Flexi hoses

[mo7]

Hi

DIYer here.

I had to repalce a mixer shower in an emergency.

There were rigid pipes in place before which I would have liked to re-use but trying to position the new shower which was not an exact fit was a nightmare as the pipes were right in the way so I cut them off and made compression joints with new pipework and then I used Screwfix flexi tails - one 300mm and one 500mm.

I know a lot of pros frown upon flexis but needs must. My only concerns is whether they will stand the test of time.

My queries are

1) I have used Screwfix cheapies (or rather the only ones Screwfix had). For unrelated reasons I have been into Wickes/B and Q and 2 other plumbing merchants and note the flexies are quite a bit more expensive.

Given Screwfix are owned by the same company as B and Q I daresay they wouldn't use cheap rubbish (or stuff that is not suitable) on a critical thing like a flexi hose as mass failure could cost them a lot of money. So is a Screwfix cheapie Ok or should I be having second thoughts? Obviously we know Screwfix is much cheaper than most merchants for a lot of things - so maybe this is just another one of those things.

It is not my house (family member), so for the sake of another £10 I will happily go to Plumbcenter or somewhere any buy another set.

My other 2 questions are to do with whether the flexis are bent too much as I know they are not supposed to be.

HOT TAP

This one is pretty straight forward - I got a bend on it just under 90. Does it look OK?

http://1drv.ms/1VQgJW1

COLD TAP

This one was more awkward - because where I cut the original pipe off - if I had just joined it back where it was the bend would have been too sharp so I have taken it down slightly (also added in an isolation valve).

At this point I have offset it to the side slightly - the reason is because if I went for a 90 bend I felt it was under too much pressure so I have given it more of an S shape - but i wonder whether this is clased as a twist?

http://1drv.ms/1RFjdR1

If I want to get rid of the S shape I can take off the comrpession further back and straighten out - but as I say if I make the flexi a 90 I feel it puts it under more strain.

Thanks.

 

[JCSPLUMBING]

I don't like flexi's personally but have used them in difficult tight spaces, the key is to buy wras ones and not kink or twist them up and really you only need to have isolation valves on float operated valves for maintenance.

 

[JCSPLUMBING]

As per the water regs each appliances/outlet should have the ability to be independently isolated

All though I agree there usually useless I still fit them to everything where practical, but usually just put to good quality full bores on the hot and cold incoming into the bathroom

The regs state that float operated valves need to be isolated. Doesn't actually mention about any other appliance

 

[newcastle phill]

Basins and sinks. Bogs Bides etc. Read it somewhere. Need iso's

 

[rpm]

Like this?

 

[rpm]

Opps, dunno why it`s sideways!

 

[JCSPLUMBING]

 

[newcastle phill]

This is like top-trumps.
(BS6700)

[emoji12]

 

[Best]

As per the water regs each appliances/outlet should have the ability to be independently isolated

All though I agree there usually useless I still fit them to everything where practical, but usually just put to good quality full bores on the hot and cold incoming into the bathroom

I never use isolating valves on baths. If I had to use them, I would use full flow best quality valves. Those ordinary cheap isolating valves, as we know, are trouble.
I don't see the point in valves on bath supplies, as on the very rare occasion you need to do a simple repair to the bath taps, it just needs the water turned off briefly. Don't want to remove a bath panel just to turn valves off. And when a bath tap needs totally replaced, or when a bath has to be removed, it's easy just to plug the pipes temporary.

 

[JCSPLUMBING]

I do the same. I like to keep maximum flow to bath taps on gravity systems especially.

 

[WaterTight]

Truth is none of us know what the risks of fleximagigs really are.


We go on personal experience and hearsay. The plural of anecdote is not data.

If we had access to total estimated flexible hoses installed over a ten year period - biggest sample size possible plus total estimated bursts, referenced against instances of poor installation, it'd make for some interesting reading but I bet we'd all be suprised at the figures one way or another just because we don't know.

What percentage of 100,000 moderately improperly installed flexi's (not massively snaking or twisted) will burst within ten years? Guesses on a postcard.

 

[WaterTight]

The insurance companies will have the best info. I wonder if they'd give it out if we asked nicely..

 

[mo7]

What a hassle...

Went down to the merchants to buy 2 tap connectors I needed 3/4 to 15mm - as I understand it these should be quite common as a lot of houses with combis use 15mm pipe to baths.

Plumb Center simply told me they don't do them.

Plumbase said they don't normally stock them and they could try and get them but would take 4 days.

I got a ouple in the end from Screwfix.

Straight Tap Connector 15mm x ¾" | Compression Tap Connectors | NoLinkingToThis

I note that normal tap connectors usually sue FIBRE whereas this one uses RUBBER washers.

I know flexis use rubber washers.

My reading of things were that rubber washers generally offer a better seal but they can degrade over time especially with heat.

I am guessing over time rubber will phase out fibre.

Any issues with me using the ones I've got? Not that I have a choice.

Pipe bender will be with me tomorrow so will have a go at installation tomorrow.

 

[Tjdservices]

I normally use fibre but rubber is fine, just do t over tighten, bet you wish you'd never started

 

[mo7]

Just to bump this back up

I did finish the job using copper pipe and rigid conenctions - in some ways easier than trying to stop flexis kinking (because i could the exact amoutn of pipe rather than trying to make a 300mm and 500mm flexi fit into the tight space.) Did find getting the bend right difficult without putting too much stress on it - but somehow managed it.

been a few weeks and no leaks.

 

[quality]