Fitting Ball Valve Issues, please help.

[ZINXYX]

Hi,
I am in the process of replacing a 22mm gate vale on the cold water feed to a shower. I had to cut the gate valve off because I just couldn't unscrew it , no matter how hard I tried.
In the process of fitting the new ball valve, I have found that the pipe is a few cm short and does not go into the ball valve at all. As a result I can just about about screw it tight. This really makes me uneasy.
What will you recommend to make this pipe a little longer? Also should I use jointing compound on the compression fittings?

Thank you .

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If the Pipe is slighlty short you will need to cut in and add a straight either compression or solder and a short bit of pipe,

as to jointing compound as Rpm says you shouldnt need any on a new joint, although i always use a smear of lsx on my joints as its belt and braces stops any potential leak if the pipe gets knocked

or leaks because of cheap fittings

 

[joni os]

If short length of tube not available, consider repair coupler, which is longer than normal compression fitting. It also helps if gap between pipes can not be moved apart to aid fitting.
Fit down flow of ball valve, then if leaks appear, 3 compression joints can be redone without turning off main.

 

[plumben]

or leaks because of cheap fittings

My Favorite is when the cheap fittings nut wont fit onto the copper pipe

 

[ShaunCorbs]

My Favorite is when the cheap fittings nut wont fit onto the copper pipe

Yes and you have to file the brass nut a bit one of my pet hates cheap fittings

 

[plumben]

Yes and you have to file the brass nut a bit one of my pet hates cheap fittings

I keep all the spare nuts in the van for a reason

 

[Best]

Use paste. V2 Lube is good, but you could buy cheaper pastes.
I wouldn't really want to even do a compression joint that was to be a temporary few weeks joint without paste.
Never seen a brass compression fitting that I could guarantee won't have slight weeps without paste. And it is so much easier to compress a fitting that has paste on olive, as less friction.
A microscopic leak you won't see, but you will see the corrosion on the fitting and pipe after a few months or years. A seized fitting is a result of this also.

 

[Radioman]

Always kept a couple of slip compression fittings in the van for those Sunday afternoon " my husband just punctured a pipe" calls.

 

[kay-jay]

I'm with best on the paste thing.
Best to use it as without it you may think joint is tight but actually may have an undetectable microscopic leak which only shows after a significant time.

 

[ZINXYX]

Thank you everyone. This was finally sorted last night. I used PTFE tape on the olives both for the straight compression coupler and the gate valve. Phew this was one heck of a job for me. At least I can learn from the experience. However I have another issue that is on this thread http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/b...oms/86356-shower-not-working-please-help.html . Any help as always much appreciated. Good morning.