Tectite fittings leaking

portnaquin · 26-05-2019 05:20PM #1

Hello,
Has anyone had an issue with tectite fittings in particular 3/4 inch fittings? We are in the process of replacing all these fittings in our house at the moment due to leakage.
Thanks

Sleeper12 · 26-05-2019 09:14PM

I have heard from other plumbers that some have leaked over time. The only ones that I've personally seen leak are ones not pushed home all the way or where someone didn't use an insert.

portnaquin · 27-05-2019 11:50AM

Thanks for the reply,
The manufacturers of the tectite fitting have acknowledged that a faulty batch of fittings was sent to Ireland in 2014/2015. They have confirmed with us that rubber on the 3/4 inch fitting is faulty. We are trying to find other home owners that have been affected by this.

K.Flyer · 27-05-2019 02:26PM

portnaquin wrote: »

Thanks for the reply,
The manufacturers of the tectite fitting have acknowledged that a faulty batch of fittings was sent to Ireland in 2014/2015. They have confirmed with us that rubber on the 3/4 inch fitting is faulty. We are trying to find other home owners that have been affected by this.

Have they confirmed this in writing and are they taking responsibility for any leak issues?
I very rarely use them now due to seeing too many leak problems.
About 10 years I pulled every single one of them out of a new-build during construction as half of them failed on a 24hr static pressure test, that's when I stopped using them.
Just last year I was called to a house where a T had completely let go on a pressurised hot water system when the people were on holidays, causing thousands of euro worth of damage. Going by the marks, the fitting had been pushed fully home by the installer and an insert was used.
And also last year I repaired a central heating system where another T was leaking at the O-ring, causing significant damage to the ceiling and walls.

portnaquin · 27-05-2019 03:14PM

They haven't put anything in writing but they did send out a loss adjuster to our home to assess the claim. We have to get the house fixed ourselves and they will pay but of course the figure they have offered is much lower than that required to get our house back to the way it was before this issue arose. We completely refurbished the house and had new plumbing installed in 2014. The current plumbers have replaced 90 3/4 inch fittings so far with walls, ceilings, bathroom tiles etc removed where necessary. There is fittings in the ground floor slab which will have to be replaced which will mean taking out the kitchen and chasing into the floors in order to get access to them. This is a massive painful job which has our house completely torn apart at the moment.

K.Flyer · 27-05-2019 08:53PM

Get your own loss adjuster out to assess the costs for you and deal with their insurance.
Generally they work on a percentage from you, but generally it still works in your favour.
Friend of mine who is a builder ran the loss adjuster from his home insurance after they came out to assess the repairs after a bad flood.
Their adjuster quoted him a figure that wouldn't cover the repairs with him doing it himself.
He got an adjuster in himself and got double the money from them.
Worth looking into..

portnaquin · 28-05-2019 12:40PM

Thanks for that. We have a loss adjuster appointed who submitted the assessment for us but the offer the other side came back with was very small. The main reason I posted on this forum was to try and get in touch with home owners who may have a similar issue. The manufacturers have kept this issue very quiet for obvious reasons. There are probably a lot of home owners with this issue who don't even realise it yet.

P2C · 14-07-2019 08:32PM

How did this all work out. I put in these fittings about 8 years ago.i have had approx 5 separate small leaks but now I am getting paranoid. I am going to get my plumber to take them all out. How were the company to deal with

gaiscioch · 22-05-2021 01:00PM

Just googled and came across this thread. Following several leaks from shower through kitchen ceiling the plumber narrowed it down, left on the shower at hot and some 10 minutes or so of running the shower the leak came through the ceiling once again at a techtite fitting.

There was no issue with the cold pipe and techtite fitting, just when the water is hot and running for long enough. Either way, the plumber has now changed the fitting to a compression fitting so we'll see how that works.

Kitchen ceiling (new house) is a mess as the leaks had all drifted towards the end of each plasterboard sheet and there's these straight wet lines along the whole ceiling and a crack at the centre near tectite fitting. Apparently, the tectite fittings are more expensive but used because they are quicker. (this was not a confined space)

Sleeper12 · 22-05-2021 02:50PM

gaiscioch wrote:

Just googled and came across this thread. Following several leaks from shower through kitchen ceiling the plumber narrowed it down, left on the shower at hot and some 10 minutes or so of running the shower the leak came through the ceiling once again at a techtite fitting.

There was indeed a faulty batch of tectite fittings. A friend has replaced some. It's a very strange setup. They have a guy here in Ireland looking after the faulty ones. He will only approve the replacement of fittings that are actually leaking. My friend replaced 1 fitting in a house last year. Tectite payed him, plasterer and painter. Six months later another one failed in the same home. Again they only told my friend to replace the leaking one.

