Fix a leaking flexible tap connector

Replace a leaking flexible tap connector safely by isolating the water first, then fitting and testing a new one.

FTC-01Clear the space and get set upEmpty the cupboard under the sink so you can see and reach the pipework. Lay an old towel down and put a bucket underneath the tap connections to catch drips. Have a torch ready, as the space is often dark.

1 each · Old towel

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1 each · Bucket

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1 each · Torch

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FTC-02Turn off the water supplyFind your stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns before you start. If the tap has its own small isolation valves on the pipes underneath, turn those a quarter turn instead — it saves cutting off water to the whole house. Turn on the tap afterwards to run off any water left in the pipe and confirm the supply is really off.

FTC-03Find exactly where the leak is coming fromDry everything off with a cloth, then look closely at both ends of the flexible connector while the tap is off. A leak at the nut usually means a worn washer or a nut that has never been fully tightened. A leak along the middle of the flexible hose itself means the connector has failed and must be replaced, not just tightened.

1 each · Cloth or rag

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FTC-04Undo and remove the old connectorUse an adjustable spanner to loosen the nut at the tap tail end first, then the nut at the isolation valve or pipe end. A basin wrench helps if the space is too tight for a normal spanner. Keep the bucket underneath, as water left in the pipe will drip out as you disconnect it.

1 each · Adjustable spanner

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1 each · Basin wrench

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FTC-05Check the tap tail and match the new connectorLook at the thread on the tap tail — most UK taps take a 1/2 inch BSP connector, but check the old one's size or take it to a plumbers' merchant to match it. Buy a new flexible connector of the same length or slightly longer, never shorter, so it is not stretched tight when fitted.

1 each · Flexible tap connector, 300–500mm, 15mm/half-inch

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FTC-06Fit the new connectorWrap a couple of turns of PTFE tape clockwise around any tapered threads before connecting, unless the connector has a built-in rubber washer, in which case leave threads bare. Hand-tighten both nuts first, then give each a further quarter to half turn with the spanner — do not overtighten, as this can crush the washer and cause a new leak. Route the flexible hose in a smooth curve with no kinks or tight bends.

1 roll · PTFE tape

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1 each · Adjustable spanner

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FTC-07Turn the water back on and testOpen the isolation valves or the stopcock slowly, then turn the tap on and off a few times to check the flow. With the water running, check both end connections and the middle of the hose with a dry finger for any dampness. Leave the tap alone for 10 to 15 minutes, then check again before closing everything up.

FTC-08Tidy up and finishDry out the cupboard, remove the bucket and towel, and put back anything you moved. Keep an eye on the connection over the next day or two, as small leaks can take a little time to show.

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