Plumbing question - replacing flexible hoses on tap

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Plumbing question - replacing flexible hoses on tap - how to disconnect

1 | 2

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2341690 22-Oct-2019 10:58

FineWine:

timmmay:

It's a Methven tap, probably 15 - 20 years old but in good condition. The hoses look very much like the ones I purchased from M10, which say they're good for hot or cold.

Don't know if you have already done this but here is the relevant Methven website page - Yours looks similar to the present Echo Strata Sink Mixer All their taps have pretty good info & installation downloadable PDF fact sheets.

Good tip, thanks. They're written for plumbers or experienced people, not people like me, but should give me a pretty reasonable idea of how to do it :)

mclean

584 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 182

Subscriber

#2341882 22-Oct-2019 15:04

lapimate: The tap end (right at the top) flanges of the hot (red indicator thread) and cold flexible pipes look different to me in the image so perhaps they are proprietary fittings?...

I think that's right. It looks more like a Methven Celeste. If I'm not mistaken the flexibles are crimped to the solid extensions at the top, and the hot & cold are different, both at the hose and at the top. So they could be proprietary.

Anyway the best way get to them is to undo the flexibles from the wall nipples, take the nuts off the mounting studs (maybe two, hidden behind the hoses in you picture) and lift the whole thing out of the bench.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2341907 22-Oct-2019 16:13

I'll take it off on the weekend and have a look. If I need different hoses that's ok, it just means I put it back in and do it another day.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2411388 2-Feb-2020 10:28

I ended up getting this done yesterday, but not quite how I expected.

I took the whole tap out (Methven) and the replacement pipes I got from Mitre Ten didn't fit. I went to Plumbing World, they don't sell them either, thinks they no-one sell them at all any more, but found one out the back and gave it to me no charge. Very nice of them, but they only had one, and it didn't have any of the black seal / washer things, and no-one has any that fit, and the old ones were damaged getting them off.

Mitre ten says new flexible hoses might be able to be ordered, but that doesn't help me with the water off at home and not able to put the current tap back in. We looked at the current model of the Methven tap, which has exactly the same pipe types, so they must be available. I ended up buying another cheaper model of tap to fit because I couldn't be bothered messing about, and fitted that no problem. The new tap has very similar flexible pipes, though with the hot larger than the cold. If I could get washers I wouldn't have had to do that.

So the lessons learned:

When you're going to do a flexible pipe replacement make 100% sure that you have the correct pipes before you start the process.
After you turn of the water mains you open all the taps inside and out, hot and cold, to drain the water out of all the pipes before you undo the kitchen pipes. Have a bunch of towels around to absorb the water that will come out. I did know this but I was surprised how long water came out of all the taps for, especially the outside taps which are lower down than the others.

PolicyGuy

1820 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1769

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2411528 2-Feb-2020 13:32

Although it's probably too late now, it's a good idea to install shut-off valves between the fixed supply piping and flexible hoses.

Then if you get a burst or leaking flexible pipe, or a failed tap, you can shut off its supply without having to turn off the whole house

sqishy

530 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 193

#2411543 2-Feb-2020 13:52

PolicyGuy:

Although it's probably too late now, it's a good idea to install shut-off valves between the fixed supply piping and flexible hoses.

Then if you get a burst or leaking flexible pipe, or a failed tap, you can shut off its supply without having to turn off the whole house

These work well...

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/kinetic-cistern-tap-15mm-chrome_p4790290

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2411581 2-Feb-2020 16:27

I will get the plumber to do that next time he is here.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2411669 2-Feb-2020 19:16

lxsw20:

mattwnz:

Good on you for doing this, I am sure most people don't even think about those pipes, but I had also read that they can be prone to leaking over time. Unlike that plastic plumbing piping that leaked, at least these are usually easily accessible. Although you would want to check that the replacements are really good quality, as you don't want them to be worse quality than the ones you are replacing.

I think the average DIYer is more likely to cause issues replacing these, rather than leaving them past their supposed life. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

heh i replaced washers in 5 taps & toilet contraptions. 2 worst ones became perfect. 1 bad one almost fixed. 1 made no difference to dripping. 1 got worse. no bits were left behind, from at a glance meets good standard.

tell me - washers have different thickness presumably!

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#2411690 2-Feb-2020 19:50

Possibly but you would know what type of washer was there. The washer is not the only thing that wears. The seat can be damaged with corrosion cracks. Sometimes the seat can be recut or an insert pushed in.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2411699 2-Feb-2020 20:12

Hmm if I recall the washers were replaced like for like on one, and the other possibly has seat damage.

nickb800

2735 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 829

Trusted

#2411751 3-Feb-2020 05:35

Always handy to have a couple of these in your box of bits, means you can cap off the plumbing when DIY adventures take longer than expected, and turn the water back on for the rest of the house. You would need thread tape or hemp to make it seal.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/kinetic-15mm-brass-threaded-cap_p4700218

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#2411752 3-Feb-2020 06:02

If the female version is what's needed you can shove a tap washer into them to seal on the end of the threaded pipe if the end was cut proprrly.

1 | 2