DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi all,

We've removed a basin for decorating. The existing connection to the basin tap consisted of a 90 degree isolating valve with compression joints on both ends. Supply side is fine and I know we need to stick with compression for that.



On the outlet to the tap, there is a connection from the isolators to flexi tails. The flexi tails have male compression fittings.



The plumber who fitted these has used short lengths of 15mm pipe between the flexi tails and the isolators with back to back compression joints.

I'm after a way to put this back together bearing in mind that a) I have no 15mm copper pipe and don't know how to cut it properly even if I did, b) I think it's going to be difficult to remove the existing olives and nuts from the short lengths of pipe to reuse it.

I'm thinking therefore in terms of replacing the isolators with ones which have a compression joint on the supply side and something which can be used with the male flexi tail end - but this is where I get stuck as I don't know if what's possible/available. Started researching, but descriptions of fittings online often lacks suffcient detail to know if it will work (at least for an amateur).

Failing that, I guess I need to replace the flexi tails with some that have female ends with washers. I have seen that it's possible to get adapters which go into the isolator compression fitting and provide a flat mating surface for the washer.

This route seems viable - except that I'm not sure how to get the flexitails off the tap. They are in a deep recess. The only way I can see to unscrew would be to twist the tail itself and that sounds like a recipe for breaking it. I'm guessing that they may be in fairly solidly if there's been a bit of corrosion or hard water.



Can anyone suggess some combination of fittings I could use to solve this? I don't mind buying fittings and/or tools to do this and I'm happy with using compression fittings.

If using the same approach as now is the best solution, I'll need to bite the bullet and tool up and learn how to cut pipe.

Thanks very much for any suggestions.

OK - for anyone searching in the future, here's what I think is going to work...

I have bought a different 90 degree isolator which has a 15mm compression joint on the inlet and has a 1/2 inch BSP female with washer on the outlet.

https://www.toolstation.com/service-valve-angle/p61780

Now - it is apparently possible to use the male compression part I have on the end of my flexitails to connect directly to this - it does fit. Youtube wisdom is that this can and does work. This is the simplest option.

There is however a view that because the edge of the male compression part is sharp, it can damage the sealing washer leading to a leak.

The solution for this I hope is to use flexitail adapter.

https://www.toolstation.com/tap-tail-adaptors/p14081

Normally I believe these are used with the 15mm tube end in the compression outlet of an isolator and the threaded male part joined to the female end of a flexitail. The threaded part on these is flat so that it will seal well against a washer.

I'm using it the other way around with the threaded part connected to the isolator outlet and then making a compression joint at the male end of the flexitail. A bit more complicated/fiddly in a tight space under a basin, but hopefully not too bad and should be a more reliable joint.

I also bought just a simple elbow to get a couple of compression nuts of this purpose although could have probably salvaged some from the old isolator valves.