Belt AND braces - compression fitting ex-leak ??

S

slowlybutsurely

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I have a 22mm compression fitting that showed a very slow leak (one detaching drip about every 3 minutes) for about 60 minutes and then leak stopped. Hasn't leaked for about a week now - but it keeps me awake at night. It's on the hot supply.

So this is what I'm thinking (using what's in my toolbox) ... smear the ex-leaking side with silicon (maybe even LSX) and then wrap the whole thing with 'Stuk 999' self-amalgamating repair tape.

Will this help me sleep?
Should I just ignore it?
Should I re-do the whole thing ("do it right")?

Help? Comments? Yes? No? Overkill? Cheating? Won't work?


:D
 
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OP here.

I think I might have crushed the olive so I'm somewhat reluctant to undo it. It isn't leaking right now ....

Also it's 5 mins quick backup (silicon and tape)
versus
30 minutes, to shut off, drain, cut-off olive and re-do.
 
slowlybutsurely said:
it's 5 mins quick backup (silicon and tape)
versus
30 minutes, to shut off, drain, cut-off olive and re-do.
Click to expand...

Do you mean...
5 mins to bodge it up by putting silicon and tape on, then continued sleepless nights worrying about it, countless times of checking it, potentially having it flood the house while you're away on holiday or something, discovering that the silicon didn't stick to it, and then having to repair it properly anyway
Versus
30 minutes to repair it properly in the first place and then forget about it

You shouldn't necessarily need to cut off the olive BTW, a clean up and some new PTFE will probably work.

I know which route I'd take.
 
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Personally I'd dismantle and reassemble after smearing the olive with jointing compound (water hawk or similar) as it's easier to apply and makes for a better seal.
 
I'm with fudgefingers always use boss White on compression fittings.
Only course cowboys & DaftyDIYers use PTFE.
 
I don't know if I have just been lucky but I have never had to use anything but a correctly tightened nut & olive.
 
D

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