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Dean

Last March, I brought to Thailand from Kansas City two high quality kitchen faucets, one for the indoor kitchen and one for the kitchen my wife had me build on the outside patio. The original faucets lasted 3 years (as have my bathroom faucets, which I'll replace next year). My plumber, who doesn't speak english, could not install them, saying the fitting for the hot and cold lines were not the same as are used in Thailand. My wife is at the house now and the plumber will be there tomarrow. I sent over a shut off valve, where a pvc pipe can be attached and on the other end a flexible hose can be screwed on and the other end of the hose screwed on to the cold water line of the faucet. Eventually, I plan on installing a water heater that will service the two kitchen faucets, hot water for the washing machine and maybe a dish washer. Will the parts that I sent with my wife be enough and can I leave the hot water line unattached for now (or do I need to cap it?). Thanks in advance.

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Dean, Chiang Mai and Kansas City

dirtydog

You need to cap it.

Dean

Thanks, DD. I assume it it shouldn't be very hard to find a cap for a 1/4 valve.

Norton

Are we looking at a metric, non metric thread problem you think?

dirtydog

Got to admit I didn't think either American or English plumbing fittings fitted anything in Thailand.

DrivingForce

It should be ok as they are supposed to be standard "pipe" thread by international standards... It's the mere fact that they don't realize that both ends are different threads and one is "Plumbing" standard and one is "Pipe" the faucet ends will be "standard plumbing" and the other end will be "Pipe" and your idea of instituting the shut off valve between the 2 is correct and should solve the problem though seldom ever applied here and thus not understood as the primary part of the problem (TIT) and your installer has to have the understanding, determination and motivation to follow through and make it correct without the usual Thai fabrication..
That speaks for itself, from there it's all about his ingenuity and motivation... I don't envy you, your conundrum...

flash

i thought all plumbing fittings from the west are bsp(british standard pipe thread)

dirtydog

The UK is different to everybody else I think, know quite a few people that have taken bumguns back and found they needed an adaptor made up, makes them quite expensive then.

Dean

I just hope that he doesn't fuck it tomarrow. He is better than two other thai plumbers that I have used. The last one claimed to know how to install an underground sprinkler system, used flexible tube with fittings that leaked (wraped tape around leaks) and the end of the row, doubled over the flexible tube and wrapped with tape. I ripped all it out and the current plumber is the one that finished the sprinkler system with pvc pipe. I will make sure that the wife understands that if the plumber is uncomfortable doing it, she should not do anything and I'll attempt it again when I'm back next year.

DrivingForce

Are you kidding you don't have bum guns in the UK? The are just dish rinsers we use in the States, in the kitchen sink we just never applied them to the bathroom..

Flash I think you could be right if memory serves me correctly, that is the standard even in the States..

Norton

Good thinking.

lom

You think that can be the only reason for buying here and bring over?

DrivingForce

^no, but could it really be that expensive??

blackgang

No, They are not the same, Pipe threads in the US are NPT,[national pipe thread], the reason that Thai shit will not work is the size and pitch is the same but it is machine thread and not a tapered thread, so the thread bottoms out without tightening due to taper, Thai working with it will just wrap a lot of teflon tape til it is large as the female thread and the tape will not take pressure.
While you are in the states check a "HOSE BIBB" the threads that are used here are the bibb part, the other end is NPT or MPT.

Dean

Well, the plumber got started yesterday late in the afternoon (he is a busy fellow) and didn't finish but will be back Friday and will, hopefully, finish it then (the wife said he was having a difficult time) . From the way this thread i going, I had better look for high end thai faucets for my bathrooms. Hopefully, there are some high end faucets available.

Norton

All sorts from Europe and America. American Standard has a range of choices as can be found in the US.

American Standard B&K (Thailand) Public Company Limited

DrivingForce

Agreed....I stand corrected (or sit in this case) but as I have experienced here the actual faucets in the states and here are not tapered the plumbing in the states is however, that is the difference and the thread is course over the NPT..

The flexible stainless braided hoses to connect to house plumbing to the faucets should be compatible as they have one tapered end and one pipe end if you purchase the right ones there is also some with same same on both ends and that won't work without an adapter this becomes a bigger pain in the ass....
The faucets or the hoses should come with a washer on the end to seal it with....

Bottom line though is as Norton points out there are numerous high end quality American and Euro products here (relatively speaking over local and Chinese) but IMO they are still lower standard than what we have back home..

In case it is tapered a solution I've used successfully even with local junk, in lieu of more T tape in some cases is to stack a couple of washers on top of each other to give it a good seal if it doesn't bottom out against the single washer enough to prevent leaking..

blackgang

Do how ever bring a Basin wrench with you as they have none in this country and no way to tighten the faucet to the sink or the hose to the thread.

DrivingForce

^that's a fact and not only is it too narrow, most counters are fecking concrete and it will cut the snot out of your knuckles.. I'm so glad I brought mine it's like gold even if not used every day..

Dean

I guess I'll be taking a basin wrench with me next time. I did a google search and can't find any stores, including True Value, carrying the tool in Thailand. I'll call my wife and have her ask the plumber if he would want to wait for me to mail the tool before finishing the faucet installation.