Yesterday we had a flexible connector in our downstairs toilet fail. Cue frantic phone call from my wife to help with locating the stopcocks necessary to stop the flow of hot water. Luckily one of us was in (40 minutes later the house would have been empty) and I answered the phone at work. Otherwise it could have been Christmas in a local hotel!

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Flexible connectors are fantastic for DIY, make it so easy, sadly they are also crap

Successfully added a photo now! It left short strands of the braiding all over the floor. 2016 BMW X3 30d SE in red
MY2013 SD4 XS Firenze Red, 19" 10 spoke contrast paint wheels, Signature Strips, Grand Black Lacquer trim, Cold Climate Pack - gone!
2007 TD4 S Stornoway Grey - gone!

Friend of mine is a plumber, say a they are the weakest part in any system. But they use them as it's quicker than forming the bends with copper.

Lazy git.....we make plumbers take them off if they fit them in dental surgeries. You can see from the pic, a small leak or condensation has rusted the braid which under pressure will try to balloon out making it weaker.

Use flexible stainless steel connectors/hoses. They last much longer and are more reliable.
Similar with those for gas, but for water.

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Hi Alex, don't think we have those in the UK, or not when I was a plumber. The best solution is to take the copper pipe all the way up to the tap and then use a swivel connector, that presumes you have copper pipe work. If you have plastic pipes then you could do exactly the same in plastic. Those flexible connectors are not good, would never use them.

We do those are what are used on dental chairs and the connections in the floor boxes, very good bits of kit. I think they are shipped with the chairs though, which are Japanese in this case, all the European ones use plastic hose.

You learn something every day, especially if you don't do it for 15 years!

The one in the picture posted is from a Turkish company.

http://www.eminteknik.com

Was the pipe under mains pressure?

Winslet,

95% plumbers use those connectors today because as others on here have said it makes for a quicker job.
When I was in business my mechanical design colleagues would allow them but always specified that an isolating valve had to be fitted in-between the flexible and the copper supply pipe.
Not good at uploading pictures from trade catalogues but Screwfix Code No 32802 type gives an idea of what is available.

Perhaps Taz or Npinks could do the honours? done



PS I know it is boringly obvious but if leaving the house for Christmas Hols. TURN THE WATER OFF AT THE MAINS!!!!!!

Bill Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

If your worried about leaks, get one of these, neat idea

http://www.surestop.co.uk

thought it was a brake hose when I first saw it..

Bill Turner wrote:

PS I know it is boringly obvious but if leaving the house for Christmas Hols. TURN THE WATER OFF AT THE MAINS!!!!!!