Flexible tap connectors. Yes or no?

phill99

I do a lot of work for insurance companies and was called to a job last year where the guy came home one evening to find water cascading down his stairs as a result of a flexi splitting. Caused over £14000 worth of damage. It would appear that the flexi was a cheap one. We still use them but it is worth getting a good quality ones.

27col

I have only ever knew of one that split. When I examined it, it became obvious that the flexible part had far too tight a curve, which was deforming the pipe, it seemed to have creased the rubber. I have never had one split that was gently curved to the tap. As has been said already. Some modern taps come with ready fitted flexibles. Just make sure that there is local isolation available, and that it is easily accessible.

andrew-b

I'd avoid flexis if you can as they will restrict flow slightly. If you want a really easy tap connector to use i'd highly recommend Speedfit tap connectors ..don't even need a spanner as they only require hand tightening, no PTFE or jointing compound of anysort required. If you use them with a bit of speedfit pipe you can bend the pipe easily by hand without resorting to pipe bending kit! Used these tap connectors with my bathroom basin taps with speedfit pipe back to the compression-fitting isolation valves.

bambibashercol

I fail to see how they restrict flow. Most mixer taps are 10 mm flared to 15mm copper pipe that screw into the tap body. I have never had a problem with flexi tap connectors. I much prefer them to plastic push fittings.

wallbash

I fail to see how they restrict flow. Most mixer taps are 10 mm flared

Sensible thinking. Also what is the problem with a ( very ) small restriction ,
how often do you turn the handbasin taps fully on ??
Bath taps , ever so slightly longer to fill.... time to play with your duck!

andrew-b

Depends what your using it for i guess. For my basin in bathroom i'm talking gravity-fed hot supply with not a particularly great flow rate in the first place (mains cold)....standard pillar taps with 1/2" tails connected to 15mm pipe. Not a huge deal for most i agree..but as the flow rate was low already i didn't want to restrict it anymore with a flexi-connector with a bore less than 15mm. Similarly i replaced the isolation valves with full bore valves. Maybe my approach is too scientific and trying to get the very best out of my plumbing that i can.

I did actually use a 300mm flexible speedfit connector to temporarily hookup to the WC cistern during some temporary plumbing and found the cistern took longer to fill than with the standard tap connector i eventually used - so from what i found it does make a difference to flow rates even if it isn't much.

andrew-b

bambibashercol wrote: »

I much prefer them to plastic push fittings.

yes but your in the trade...i haven't come across many plumbers/heating engineer's who actually like using push-fits..i'm sure it's something to do with the fact that they are so easy to fit any DIYer can do it rather than pay plumber's prices to get them in!
For the DIYer though these things are a complete doddle and far easier than mucking around with spanners, PTFE tape and compression fittings, or blowtorches/solder/flux for soldered joins. Plus it means replacing the taps will be so much easier.

andrew-b

wallbash wrote: »

Sensible thinking. Also what is the problem with a ( very ) small restriction ,
how often do you turn the handbasin taps fully on ??
Bath taps , ever so slightly longer to fill.... time to play with your duck!

I turn the basin hot on full most of the time even with my flow optimisations!
Be interesting to see the difference in times to fill a bath with gravity-fed supplies between using a tap connector and a flexible tap connector..i bet it's much longer than you think.You've gotta be quackers to use a flexi on a bath!

bambibashercol

No i love plastic push fitting when diy people use them. I have had much work when they have installed them wrong, or for got to use the inserts, fairly common problem.
Most installs abroad are 10 mm to the taps. If you have problems with the flow then it's more likely the old fashoned gravity hot water system still in use in this country. Abroad its mainly combi boilers and mains pressure unvented cylinders.

wallbash

If I turned my hand basin taps full on , would be washing the floor
As to the bath , I don't know , but have never been in a rush to have one. :eek:

Out of interest how much smaller bore are flexi.