Taps with factory fitted flexi tails - repairable or not?

[nammuras]

I'm looking for a kitchen tap and I've noticed that some manufacturers supply factory fitted tails that can't be removed simply by unscrewing. This seems to be the case for Grohe and Hansgrohe at least.

Now I'm much keener on the good ol' rigid copper tail approach so I'm wondering if, in fact, it is possible to remove these factory fitted tails somehow and replace them with copper.

If it's not, then what do you do when the flexis finally need replacing as they certainly will? Surely the whole tap doesn't need to be replaced for the sake of a pair of £10 tails?

 

[Wayners]

Not my area although fitted a few taps.
Never seen any that can't be removed.
Replacement here for Grohe you can look at and see if it's the same

Grohe inlet flexi tail hose | Grohe 45484000 | National Shower Spares

Buy a brand new Grohe inlet flexi tail hose (Grohe 45484000). 30 day money-back guarantee and same day despatch.

www.showerspares.com

 

[nammuras]

Not my area although fitted a few taps.
Never seen any that can't be removed.

I bought a Grohe tap a few years back with tails that I couldn't remove, easily at least - they turned but didn't unscrew. I didn't investigate it much though as I returned it.

Replacement here for Grohe you can look at and see if it's the same

Grohe inlet flexi tail hose | Grohe 45484000 | National Shower Spares

Buy a brand new Grohe inlet flexi tail hose (Grohe 45484000). 30 day money-back guarantee and same day despatch.

www.showerspares.com

Thanks but I'm not looking for replacement tails. I'm trying to decide whether or not to get a Grohe/Hansgrohe tap and I won't unless I can swap out the flexis for copper.

A little more googling suggests that Grohe tails can't be removed as seen in this Screwfix link:

https://community.screwfix.com/threads/removing-flexi-hoses-from-a-grove-monobloc-tap.243757/

This seems to be a spectacularly bad idea as it means the whole tap has to be junked when the tails need replacing. Nice to see Grohe doing its bit for the environment.

I'll try and get my own response from Grohe and Hansgrohe about this and will report back if I get any useful info. At the moment though it looks like both manufacturers are off my shopping list.

 

[blup]

They are removeable, just a little extra force required, try some grips with care

 

[johnny2007]

I have used grohe for the past 25 years and never had to replace the tails.
2 of my taps are still the same and look as new, no leaks.

 

[foxhole]

I'm looking for a kitchen tap and I've noticed that some manufacturers supply factory fitted tails that can't be removed simply by unscrewing. This seems to be the case for Grohe and Hansgrohe at least.

Now I'm much keener on the good ol' rigid copper tail approach so I'm wondering if, in fact, it is possible to remove these factory fitted tails somehow and replace them with copper.

If it's not, then what do you do when the flexis finally need replacing as they certainly will? Surely the whole tap doesn't need to be replaced for the sake of a pair of £10 tails?

The taps are very likely to fail long before the tails , so the bases of your assumption is incorrect . Have never seen factory fitted tails , have swopped copper for flexi’s as the copper is less use in tight spaces .

 

[nammuras]

The taps are very likely to fail long before the tails , so the bases of your assumption is incorrect . Have never seen factory fitted tails , have swopped copper for flexi’s as the copper is less use in tight spaces .

I've read that the recommendation is to replace flexis after a maximum of 10 years, even if in apparently good condition due to potential chemical degradation of the rubber or neoprene or whatever they use. I've recently replaced taps that are almost 30 years old and working fine, so I can't agree with you.

And some Grohe taps do indeed come with factory fitted tails - I bought one a couple of years ago but I don't know if that's true just for a specific range.

Regardless of that, flexis can fail catastrophically whereas that is highly unlikely with correctly installed copper, and that's not a risk that I'm tempted to take. Anyway I shall get in touch with Grohe et al and see what they have to say.

 

[johnny2007]

Regardless of that, flexis can fail catastrophically

Got to disagree here.
Tails usually weep for some time before gashing out water.
A careful owner would notice.

 

[nammuras]

I asked Grohe about replacing the tails on taps sold in the UK and this was their response:

I am afraid all our tails are flexi, and they can not be removed or replaced with other flexis or copper.

Which from my POV is a real pain.