Plumber help? .. simple problrem.. tap connection a bit too short

mrleon83

So I've been renovating the downstairs toilet, finally chose the taps but I'm a couple of cm's short.. I've been looking at screwfix for way too long and tying myself up in knots.. any ideas on how to fix this? The blank that's on there is 1/2 inch, so I 'think' I need to find a hose or connector that is 1/2 female and 1/2 male.. but I really have no idea what I'm doing :-) 

fastonebaz

You'll need to replace that isolation valve with a flat faced one to connect up to the tap

https://www.toolstation.com/flat-faced-male-straight-isolating-valve/p38483

But because you need more length,  maybe you can find an adapter or extention to connect between the existing isolation valve and the one you need.

fastonebaz

A bit crude but perhaps this could connect to yr existing valve, then attach the right valve to the other end of this extension, then connect the tap into that valve.

https://www.toolstation.com/made4trade-rigid-radiator-valve-extension-12-x-15mm/p66792

Sporky

Couldn't you replace that really short bit of copper pipe below the valve with a slightly longer bit? 

victorludorum

Get another flexible hose and make an extension. They come in various lengths with both male and female connections in several combinations. You also have plenty of off the shelf adapters that can convert male into female and vice-versa.

mrleon83

Thanks all, and yes @Sporky I think that's probably the optimum solution, just might be outside my skillset...

mrleon83

update, I've ordered longer hoses.. thanks all

(I was concerned on sizing so scoured the tap review to get details :-) )

victorludorum

mrleon83 said:

Thanks all, and yes @Sporky I think that's probably the optimum solution, just might be outside my skillset...

Did you do the soldering on the valve connection?

mrleon83

I did not @victorludorum .. looks a bit messy doesn’t it? 

victorludorum

mrleon83 said:

I did not @victorludorum .. looks a bit messy doesn’t it? 

It does, but hey ho. As long as it holds it won't matter a jot. 

Sesh

Getting the valve with the isolator facing towards you would be a good thing to do whilst you are doing this. Then you might stand a chance of adjusting it when you need to.
I'm also perplexed by the soldered compression fitting. There should be no need for it to be soldered and given those isolation valves like to disintegrate when you need them most, it might prove an issue in the future. 
Considering that, my preferred solution would be lengthening the copper pipe as Sporky said. I can quite fathom the plastic fitting it is in, but it looks like a push fit, and it is it's not a tool heavy job to do, as long as you don't snap the plastic. I'm guessing there is mains water on that line to the valve so it would be a mains-off job.

mrleon83

Actually had no idea they were isolation valves so that’s been awesome, so figured out how they work (yay) I gave the tap tails a go, turns out they’re a different thread size so would’ve been a pain in the ass

New correct size tails coming tomorrow so fingers crossed all goes well.. 

victorludorum

Sesh said:

Getting the valve with the isolator facing towards you would be a good thing to do whilst you are doing this. Then you might stand a chance of adjusting it when you need to.
I'm also perplexed by the soldered compression fitting. There should be no need for it to be soldered and given those isolation valves like to disintegrate when you need them most, it might prove an issue in the future. 
Considering that, my preferred solution would be lengthening the copper pipe as Sporky said. I can quite fathom the plastic fitting it is in, but it looks like a push fit, and it is it's not a tool heavy job to do, as long as you don't snap the plastic. I'm guessing there is mains water on that line to the valve so it would be a mains-off job.

The pipe that comes out of the wall seems to be a larger diameter, so maybe that connection is some sort of old fashioned push adapter. 

elstoof

That looks like a Hep20 push fit connector on the elbow

mrleon83

it rotates but still seems secure so again fingers crossed :-) 

Brize

victorludorum said:

mrleon83 said:

Thanks all, and yes @Sporky I think that's probably the optimum solution, just might be outside my skillset...

Did you do the soldering on the valve connection?

That's a compression fit so there's no soldering.

elstoof

Those fittings do rotate very easily but they’re quite strong. The tool to release the locking mechanism looks like a little spanner, it’s simple enough to swap the copper for a longer piece and screw on an isolator that hasn’t been spoiled with solder

elstoof

Just have to press down the grey inner sleeve and pull out the copper. When the mains water is shut of, preferably

victorludorum

Brize said:

victorludorum said:

mrleon83 said:

Thanks all, and yes @Sporky I think that's probably the optimum solution, just might be outside my skillset...

Did you do the soldering on the valve connection?

That's a compression fit so there's no soldering.

I'm thinking about the mess that's on the brass part. It looks like solder to me from that photo, but I can't see why there would be solder on there.

SteveRobinson

It looks like corrosion to me, seepage from the compression joint.

Perdix

I don’t think it’s solder. The joint has probably been weeping over a long period of time and it looks like a build up of limescale.