Bathroom Mixer Tap Connectors

[Bon]

Evening all. Treated myself to a nice new mixer tap for the en suite this afternoon and thought I’d get on with fitting it when I got home.

Everything went to plan until I got to connecting the female thread tap connectors onto what I thought were BSP male threads.

I couldn’t get the thread to sit straight so I gave it up and put everything back.

Pic shows the current install which looks like the old grey Hep2O push-fit with compatible braided flexible tap connectors (which I’m guessing have a different thread to the ones on the new tap )

So, I’m looking for some advice on what the best solution/fittings is/are as I’d also like to add some isolation valves in too

Thanks all!!

 

[Exedon]

Take it this Is a basin mixer?
Clear picture of connection nuts on new flexi connectors would be useful.
The originals look to be maybe 10mm push fit.

 

[Bon]

The new flexes are 1/2” bsp. I’m pretty sure it’s 15mm push fit pipe

 

[dilalio]

Photo of new tap flexis.
It saves a whole lot of terminology confusion.

"IF" you're trying to screw the female flexi tap tails on to the top of those pushfit connectors (like it reads) then it will not work.

 

[dilalio]

If you want to add isolators, I would use 2 of these with a short bit of 15mm copper between them and the pushfit couplings, the tap flexis then screw straight onto the top which are flat faced so won't damage the rubber washer in the flexis.

You could put them straight on to the pipe by removing the pushfit coupling but I don't like putting compression on to plastic pipe.

Your local independent trade counter should stock these (mine does but call them first) so you don't have to pay the BES delivery fee.

BES.co.uk | Next Day Delivery On 15,000 + Plumbing Supplies

Order flat faced isolation valves and other tap fittings online at BES.co.uk. Low Prices, Free Next Day Delivery Available, 15k Plus Products in stock. P/N: 25058.

www.bes.co.uk

These lever isolators are better than screwslot type ballofixes which leak for fun.

 

[Bon]

Photo of new tap flexis.
It saves a whole lot of terminology confusion.

"IF" you're trying to screw the female flexi tap tails on to the top of those pushfit connectors (like it reads) then it will not work.

Hi dilalio. Yes, that’s what I was trying to describe. I hadn’t clocked that the existing tap flexies had the grey plastic screwed ends and thought they were BSP threads.

I can’t get a photo of the actual flexies as I’m away with work today/tomorrow but they came with the tap and are identical to the pic below

 

[dilalio]

Hi dilalio. Yes, that’s what I was trying to describe. I hadn’t clocked that the existing tap flexies had the grey plastic screwed ends and thought they were BSP threads.

Existing flexis more likely came with 10/12mm ferrules that pushed into polypipe stem reducer.

 

[Bon]

I must admit, I’ve never seen that type of connection on a flexi before but that basin has been installed for at least 15 years I reckon.

I’m more annoyed about the lack of isolation valves tbh. Had to turn the water off to the entire house and when I reopened it all, the gland nut on the stop cock has started to weep

 

[dilalio]

I’m more annoyed about the lack of isolation valves tbh. Had to turn the water off to the entire house and when I reopened it all, the gland nut on the stop cock has started to weep

Welcome to my world.

50% of Installs I work on don't have isolators.
And of those that do, 50% are either seized or weep when used.

If you'd had isolators on those supplies, I guarantee they'd have been ballofixes and that at least one would have wept through the screw slot when used.

That's why I put a link to the black handled ones.