What causes a leak?

[Alan Medic]

We've a small leak under the toilet sink which was newly fitted 3 years ago. I'm curious what would have caused it, given the pipework (hosework?) under it is unlikely to have been fiddled with in all this time. It's in a cabinet.

Is it likely to be:

a) Poor workmanship

b) Faulty product

c) Wear and tear

d) Something else

I've asked the guy who fitted it to come and fix it. I'm curious if I should expect him to do it for nothing. What do you think?

[SpringTime]

Ooh. It's an intriguing question Alan. I'm guessing a combination of or all of a, b, and c.

Or (d) which could be a combination of cheap continental lager, Jerusalem artichokes and vindaloo. Good luck.

[malumbu]

I have a piece of string that I need to measure. Not quite sure how long it is.

I suggest that you get hold of the Readers Digest DIY manual https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/392099477377?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=392099477377&targetid=938486032700&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045880&poi=&campaignid=10199638297&mkgroupid=101938342477&rlsatarget=pla-938486032700&abcId=1145987&merchantid=137596852&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoPLenZ3K7AIVx7TtCh1tCwHYEAQYAiABEgJ8o_D_BwE and have a go at locating the leak and working out how to fix it.

So it could be a soldered joint (copper to copper), but they very rarely fail.

Or a push fit plastic one, they never fail.

Or a compression fitting where you tighten onto a seal. They fail occasionally, and not necessarily straight away.

Or there may be some penetration through the walls, unlikely as you would probably be aware of this.

You may wish to get a female plumber as then there will not be any problems with workmanship.

You could also try Googling as there will be youtube tutorials and the like. And when all this virus is over enrol in a night school class on basic manintenance.

[KidKruger]

I?d basically act unhappy about it and ask why the unit he fitted is leaking after only 3yrs.

Good luck.

It could be anything, even the seal on the waste fitting (plug hole), not clear from description what?s actually happening.

I?ve had very rare copper (Yorkshire, or end-feed) fitting failures, but it?s all down to who does the work and how well they do it.

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We've a small leak under the toilet sink which was

> newly fitted 3 years ago. I'm curious what would

> have caused it, given the pipework (hosework?)

> under it is unlikely to have been fiddled with in

> all this time. It's in a cabinet.

>

> Is it likely to be:

> a) Poor workmanship

> b) Faulty product

> c) Wear and tear

> d) Something else

>

> I've asked the guy who fitted it to come and fix

> it. I'm curious if I should expect him to do it

> for nothing. What do you think?

[Trinnydad]

Hoist a photo of the plumbing on the forum and this will help with the answer(s)

[tomdhu]

In all probability it is a poor seal around the plug hole ring. See P1.

Suggest.

1. Disassemble pipework and apply a little silicone sealant inside the upper part of the aperture where the plughole ring fits in the basin.

2. Reassemble with PTFE tape around threads at point B.

3. Tighten taking care not to overdo it!

Job done!

[malumbu]

No no no! Plumbers mate around plug hole ring (like a putty), use sparingly. But A and B can be very problematic so just use silicon - no PTFE tape needed. Recommend Fernox (see below)

https://www.screwfix.com/p/evo-stik-plumber-s-mait-750g/14477?tc=VT6&ds_kid=92700055281954514&ds_rl=1249404&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgKv36r_K7AIVk-3tCh1-8QJaEAQYASABEgIPJ_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fernox-ls-x-leak-sealer-50ml/23614?tc=VT6&ds_kid=92700055281954502&ds_rl=1249404&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-JHI-r_K7AIVCu3tCh0klwrnEAQYAyABEgLAa_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[JohnL]

Not only do things like toilets, basins, showers start to leak after 3-4 years in my experience but they seem to be purposely built to be difficult to access for DIY (bolts where you need a specific tool to remove rather than anything standard for instance).

for instance, it's easy to buy and should be easy to fit a replacement flush unit - but the bolt to remove the current one is facing the wall and inaccessible.

[malumbu]

Reminds me of my first job, we'd talk about this sort of thing all day. I learned so much. It helped that I was in a lab, surrounded by scientists and engineers, with access to workshop and the like. You'd ask about some help from the maintenance people, book it in they'd say. Oh is it a private job? We'll do that lunchtime (cost of a pint). When I started in an office in London I'd try to have similar conversations to be told to 'get a man round'. But even with facilities management being outsourced you can still get a hand from time to time. Of course with the power of the internet there is so so much good guidance on line, although the aforementioned Readers Digest DIY manual is still wonderful.

[Townleygreen]

I'd agree about the Readers Digest DIY thingie - great

[diable rouge]

I'd expect to pay something, there aren't many things you can buy with a 3-year guarantee, there's also a good chance the leak is due to limescale build-up...

[Alan Medic]

diable rouge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'd expect to pay something, there aren't many

> things you can buy with a 3-year guarantee,

> there's also a good chance the leak is due to

> limescale build-up...

I'm happy to pay whatever if it's justified. I guess I'm a bit wary as we had bath taps which leaked a bit sometime after being fitted, during the same job. These did not look like they were fitted correctly and the plumber's mate came and re-fit them. He said the problem was there was a fault with the taps and wanted to replace them. However, they haven't leaked since and that was over a year ago.

If it's limescale, does it just require some cleaning RD?

[diable rouge]

I once had a pop-up waste mechanism that snapped inside the plug hole due to limescale build-up, that was after about 10 years though. I don't bother with cleaning the pipes for limescale, but Viakal is good for visible limescale marks i.e. around the plug hole. Some of the Viakal will run down into the waste so I presume it will help to break down any limescale deposits in the pipework, but if you want a proper clean of your waste pipe you may be better with one of the HG products which Dulwich DIY sells, I bought one for blockages, there was a pongy smell coming up the kitchen sink waste every time the washing machine was used, an overnight soak of that cured the problem...

[TheCat]

Sounds very similar to a problem we had with our bathroom sink (see attached)....

[teddyboy23]

That was a close shave good job you spotted it.

[malumbu]

When a mummy leak and a daddy leak love each other very much......

[Seabag]

Sometimes there?s a thinning of the pipe wall, it can?t be seen when fitted, water rushing by for 3 years can make it that little bit worse over time, and eventually ....drip drip drip..!

Had something like this recently, it?s not the end of the world.

[JohnL]

The worst leaks are the ones that effect you but aren't yours to fix :)

I knew a flat roof was horrible for leaks but you'd think someone, somewhere had the ability to fix them, but no they don't. a leak in a flat roof will just return (my mother told me this in 2007 and I laughed)