How can I loosen a stuck washing machine supply pipe nut?

[Expectinglittlebean2026]

Hi, we have had a leak on our washing machine supply pipe and need to remove it, but the knut is completely stuck. Won't move at all with hands, cloth or mole grippers. Any idea how to budge it? Thinking mini hacksaw and cut it off? Picture below :)

WD40

Mole grips should have done the job. How good is your plumbing? If it really is stuck for some weird reason then I would use a pipe cutter to take out the copper and install a new iso valve before replacing the supply. It’s not a hard job but you’d need to isolate your mains water first most probably at the stopcock / street. Then it’s a 15mm copper pipe cutter and a two quid iso valve. 10 mins job if you know what you’re doing. Hour job perhaps accounting for some YouTubing.

Or actually if the whole thing is coming out anyway I’d just isolate the mains water and then undo the existing iso valve at the copper pipe side. Then just put a new iso on and a new washing machine feed. That way you don’t need to cut the copper pipe.

Honestly, I've never seen anything as tight as what this has been put on! We are not DIYers lol, but do you think WD40 would help with mole grips first? I'm very hesitant to cut a pipe as we have no clue what we are doing 🤣 unfortunately it's also above an electrical socket, which is how we found out it was leaking as it tripped the whole house (who puts an electrical socket directly under a water pipe 🙄)

WD40 should do the trick. Just spray it and leave for a bit then try again.

Are you definitely turning it the right way to loosen it off? I spent too long once turning mole grips the wrong way! Always remember now since hearing this -

“Lefty Loosy and Righty Tighty”

Haha yup 🤣 I also say righty tightly lefty loosy 🤣🤣🤣 I'll try that first before the hacksaw! I'm very determined to get this off, even with being 37 weeks pregnant and a broken ankle 🤣

Try reducing the griping force of the mole wrench, if it's too much it will be crushing and deforming the plastic. Or as has been suggested, turn the water off at the stop cock and undo the other end, you'll need a towel underneath to catch the water still in the pipe. The valve above (hot fill?) should really have a cap over the open end, in case the control lever gets knocked.

Two spanners. One spanner on the flats of the valve body (6 inch adjustable should do), another spanner on the nut you want removed.

I doubt wd40 is going to have any impact. Won’t hurt but I’d be amazed as it’s plastic on metal so what are you trying to unseize? If you want to try the cutting option you might want a small dremel drill with cutting disc as looking at that photo I don’t see how you’re going to get the leverage to get a hacksaw back and forth in there. Risk with either of these two options is you cut into the metal thread on the iso valve and then it is definitely going to leak.

The iso valve really is flipping easy to get off. Grip the main body with your mole grips and then loosen the copper pipe end with your spanner / adjustable wrench. As long as you have the mains water turned off then you won’t flood anything - take it off at the street to be sure and run the taps until they stop.

If this still stresses you out look at Aladdin easy fit isolator valves. You could install one before the existing iso on the copper pipe and then if you can’t do it you can just isolate there until a plumber can come out. They are are simple as putting it around the pipe and tightening. Granted for the cost you might just decide to pay a plumber for an hour but depends how much you’re both bothered about DIY I suppose.

What do I need to buy from Screwfix for the hot water cap please?

We have a similar issue with a toilet seat fixing.
I actually think now the handyman we hired to try to stop it moving around has superglued it on. Just reminded me, because there seems to be a glistening bit in your photo which looks a bit like glue...if so I think the advice above to replace the metal part is probably the way to go.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-bsp-blank-nut-3-4-x/39553

Unfortunately if your England they're closed on Easter Sunday.

Thank you! I'll get one when they are back open :)

Just wanted to update the thread, we got it off with brute force! Husband was turning it the wrong way which did not help🤣🤣🤣 Off to buy a new hose and cap from Screwfix later (and supervise 🤣). Thank you for all your help and suggestions!

Well done OP. I read at first "off to buy new house" rather than hose, which I thought was a bit drastic 😁.

Haha that would be very drastic! I can safely say after this move, I'm never moving house again 🤣🤣🤣