Essex Orange Fix-a-Tap Tap Fitting Kit for 1/2" Taps - for Ceramic Wash Hand Basin.

Product Information

If this is the case you might consider investing in a water softener as this will increase the life of these sorts of parts and other appliances too. This rarely comes out of my tool draw, but it has saved me from having to replace the full tap a couple of times over the years. We suggest that you put a plug in the sink to avoid any screws or tools from entering the drain. Locate the small screw holding the tap together – normally labelled with the ‘H’ or ‘C’ cap. Pry it off with a screwdriver and simply unscrew the screw. Taps come in all shapes and sizes, but their basic make-up has the same core components. For a mixer tap, the tap is made up of one combined unit.

Hot water valves will have a red bottom seal, and cold water valves will have a blue bottom seal. The difference between the two is the direction in which the valve turns. Sometimes taps just stop working, which can be a real issue when it prevents you from carrying out day-to-day tasks. There are a few causes for a tap not working, including: Different types of tap usually leak for different reasons.If you have a traditional tap, the main cause of a leak is usually that the washer, sometimes known as an O-ring or the rubber seal, needs replacing.A mixer tap is a type of tap found mostly in kitchens and bathrooms that allows both hot and cold water to flow out of the same spout. It also allows you to mix hot and cold water together in the tap body to get the perfect temperature water for your needs. Washers can naturally wear down over time. To improve longevity, avoid overtightening your tap. When a tap is overtightened, it increases the wear on the washers requiring the tap to be turned off ever tighter each time, eventually resulting in dripping. Remove the grinder periodically and run your finger around the top of the seat, you will feel any remaining indents. Keep grinding until it is smooth.

Failing that it is a case of taking the part to your local merchant or trawling the web to find a replacement. Before you start to dismantle the tap, place the plug in the hole. This will stop you losing anything down the waste. Fixing a leaking tap can be very easy, but it can also be very hard. It all depends on what needs to be done to stop the dripping. Wondering ‘what size tap washer do I need?’ Well, if you are looking for mixer tap washer sizes, bath tap washer sizes or kitchen tap washer sizes, there is no standard size for different types of tap. In fact, the best way to determine the size of the washer you need is to measure the old washer in your tap. Most washers will be between 9mm and 40mm. Need extra help? Failing this, the only option you have is to measure the washer or O-ring(s) using a tape measure or calipers and then go to your local plumbing merchants and get the correct size.First, turn off the water and isolate the supply to the tap you’re working on. This can be done at an isolation valve or at the mains stop tap if not. Turn the tap on and run any remaining water out of it. Ceramic disc valve taps, such as modern monobloc mixer taps, reach maximum power after half a turn or less, and use ceramic discs instead of washers. These can be removed by grinding the rest of the seat down to level of these canals. This will produce a flat, smooth seat for the washer to sit on and seal the flow of water. More on this below. Mixer taps have several advantages over traditional individual pillar taps in that the overall temperature of any flowing water is much easier to control and adjust, often just by moving a lever.

Sometimes the leak comes out of the spindle of the tap, rather than dripping out of the spout. This requires a slightly different method to fix. Step 5 – Inspect Washer and Seat: With the valve removed inspect the condition of the washer and also the seat that it closes down on to in the body of the tap. Also inspect the valve itself for any corrosion or damage. If there is you will need to get a new one Need help finding a qualified trade plumber in your local area? Our Plumbers directory caters for a large number of locations throughout Australia so take the hassle out of your next plumbing project, renovation or home repair and enlist the help of a qualified professional. Once completed, replace the valve and screw it up, making sure you hold the tap body still while you do so using the tips stated above and then replace the headgear or handle and any retaining screws and caps.

He replaced everything, eventually including the tap but any water splashed on to where the tap was seated resulted in drips underneath. Eventually he found that water was passing the ‘O’ ring supplied for the base of the tap. If your tap is working but cold water is coming out, you may have a problem with your water heater, not your tap. Depending on how bad the drip is, a leaking tap can waste anywhere between 1/2 a litre and 1 litre of water an hour.

As with the DIY repair above, you should always turn off the water supply before starting any repair works on your taps. Turn the water off at the mains and then turn the tap on to drain any remaining water. Make sure you switch between hot and cold to completely drain the pipes. Unscrew the tapOnce the washer has been changed then the next job is to make sure that the seat in the base of the tap it sits down on is flat and has no channels or wear in it that could cause leaks. With the pull out type, the seal or seals are normally one the outside of the stalk that runs down into the tap body. Flip the cap off the top of the headgear or if you have a handle, locate the retaining screw and then remove it and then pull off the headgear or handle exposing the valve.