fibre washers - how long do they last?

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Hi,

How long do fibre washers last?

We've got a power shower in our bathroom. The water from the pump comes down a pipe that's hidden in a stud wall and then connects onto a pipe feeding a fixed head. The connection is inside the wall and seals with a fibre washer.

What's concerning me is that if the washer fails we'll have to rip open the wall and therefore end up having to re-plaster a section of wall.

I remember when I lived in a flat years ago, there were fibre washers in the cistern feed and these would need replacing every couple of years. I mentioned this to the bloke who fitted the bathroom but he insisted it wouldn't be a problem.

Before I fix plasterboard onto the other side of the wall, should I make efforts to replace the fibre washer with something else or should I stop worrying? I don't really fancy having to tear down the wall every 2 years to replace washers.
 
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i never use fibre washer fittings on showers enclosed in walls always use male iron fittings
 
Be glad that you have nothing more important to worry about.
 
I am just a householder but I agree it is folly to sink showers into walls and tile over them. Sooner or later they all go wrong.

I think there is a lot to be said for a surface-mounted shower fed by chromed surface-mounted pipes. What's wrong with seeing pipes and taps in a bathroom?

Or you could use a removable marine-ply panel if you like. It can be tiled, and you can seal the joints with white silicone that you can cut away when it has to come off.
 
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the thread on it is BSP known to most as 'iron' because it was always used on steel pipe
 
Fibre washers are fine, good for 25 years if installed properly and left undisturbed.
 
Any diy work should be accessible for repairs.
Thermostatic showers should always be accessible
 
Depends what you mean by DIY - I'd call it DIH because the fitter did it himself :)

The shower pumps are easily accesible though without having to undo anything.
 
One of my old buddies I visited at Christmas was cursing his leaking shower pump.

20 years ago when he was thin and agile he hid it under the back of his corner bath.

now...
 

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