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

Product Information

Before fixing anything, the first job to do is to identify exactly where the leak is coming from. With a mixer tap this is fairly easy as there is really only 2 points it can leak from; the top of the spout or the bottom.

The washer in a standard pillar tap can be found on the end of the valve at the end of the spindle below the jumper as can be seen in the image below. 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. In the case of the snap ring, this is usually between the spout and the body and is sometimes hidden by a cover that is screwed down or held with a grub screw at the rear. To remove the tap head, simply prise off the tap indicator cover and remove the retaining screw beneath it. Once the screw is removed the tap head should then simply pull off. First thing to do is isolate the tap, you can do this by closing the isolation valve on the pipe. Using the flat screw driver, turn the valve a quarter-turn. Once you have isolated the tap, simply open it to release any water still in the pipe.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. As you may imagine from the above, to resolve any leaks of this kind you will need to replace the seal ring. Aside from leaks from the open end of the spout it’s also possible for it to leak around the base, as we have stated above. To do this, find out below.

Be very careful when doing this and also ensure that wherever force is being applied you have added additional support to compensate. 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. With all the different manufacturers, most taps differ slightly in size and due to this often the size of washer that’s needed to ensure an adequate seal and prevent any leaks.He solved the problem by removing and then re-fixing the tap, ensuring that the tap and O-ring were aligned properly around the hole in the sink. One to watch out for – thanks, Lance! Step 2 – Remove Cover Plate: Use a small flat blade screwdriver to prise the cover plate off to reveal the retaining screw. Depending one the type of mixer you have will depend where this is but in most cases it will be on top of the handle/head gear. Once the cover is removed unscrew the retaining screw In a pillar tap, when the handle is turned to turn the tap on or off, the washer is either raised or lowered by the spindle on to the seat. The seat is a ledge in the base of the tap body that the water flows through. When the washer is closed down on to the seat it creates a seal stopping water flowing, but when raised the seal is broken and the water is allowed to flow. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.

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. To ensure a correct seal it is essential that you replace any washer or O-ring with one of the exact same size! Tap Indicator Covers Some valves have a small retaining nut for the washer, as the one in the image below has. Some have the washer simply pushed on to a centre lug. Either way, now you have got this far, you may as well change the washer weather it’s worn or not. Most washers are symmetrical and turning the old one over will give you a new surface to work with so don’t do this.Modern mixer taps are now common place in most UK kitchens and bathrooms and have largely replaced the traditional pillar tap, however like pillar taps they are still subject to wear and tear. Also ensure that your new washer is made of rubber. Some older tap washers are made of fibre and don’t tend to last as long as their rubber counterparts. Push gently down on the other end of the spanner, pushing the tap head up. Keep the spanner as close to the main body of the tap as possible so the force you are using is as vertical as possible. As soon as you get the valve moving and break the initial thread seal you should then be able to easily unscrew it. If it’s stiff apply a little WD40 or easing fluid. However if after visual inspection the washer itself looks badly worn, pitted or has deep indentations on its surface then it will need changing. When changing a tap washer, make sure that your new washer is exactly the same as the old one so that it functions the same.

In older taps, when the tap is screwed closed, in the tap body a washer is pushed down on to a hole in the base of the tap that allows the water to flow and closes it off. Over time this washer will wear and allow a tiny amount of water to pass causing a leak. Step 4 – Remove Tap Valve/Spindle: Using an adjustable spanner, set the jaws to the correct size, slip them on to the valve and undo it. Sometimes they can be very stiff and if this is the case use WD40 or similar penetrating fluid to loosen it If you have a very slight drip you may be thinking; It’s only small, surely it’s not wasting that much water is it? Unfortunately yes you probably are.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. There are few things more annoying in life than a dripping tap. Whether it’s keeping you awake at night or distracting you during the day, it doesn’t have to be this way. Dripping taps are not only annoying, but they can also waste a lot of water. The good news is that you don’t have to put up with this forever. A dripping tap often has a very simple DIY fix. Step 6 – Replace Washer and Grind Valve Seat: To replace the washer either undo the retaining nut holding it in place or use a flat screwdriver to prise it off. Even if it’s not in bad condition, as the taps apart it’s worth replacing now. Next use a tap valve seat grinding tool to flatten the base of the valve seat and provide a nice flat surface for the washer to close down on to