Bidet install trouble

[Andris]

I've attempted to install a Tushy Bidet but was unable to stop the included plastic T-fitting from leaking from the part that connects to the bottom of the toilet. Their instructions available at (redacted) clarify that it should be "finger tight", but mine continued to leak so I tightened harder and harder to no avail. I'm afraid I'll crack either the plastic T-adapter from Tushy or the plastic connector under the toilet. There are no apparent cracks or issues with the T Adapter itself. The Tushy adapter uses a flat washer, not a beveled one like the supply hoses mentioned below do.

The shortish length of the toilets original braided flexible hose and the wall water supply's proximity to the toilet made the hose apply a fair bit of pressure to the adapter, because it is forced to bend quite a lot to fit with the T-adapter attached, so I thought that that was causing the fitting to be pushed at an angle causing the leak.
I bought an extended length water line of the same type and it also leaked with the adapter, but more tellingly it also leaked without the adapter, signalling that the original hose must've been screwed on very tightly and the beveled washer must have been squeezed in so very tightly that it made an adequate seal. I noticed a small imperfection (a notch, chip or divot) in the connector under the toilet, where the washers press up against; I am assuming that that is where the leak is coming from, just that the original hose's washer was deformed enough to press into the pipe enough that it doesn't leak. New washers are too flat and stiff, and fail to mate to the two connecting surfaces enough to prevent the leak.

I would otherwise consider myself capable of such an install, but am unsure now what options I have to ensure a leak-free install. I though of using Teflon plumbers tape, but this is a ballcock coupling type of connection, so blocking water at the threads will just force water to leak from the other end of the coupling.
I wonder if I'd be able to fill that notch with plumbers putty or something else that would hold. And the other extreme options I can think of are to file flat the part under the toilet, which I doubt id be able to do well, or to replace the whole flush assembly for one with a perfectly flat surface for the new hose's washers to seal well against.

Any ideas?
Thanks for your attention on this.

 

[havasu]

Please post pictures. We don't need the promotional material and since it is prohibited, I edited the original posting.

 

[MicEd69]

The easiest and surest way to fix this is indeed replacing the fill valve. A Fluidmaster 400A is good, a Fluidmaster PRO45 is better. $10 to $12 is well worth chasing around trying to fix what is likely a damaged surface. And I've gotten to always install a new fill hose rather than reusing one. Saves having to redo things when they leak, which happens about 75% of the time.

 

[Andris]

Thanks for the recommendation to simply go the route of having the whole fill valve replaced.

I also forgot to mention that the water shut off couldn’t fully close, so every time I was attempting anything, I was having to rush as there was a slow but steady oozing of water on to the floor as I tried everything I could with these parts. I live in an apartment so I guess I’ll have to let the super/management know so they can replace the shut off valve.

Speaking of, as requested, here I’ll include some photos (of the original install, the new hose type, a closeup of the new hoses tapered washer for reference, and the ballcock T adapter with its flat washer).

 

[MicEd69]

Yes, those plastic tees kinda suck. If you get some tread sealant, aka pipe dope, and put it on the surface of that flat rubber washer, that MAY help.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

As a handyman I've installed a lot of various bidet contraptions in the past couple of years, from simple sprayers reminding me of an old school kitchen sprayer, to costly complex plug in units that heat the water. All but the most recent came with high quality metal T valves. Go to Amazon, and search for “metal T valve for bidet” and you’ll get a lot of options most on either side of around $13. I wouldn’t use the plastic one.

 

[Andris]

As a handyman I've installed a lot of various bidet contraptions in the past couple of years, from simple sprayers reminding me of an old school kitchen sprayer, to costly complex plug in units that heat the water. All but the most recent came with high quality metal T valves. Go to Amazon, and search for “metal T valve for bidet” and you’ll get a lot of options most on either side of around $13. I wouldn’t use the plastic one.

I do like that idea, but as mentioned deeper in my post, even the new hose connecting to the flush assembly, as in with a new tapered washer, and without the T valve, it still also leaked. Meaning it’s not the T valve at all that’s the problem, but the bottom of the flush assembly. So, as others have mentioned, I gather that I probably am best to replace the flush assembly or find some way to fill that little imperfection, that’s causing the leak with washers that haven’t moulded deep enough into the groove.
So I’m still open to any other ideas, but think I may have my answer.
Problem is I’m in an Apartment and shouldn’t really be changing the toilets innards without managements authority, and they may not want us to be installing a low cost bidet (what if it leaks, I’m on the top floor!).

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

I do like that idea, but as mentioned deeper in my post, even the new hose connecting to the flush assembly, as in with a new tapered washer, and without the T valve, it still also leaked. Meaning it’s not the T valve at all that’s the problem, but the bottom of the flush assembly. So, as others have mentioned, I gather that I probably am best to replace the flush assembly or find some way to fill that little imperfection, that’s causing the leak with washers that haven’t moulded deep enough into the groove.
So I’m still open to any other ideas, but think I may have my answer.
Problem is I’m in an Apartment and shouldn’t really be changing the toilets innards without managements authority, and they may not want us to be installing a low cost bidet (what if it leaks, I’m on the top floor!).

Well, in your case, I'd simply leave it all alone. If you want a bidet, I guess you should move to a condo or your own home. The joys of apartment living I guess.

 

[GReynolds929]

It's probably being cross threaded