Spanish plumbing

[Mercdriver]

Any plumbers on here? I like the way the Spanish put isolator valves at the sink or appliance. Are these isolating valves compatible with UK pipes and fittings?

There are probably UK comparable fittings but the blue valves look quite smart

[Jasandjules]

We replaced all the bathrooms in our house and had isolator valves fitted to the feed in pipework, same goes for dishwashers, washing machine etc all plumpbing we put in isolation valvaes so each can be unplugged individually without having to cut the supply to the house.

[Scrump]

I have fitted isolator valves whenever I have touched the plumbing in my house.
These are available in the UK:


Also these for washing machines:

[Mercdriver]

These look much better

[bimsb6]

Mercdriver said:

These look much better

The americans use a similar design , i fancied get some while on holiday except they use imperial sizing .

[Basil Brush]

bimsb6 said:

Mercdriver said:

These look much better

The americans use a similar design , i fancied get some while on holiday except they use imperial sizing .

They are only blue as they haven't taken the protective plastic wrap off. They are chrome underneath.

[dhutch]

I mean hard to say why they are less common in the UK because as you say they are used a lot overseas, they are available to buy obviously if you want them. But yeah, interesting.

I believe typically there is a angled fitting in the wall, into which the valve screws, similar to we would do for an outdoor tap.
- Probably costs more to do, the inline isolators we use are obscenely cheap, like 80p each.
- Maybe suits a solid brick/block wall with conventional plaster better. We use a lot of 'dot and dab dry walling.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-compression-ad...

Another option might be to use a pair of towel rail isolators?

[Basil Brush]

If you look at the 4th picture you'll see what I mean about the blue film. I removed it on all the ones in our apartment in Spain after the refurb as they were covered in paint.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142874336141

[dhutch]

bimsb6 said:

The americans use ... imperial sizing .

So do we, its all 1/2" BSP in the UK!

[ianrb]

dhutch said:

bimsb6 said:

The americans use ... imperial sizing .

So do we, its all 1/2" BSP in the UK!

But in the USA they use NPT (National Pipe Thread). Anyone feel like betting that the tread form is the same (or not)?

[dhutch]

ianrb said:

But in the USA they use NPT (National Pipe Thread).
Anyone feel like betting that the tread form is the same (or not)?

Correct. And the thread form is not the same.

[tivver500]

NPT uses a 60 degree thread angle, BSP uses a 55 degree thread angle so the two thread profiles are NOT compatible.

[anonymous-user]

Mercdriver said:

These look much better

A flexi connected to a flexi - that looks a bit DIY-bodgetastic instead of getting correct length fittings!

[njw1]

yellowbentines said:

A flexi connected to a flexi - that looks a bit DIY-bodgetastic instead of getting correct length fittings!

I've got flexis joined together under my bath, it was either that or rip the bath out for access to do a proper job...

[anonymous-user]

njw1 said:

yellowbentines said:

A flexi connected to a flexi - that looks a bit DIY-bodgetastic instead of getting correct length fittings!

I've got flexis joined together under my bath, it was either that or rip the bath out for access to do a proper job...

I just have a dislike of them and don't trust them - have one that connects my bath filler and it's boxed in and tiled in and I'm sure it's going to leak at some point in the future

[Rushjob]

The Spanish taps are compatible, they are sold in 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4", I bought a pair of 3/8" ones yesterday for 6€

[bimsb6]

Basil Brush said:

bimsb6 said:

Mercdriver said:

These look much better

The americans use a similar design , i fancied get some while on holiday except they use imperial sizing .

They are only blue as they haven't taken the protective plastic wrap off. They are chrome underneath.

I wasn’t bothered with the blue film , the fittings all feel solid and feel like they are built to last .

[dhutch]

yellowbentines said:

Mercdriver said:

These look much better

A flexi connected to a flexi - that looks a bit DIY-bodgetastic instead of getting correct length fittings!

Yeah, I spotted that too!!

[Mercdriver]

Basil Brush said:

They are only blue as they haven't taken the protective plastic wrap off. They are chrome underneath.

That made me 😆 should have realised it was a protective cover, lazy plumbers!

[119]

I’d rather have decent soldered pipework with a isolator on.

Those flexis look a bit gash, but then again, not sure how much time one would spend looking at plumbing that is barely noticeable.