Don’t really know why I continue to humiliate myself in this way, but I suppose the rest of you need a laugh from time to time… anyway, so I got that blanking plug from SF, as it seemed to make sense. Now here’s why people like me hate plumbing so much.
Cleaned everything up; put the tapered black rubber washer in the pipe; offered up the plug, red O ring and threaded collar to it. First problem was that the plug didn’t seem to sit right on the rubber seal – no matter what I did, the seal would move around in the taper it sat in. As I tightened the threaded ring, I could see the plug tilting over to one side or another as the rubber seal moved around. I spent a LONG time doing and re-doing this, but water poured out every time.
I had a new seal in a bag, so tried that too – exactly the same. After spending WAY too much time on it, convinced that such a simple thing must work, I threw the plug away and went back to filling the spigot on the original piece with silicone.
Second problem was when the silicone was dry and I reassembled the trap. Again, simple stuff – rubber seals and threaded rings to tighten the joints. I should say that this trap was only fitted (by a plumber) a year or 18 months ago, so the seals etc should hopefully be OK.
So ran some water into the sink, and of course it came streaming down from one of the joints. Took it all apart again; meticulously cleaned the surfaces, seals etc, and checked the seals were in good condition; back together, water running down from the joint again. I kept taking it apart, putting it back together again, making sure things went in straight and so on – eventually the leak reduced considerably. I tightened it with the plumber’s wrench (normally I wouldn't, as you shouldn't need that kind of pressure to squash a rubber seal, I’d have thought) – and I think it’s sealed now.
So a 10 minute job took most of an afternoon, in the end. Can’t understand why I find it so difficult – it’s only plastic pipes and rubber seals… but plumbing is definitely my Achilles’ Heel
Cleaned everything up; put the tapered black rubber washer in the pipe; offered up the plug, red O ring and threaded collar to it. First problem was that the plug didn’t seem to sit right on the rubber seal – no matter what I did, the seal would move around in the taper it sat in. As I tightened the threaded ring, I could see the plug tilting over to one side or another as the rubber seal moved around. I spent a LONG time doing and re-doing this, but water poured out every time.
I had a new seal in a bag, so tried that too – exactly the same. After spending WAY too much time on it, convinced that such a simple thing must work, I threw the plug away and went back to filling the spigot on the original piece with silicone.
Second problem was when the silicone was dry and I reassembled the trap. Again, simple stuff – rubber seals and threaded rings to tighten the joints. I should say that this trap was only fitted (by a plumber) a year or 18 months ago, so the seals etc should hopefully be OK.
So ran some water into the sink, and of course it came streaming down from one of the joints. Took it all apart again; meticulously cleaned the surfaces, seals etc, and checked the seals were in good condition; back together, water running down from the joint again. I kept taking it apart, putting it back together again, making sure things went in straight and so on – eventually the leak reduced considerably. I tightened it with the plumber’s wrench (normally I wouldn't, as you shouldn't need that kind of pressure to squash a rubber seal, I’d have thought) – and I think it’s sealed now.
So a 10 minute job took most of an afternoon, in the end. Can’t understand why I find it so difficult – it’s only plastic pipes and rubber seals… but plumbing is definitely my Achilles’ Heel
