Plumbing question

C.C.L.

Hi all, we have just had a new toilet fitted. The old soil or waste pipe that goes through the wall is still there. The new toilet waste pipe has been fitted inside the old one, but it has left a gap as the new one was obviously smaller than the old one. The gap is big enough to stick a pencil in. My question is, should this be sealed in some way? If so what would I seal it with?
The plumber is not answering his phone as he knows we weren't happy with the job he did.
By th old pipe I mean not all of it, it's about 6ins proud of the wall and then the new one is slotted inside this. TIA, C.C.L.

Yorksboy

can you post a picture? and what is it like outside where the soil pipe is?
I would imagine that the plumber used a modern pushfit pan connector. Using one of these it could appear that there is a gap - but the seal will be inside the soil pipe. What happens if you push your "pencil" in the gap? My guess is that you will feel the seal.
Does the joint leak? The job might be perfectly funcional - just not look very nice.
Sorry for all the questions:-)

societys_child

Sounds a bit odd?

A tube of silicone should do the job.

muddyl

As above, the real has a larger diameter than the section you see and should not actually need any additional sealing.
However, if your not happy with the job, keep trying to get in touch. He has a responsibility to meet your requirements.

C.C.L.

Yorksboy wrote: »

can you post a picture? and what is it like outside where the soil pipe is?
I would imagine that the plumber used a modern pushfit pan connector. Using one of these it could appear that there is a gap - but the seal will be inside the soil pipe. What happens if you push your "pencil" in the gap? My guess is that you will feel the seal.
Does the joint leak? The job might be perfectly funcional - just not look very nice.
Sorry for all the questions:-)

Sorry I can't post a pic, I can't get under there to take one properly. No, it's not leaking and I can only push the pencil in so far. I don't think it's very hygenic though thinking about a build up of dust whatever else might get in there....:eek:
Thanks for the reply.....:)

Mr_Ted

1stly, the plumber does not have the responsibility to meet your requirements when they are cosmetic!
He has done a perfectly acceptable job using perfectly acceptable materials!

If anything the only problem is caused by modern standards that skimp on materials, and the differences between Imperial and Metric fittings!
At one time a multiquick fitting, which is what has been used and is the norm would have had a larger flange type exterior that would have been more cosmetically suitable!

How you make it more cosmetically pleasing is the OP's choice but I would not advise the use of excessive silicon as that may compromise future repairs, perhaps the use of a tape that can be used externally and can be painted over, that would be easily removed in the future with little impact or expense!

keystone

The gap you see is the collar on the old cast iron (or perhaps saltglaze) soil pipe. The collar will be bigger than the 4 inch soil pipe itself. The new pan connector will be finned to fit snugly inside the 4" soil pipe but it will leave the collar exposed. It is (without seeing it) almost certainly NOT a heatlth hazard.

Pack the space out with plumbers mait or ask your contractor to do it. He may argue that he doesn't need to and will therefore charge you extra in which case DIY or he may be kind and do it for free. Will take about 10 minutes tops. You'll get in an awful mess trying to do it with silicone.

Cheers

C.C.L.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I won't be getting the plumber back again, he didn't do the job right in the first place. He left a piece of wood under the toilet 'to stop it wobbling' and he fitted a push button one when I definately said I wanted a push handle one as I'd had nothing but trouble with the push button one he took out.He said I had to have a push button one as there was no overflow pipe for the other kind, and there is, it's sticking out of the wall at the back of the house.
I think all this was because my husband was in hospital and he thought I wouldn't know any different.The piece of wood by the way was half of a wooden clothes peg.
If as has been said it's ok with the waste pipe as it is, I'll leave it like that. Thanks again, C.C.L.