plumbing question - washing machine isolation valves etc
plumbing question - washing machine isolation valves etc
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Discussion

philv

Original Poster:

4,980 posts

232 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Hi,

we've been looking into replacing and reworking some copper water piping in the kitchn.

I have an aversion to compression fittings.

I want everything soldered.

I can find all the various joints for soldering, but i am struggling to find isolation valves / taps for dishwasher / washing machine.
Are these always compression onky?

Thanks

GasEngineer

1,664 posts

80 months

Yes.

There is usually some kind of rubber/sliicone O ring or seal in the valve which would be damaged by the heat of soldering.

Even gas isolating fittings are compression.

Compression fittings are reliable if fitted correctly.

philv

Original Poster:

4,980 posts

232 months

Yesterday (09:58)
quotequote all
Thanks.


OutInTheShed

12,497 posts

44 months

Yesterday (10:15)
quotequote all
To be pedantic, you can get pushfit versions...

philv

Original Poster:

4,980 posts

232 months

Yesterday (10:20)
quotequote all
We're going to have quartz or similar counter tops that i believe are glued to the cabinet tops..
Is this right?

For that reason i don't want any leaks as removing a cabinet in the future to deal with leaking compression joints would be a nightmare.

21TonyK

12,606 posts

227 months

Yesterday (10:20)
quotequote all
^^^ even I (after 30 years of soldered fittings) have started to use these.

They work as long as you lock them properly. Had several in place for nearly 20 years without issue. Had a soldered joint fail last week after a new boiler was fitted.

philv

Original Poster:

4,980 posts

232 months

Yesterday (10:35)
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
^^^ even I (after 30 years of soldered fittings) have started to use these.

They work as long as you lock them properly. Had several in place for nearly 20 years without issue. Had a soldered joint fail last week after a new boiler was fitted.
Compression or pushfit?

What is the difference?

GasEngineer

1,664 posts

80 months

Yesterday (10:43)
quotequote all
philv said:
We're going to have quartz or similar counter tops that i believe are glued to the cabinet tops..
Is this right?

For that reason i don't want any leaks as removing a cabinet in the future to deal with leaking compression joints would be a nightmare.
You would normally only fit compression iso valves where they are accessible. eg back of the cupboard.

Baldchap

9,271 posts

110 months

philv said:
Compression or pushfit?

What is the difference?
Compression screw on and squeeze a rubber seal. Push fit push on and basically grip the pipe and resist movement in the other direction.

Pushfit are excellent and completely reliable.

Rough101

2,815 posts

93 months

I solder what I can, and use JG speedfit what I can’t, compression fittings with olives seen to be a lottery as to whether they hold or not.

Key with any fitting though is a clean cut and good alignment.

ARH

1,321 posts

257 months

Baldchap said:
philv said:
Compression or pushfit?

What is the difference?
Compression screw on and squeeze a rubber seal. Push fit push on and basically grip the pipe and resist movement in the other direction.

Pushfit are excellent and completely reliable.
If it was me I would use JG speedfit push on's. have worked on industrial machines using JG speedfit that are 20 years old I can say they last well. If you fit them badly they just won't work though. The O rings can be dislodged by hamfistted fitting

silversurfer1

927 posts

154 months

Baldchap said:
philv said:
Compression or pushfit?

What is the difference?
Compression screw on and squeeze a rubber seal. Push fit push on and basically grip the pipe and resist movement in the other direction.

Pushfit are excellent and completely reliable.
compression squeeze down a copper or brass olive, not a rubber seal, push fit use an o-ring,

exactly what gas engineer said copper soldered and compression isolation valves will be accessible due to the fact they are there to be turned on/off anything else will be second best

ss


billbring

276 posts

201 months

philv said:
We're going to have quartz or similar counter tops that i believe are glued to the cabinet tops..
Is this right?

For that reason i don't want any leaks as removing a cabinet in the future to deal with leaking compression joints would be a nightmare.
If you're fitting isolation valves in places where they can't be accessed then there's not a lot of point in having them at all.

21TonyK

12,606 posts

227 months

philv said:
21TonyK said:
^^^ even I (after 30 years of soldered fittings) have started to use these.

They work as long as you lock them properly. Had several in place for nearly 20 years without issue. Had a soldered joint fail last week after a new boiler was fitted.
Compression or pushfit?

What is the difference?
Pushfit, although last sunday when we had the leak from hell (under the boards above the kitchen at 4pm!) I dived into my plumbing box and used a handfull of 22mm compression elbows. Those were some of the last compression fittings I had.

To replace them and replenish my box of bits I bought JG speed fit. They dont come with these but they are a little extra protection.

https://www.johnguest.com/gb/en/products/jg-speedf...