Ask the Question

westsussexspur · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 49 Location: West Sussex

Hi,
I am currently changing my kitchen sink and have two questions:
1) The mixer tap I have bought comes with flexible connectors, but the end that I attach to the water supply are screw connectors with a rubber washer, not a compression connector as I had expected. Do you know what I need to put between the connector and pipe. I just don't know what these little connectors are called.

2) The instructions with the mixer tap say that I 'might' need to fit non-return valves, depending on my water supply and local water by-laws???
Do I need them?

Maybe I could solve both questions with non-return valves that I can screw my flexible hoses on to ?!?!?

Hope you can help,

Andy

AlanE · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:45 am Post subject:

If you have isolating valves the flexies will probably fit ok.

Mains fed cold + Tank fed hot non return valves yes

Mains fed cold + mains fed hot (combi or pressurised, mains fed, hot water) non return valves No

westsussexspur · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 49 Location: West Sussex

Thanks Alan,

The current mixer tap is hard plumbed in, so will need to fit isolation valves I guess.
Shouldn't my system already have non returns, as I have tank fed hot? Would they be near the taps, or someway back down the system?
Is there such a thing as an isolating non-return valve? That would solve both problems in one!
Thanks for you help,
Andy

AlanE · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

Andy
If your current mixer is Wras approved (water Regs) it will keep the hot and cold seperate until the outlet itself. Look up end of outlet and you can see two sections.

A lot of mixers are imported and designed for pressurised systems so they mix the hot and cold at base of the spout. Higher cold water pressure forces some flow back up the hot supply.

Yes you can buy combined isolating/check valves. Some combi filling loops use them and I use them for outside tap supplies.

westsussexspur · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 49 Location: West Sussex

As my new mixer has just one lever type tap, I presume it is mixing the water in the body, like you say.
I can't find any combination valves, so will go with both.
Thanks for your help, Alan, you have saved me a lot of aggro had I just fitted it without checking first!!
Why is any 'straight forward' job never 'straight forward'?????????? Rolling Eyes