to drip (Bathroom basin tap less
> than year old).


From the fact that this is happening to a lot of your taps I'd say you
have fitted them badly somehow.

There are -or were last time I replaced some, two different types of
washer. one is for the hot tap and the other for the cold. And there are
a variety of sizes too.

What causes replacement washers to fail soon after fitting is worn old
taps wearing out the surface. They do suffer erosion over many years and
even brass can have a very sharp edge in those circumstances.

What can do it to taps just a few years old is detritus in the water.
Such regions are fairly rare these days.


-- 
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

Mike Dodd wrote:


> Hmmm   <goes off to remove bath panel to check>  Nope, still drip free. 
> Maybe you're right, and its the re-tightening that's cured the problem?
> 
> So what is "Threadseal", "Sealing compound for watertight and gas tight 
> thread connections" for?, is this type of product (PTFE tape, included) 


Its for improving the sealing of connections that need the seal to 
operate on the thread itself. Typically malleable iron connections, 
taper fit BSP threaded connections (like many gas fittings) etc.

 From a sealing point of view, there is no need for such things on 
compression fittings that seal with an olive, but there is a secondary 
benefit in that it lubricates the threads making it easier to do up (and 
dismantle later). That in turn gives you more compressive force on the 
olive and less wasted on overcoming friction in the threads.


> just for compression fittings? Do the flexible, braided tap connectors 
> rely soley on the fibre/rubber washer?


Tap connections in general rely on a washer compressed with enough force 
to make a seal. The choice of fibre is ideal since it will expand 
slightly when wet and hence have a tendency to self heal any minor 
leaks. Also the washers don't perish.


-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

> Use some Fernox silicone sealant. Brilliant stuff - although not cheap.
>


Or PlumbaJoint, which is also silicone.

On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 06:33:02 GMT, "tinklemagoo" 
wrote:

| 
| Tap Connectors Fibre washers
| 
| Problem always leak eventually?

Yes! tap washers IME have a life of several years, whereas taps have a life
of tens of years.   

-- 
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> 
"Intelligent Design?" my knees say *not*.
"Intelligent Design?" my back says *not*.

> I am sure I fitted them correctly just finger tight then tighten just
enough
> to stop water leaking (being carefull not to overtighten). Anyone else
find
> the fibre washers dont last long,


They work just fine. You need to nip them up more.

Christian.

Christian McArdle wrote:


>>the fibre washers dont last long,
> 
> 
> They work just fine. You need to nip them up more.


There seems to be a bit of confusion here - I get the feeling some are 
talking abut tap washers (i.e. that go inside taps to arrest the flow of 
water) rather than the tap *connector* washers we started talking about.


-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

>>> the fibre washers dont last long,
>>
>> They work just fine. You need to nip them up more.
>
> There seems to be a bit of confusion here - I get the feeling some are
> talking abut tap washers (i.e. that go inside taps to arrest the flow of
> water) rather than the tap *connector* washers we started talking about.


For the avoidance of doubt, I was talking about tap connector washers.

Christian.

Christian McArdle wrote:

>>>>the fibre washers dont last long,
>>>
>>>They work just fine. You need to nip them up more.
>>
>>There seems to be a bit of confusion here - I get the feeling some are
>>talking abut tap washers (i.e. that go inside taps to arrest the flow of
>>water) rather than the tap *connector* washers we started talking about.
> 
> 
> For the avoidance of doubt, I was talking about tap connector washers.
> 
> Christian.
> 
> 

I Know this could be dangerous as I do not have the rest of the thread 
but....

If the pipe connections are not being strained/twisted when screwing up 
the joint then these washers should be OK and last along time.
I tend to try and solder the last joint with the pipe in position so 
this is avoided.
If this is too difficult and you don't want to re-plumb,  you can get 
away with fitting a suitable rubber ring in place of the fibre washer 
and some Furnox silicone.
Apologies if this has been covered but I have had some problems with 
these joints especially on bottom high pressure feeds to toilets!!