Washer stuck to copper pipe All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[BertieT]

Hi

We are trying to fit a plastic speed fit elbow 15mm onto our water pipe in our bathroom in order to connect a new shower unit to it. However we cannot remove the old copper washer used with the existing fitting :? - (I think it's called an adaptor?)

We cannot use the existing fitting as we have had the walls plastered & re-iled (they needed it!) & this has resulted in less space between the shower unit & wall. The speed fit connector gives us the extra centimeter we need to get the shower back on for a perfect fit!

We have tried everything to get the washer off but to no avail, any advice offered would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Dave From Leeds]

From your description it sounds as if this "washer" may be an olive from a compression fitting. The only way to remove these is to cut the pipe behind them. However, it seems from your post that if you did this you wouldn't have enough pipe left outside the wall to fit your speedfit elbow.

[plumbbob]

Not sure exactly what you are trying to do, but it seems you are trying to remove an olive from an existing pipe.

The olive can be removed although it can be difficult to do so. The problem is though, when you have succeeded you will find the Speed fit connection won't be water tight. Compression joints crush the pipe slightly and the deformation will prevent a tight seal. You need to find an alternative solution.

[Steve the gas]

Hi Bertie,

I think you mean the olive - not a washer. That is a ring of copper/brass crimped on to the pipe with a nut behind it?

If it's an olive you have 2 options:-

1. Use a compression elbow instead of the speedfit one - assuming the threads are the same and you haven't deformed the existing pipe.
2. You can cut the olive off by diagonally cutting the olive with a junior hacksaw. Be careful not to cut into the pipe, before you are all the way thru the olive - use a thin flat blade screwdriver to open the cut you have made & it will snap off.

Hth