Idly surfing tinternet and nothing better to do, I am quite taken by the myriad of comments, and ‘experts’ on braided lines and use of. These flexi pipes are pretty common place nowadays - indeed, I think it hard to find a kitchen or bathroom tap that does not have such pipes as the final leg.
All the talk got me interested in how people regard these simple and effective items hidden away in cupboards - so a few questions please
Who, reading this, does NOT know what these flexi pipes are?
Those who do know what they are, know how many in your house, and where they are exactly?
Those who do know what they are, know when they were installed?
Those who do know what they are, regularly check the condition of them?
Those who do know what they are, religiously change the pipes every 5 - 10 years?
No need for actual responses. But be honest, the questions are really to get you thinking about a weak spot in your house plumbing.. I can hazard a good guess at question 2, but never in my life could I say yes to 3, 4 or 5
Cost us a redecoration of the flat below ours as one in our bathroom burst after the tenant left for work and was only discovered when she came home in the evening. The flat below had just been decorated and we had to pay for the ceiling to be repaired and a whole room re painted. They are recommended to be changed every 10 years as they don’t last and because of the braided exterior, you don’t get any signs of degradation
Unlike copper, which lasts , the flexible element of flexi pipes just degrades over time, so should be changed routinely to avoid the risk of failure and the resulting damage
We had the same problem — big burst in a London flat we bought, with braided pipes below the bathroom basin. We had no idea they were a risk — they must have been about 15 years old. Would definitely advise others to avoid.
It’s also becoming more difficult with the fittings on mixer taps designed for flexi fittings, and no longer with copper tails. There are adapters, but I haven’t seen them for sale in the DIY/bricos.
Yes, all the new taps one buys these days come with the braided flexi pipes in the box. It seems to have become the standard method of connection, including for the Ballon.
My experience is that provided they are fitted correctly (not kinked or twisted), and are not subject to impact damage, they seem to last indefinitely. Every tap, toilet, and the Ballon in my house are connected with flexi pipes and I have never had one fail yet. Some of them were even pre-used pipes when they were put in over 20yrs ago. Mind you, we do have the pressure regulator set to around 30psi which is perhaps why there is no visible movement in the pipes when taps are turned on or off. Each room with a water point is protected by frost watch heating and if we go away for more than a couple of days the water is turned off at the meter.
I have to admit that @Carl’s post is the first time that I have ever heard of a braided flexi pipe failing. My personal experience is that they seem to last forever but I do of course bow to the greater knowledge of the experts in this field. Perhaps it’s like that old chestnut of not allowing a brake caliper to hang on the flexi brake pipe during maintenance, in that a failure can happen, but in reality if properly fitted in the first place, and not subjected to excessive temperature, pressure, or impact damage, is extremely unlikely to do so.
Given that the majority of these plumbing supplies, along with everything else these days, is made in China or unbranded , I don’t think you can rely on anything lasting like products manufactured 20 years ago. I have had ball valves leak, straight out of the packet and rubber components on agricultural equipment disintegrate within months of use
