Bathroom basin tap pipe question

fender

I am looking to replace a late 1970s sink and its original taps. Clearly, the pipes are as old as the sink! I will likely need to cut them to fit flexi pipes on these.

Can anyone tell me what the piece circled is called?

I presume it is threaded and will unscrew?

diveunderthebonnet

Yes it is a nut with an olive inside it that gets crushed onto the pipe ,to remove the nut turn the nut down over , anti clockwise looking along the pipe.
Before you remove the pipe from the elbow undo the nut that attaches the 90 degree elbow to the tap spigot ,you might need a basin wrench to undo the nut on the tap ,they are about £7 from toolstation ,if you cannot undo the tap locking nut just grip it and try turning the tap in the basin to crack the nut off.

FreeBear

fender said:

I am looking to replace a late 1970s sink and its original taps. Clearly, the pipes are as old as the sink! I will likely need to cut them to fit flexi pipes on these.I presume it is threaded and will unscrew?

It would be advisable to fit isolation valves to the pipes - This will mean having to shorten the pipe, so make sure to clean off any paint where the olive (compression fitting) sits. If you are junking the sink & taps, you don't need to unscrew anything. Just cut the pipes & be done with it (make sure the water is turned off and drained down first).

ThisIsWeird

fender Can anyone tell me what the piece circled is called?

I presume it is threaded and will unscrew?

Yes, it's threaded, and will unscrew. It's a 'compression' fitting, since doing up that nut will 'compress' the olive onto the pipe, ensuring a seal. You'll see these inside bits when you undo it.
You'll really need two adjustable 'waterpump' pliers for such jobs, one to turn the nut, and the other to support the fitting's body, so you don't damage it elsewhere.
You'll probably find that most compression fittings have proper 'flats' on these nuts, so an adjustable wrench/spanner will suit this better, so one 'waterpump' and one 'wrench' is likely your best setup.
Where does that white pipe go it? Photo?

fender

FreeBear said:

fender said:

I am looking to replace a late 1970s sink and its original taps. Clearly, the pipes are as old as the sink! I will likely need to cut them to fit flexi pipes on these.I presume it is threaded and will unscrew?

It would be advisable to fit isolation valves to the pipes - This will mean having to shorten the pipe, so make sure to clean off any paint where the olive (compression fitting) sits. If you are junking the sink & taps, you don't need to unscrew anything. Just cut the pipes & be done with it (make sure the water is turned off and drained down first).

Yes absolutely; I have flexi pipes with isolation valves.

fender

diveunderthebonnet said:

Yes it is a nut with an olive inside it that gets crushed onto the pipe ,to remove the nut turn the nut down over , anti clockwise looking along the pipe.
Before you remove the pipe from the elbow undo the nut that attaches the 90 degree elbow to the tap spigot ,you might need a basin wrench to undo the nut on the tap ,they are about £7 from toolstation ,if you cannot undo the tap locking nut just grip it and try turning the tap in the basin to crack the nut off.

Yep: Got two types of tap spanners and a 15mm pipe cutter.

fender

ThisIsWeird said:

fender Can anyone tell me what the piece circled is called?

I presume it is threaded and will unscrew?

Yes, it's threaded, and will unscrew. It's a 'compression' fitting, since doing up that nut will 'compress' the olive onto the pipe, ensuring a seal. You'll see these inside bits when you undo it.
You'll really need two adjustable 'waterpump' pliers for such jobs, one to turn the nut, and the other to support the fitting's body, so you don't damage it elsewhere.
You'll probably find that most compression fittings have proper 'flats' on these nuts, so an adjustable wrench/spanner will suit this better, so one 'waterpump' and one 'wrench' is likely your best setup.
Where does that white pipe go it? Photo?

I think it goes to the main supply.