P2C · 22-05-2021 03:01PM

Much to my amusement I figured out there are two identical brands one is called tectite and one is called ITEC using similar fittings. I have had multiple fittings fail. Probably replaced six or seven at this stage. All in the same area around the hot water tank and on the hot feeds only. I chased up the ITEC company but got nowhere. I chased up my plumber to replace all the fittings in this area with compression fittings. As although I have had multiple leaks I have noticed early and minimal damage. Pure garbage. My plumbers theory is a stat failure led to over heating in the system particularly around the tank area and the seals / plastic have melted and are degrading further and failing . It’s like 1 or 2 go every year . Don’t trust them and intend to replace any ones I have access to

gaiscioch wrote: »

Just googled and came across this thread. Following several leaks from shower through kitchen ceiling the plumber narrowed it down, left on the shower at hot and some 10 minutes or so of running the shower the leak came through the ceiling once again at a techtite fitting.

There was no issue with the cold pipe and techtite fitting, just when the water is hot and running for long enough. Either way, the plumber has now changed the fitting to a compression fitting so we'll see how that works.

Kitchen ceiling (new house) is a mess as the leaks had all drifted towards the end of each plasterboard sheet and there's these straight wet lines along the whole ceiling and a crack at the centre near tectite fitting. Apparently, the tectite fittings are more expensive but used because they are quicker. (this was not a confined space)

Cm202203 · 26-03-2022 12:04PM

Hello guys, who can I contact in ireland to report the faulty techtite fittings and try and get any compensation?

Our story is a disaster since they were first installed in 2014. This week I just paid €€€€€’s to a plumber to remove them after years of leaks. I also will need new plastering on 3 ceilings due to the water damage. I have held on to the faulty fittings as evidence.

please does anyone have advise on who to contact now?

thanks in advance

Sleeper12 · 26-03-2022 12:32PM

Your contact is with whoever supplied you with the fittings. Your installer or plumbing supplier. You have no legal contract with Tec Tight themselves. Under the sale of goods act you have up to 6 years to make a claim. You are 2 years past this so you'll be relying to the good will of Tec Tight

There was a faulty batch & I think 2014 would fit in with this batch. Tec Tight can identify if they are from this batch. Unfortunately you have removed the fittings so they have no way of knowing if they failed due to bad installation or faulty fitting. They were only replacing the leaking ones. Because you removed them they have no idea what fittings might have caused what damage. The only thing that might save you at this stage is if you took plenty of photos & videos while they were still installed

I know my plumber friend contacted his supplier and they contacted Tec Tight on his behalf. If he can provide any further information I'll PM you

Sleeper12 · 28-03-2022 08:33AM

@Cm202203 I sent you a PM with the number you need. It's a mobile & didn't want to publicly post it

mickyd.ie · 19-04-2022 06:15PM

mickyd.ie · 19-04-2022 06:19PM

It’s unbelievable to read all this as I’m in the middle of going through this now . Had 12 fittings leak all on my heating system . House built in 2014/2015 and all tec tite fittings . Going through house insurance. I had to remove fitting straight away and fit new ones but there is still a lot of these fittings that haven’t leaked yet and a bit worried that they will start after my claim is settled 🙈

AnnMount · 22-12-2022 07:33AM

Hello all i am in the same boat. Confirmed leaked fittings in Feb of 2022. The manufacturers have assessed costs nowhere near what it will cost to get done. I have been in touch with a Loss Assessor company and they told me the manufacturer are quick innsettleing claims usually two months. The last communiction o had was basically to take what was on offer. I went to my solicitor and they advised going legal noone would be a winner.. v frustrating

Cm202203 · 14-07-2023 09:25AM

Wanted to give an Update. Today great news we have finally settled with the UK company who made the faulty techtite. It was a once off final offer for all the damage that has been caused to our house. We are delighted with the settlement sum and from that compensation we will pay Peter our loss assessor. We are happy this is over and now can repair the house. :) I would recommend Peter he has been great help.

10-10-20 · 15-07-2023 10:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120849283#Comment_120849283

Thanks for the update! Always good to know how some of these events worked out in the end even if we don't get to know the salacious legal details.

Sleeper12 · 18-07-2023 01:59PM

It's great to see a business / company stand over a bad batch of products. In my mind you only really find out a good business when something goes wrong & how they handle things then

Electricwarlock1967 · 07-03-2025 12:37PM

late to this thread but we have tectite fittings that are starting to leak through the ceiling in the last few months - does any one have any advise as to how to seek compensation or payment for repairs etc?

Sleeper12 · 09-03-2025 09:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123240522#Comment_123240522

Pm sent with details.

Any idea what year your fitting were installed? 2114 or so was when there was a faulty batch

Tectite fittings leaking

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