Firstly check whether FT has identified a pushed-apart joint.
Then, if not, don't waste your money on that. Instead spend a similar amount of money on a pipe cutter (which will see the job done in 2 minutes flat, rather than taking hours with a hacksaw - remember you've got four cuts to make.
www.screwfix.com/prods/29457/Hand-Tools/Plumbing-Tools/Pipe-Cutters/Autocut-Pipe-Cutter-15mm
(I've never tried the cheaper version www.screwfix.com/prods/12468/Hand-Tools/Plumbing-Tools/Pipe-Cutters/Monument-Tools-Automatic-Pipe-Cutter-15mm but it'll probably work almost as well for your little job.)
Cut out around the broken bit about 4 inches, then buy two compression fittings (a pack of 10 from screwfix is probably cheaper than just two from B&Q)
www.screwfix.com/prods/35477/Plumbing/Compression-Fittings/Flowflex-Straight-Coupling-15mm-Pack-of-10
and get hold of a bit of 15mm pipe the right length (you must have bit lying around somewhere... or a nice plumber's merchant will give you a bit).
Don't put sealant on a compression fitting (foul stuff that fernox RF, you recommended it to me previously - brilliant for making temporary repairs, but you shouldn't use it on a compression fitting - problem is that it may not be the compression fitting keeping the water in (with fernox for backup), but actually the sealant - the compression not having compressed). Make them hand tight, then give them a quarter turn to nip them closed. If there's still a little weeping turn it a bit tighter. I've never known a compression fitting start to leak.
Don't be tempted by speedifit plastic "compression-type" joints. They come with a 10 year guarantee, which if you think about it is rubbish. You don't replumb your house ever 10 years, do you?
And whilst soldered joints are doubtless "better" in the hands of a professional, in the hands of an amateur, they're not!
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Tue 23 Feb 10 at 18:11
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