With the pull out type, the seal or seals are normally one the outside of the stalk that runs down into the tap body. This also isn’t helped by the fact that may people also pull down and apply weight to the spout which in turn starts to pull it from the body preventing the washer or O-ring from sealing correctly. Most modern taps have 'shroud' knobs with a red or blue marking to indicate if the tap is hot or cold water. These markings are often on a small insert in the centre of the top of the knob, these inserts usually hide the screw which holds the knob on the spindle.

A damaged washer may affect the water pressure in your taps. Consistent and efficient water flow is crucial for everyday tasks such as washing dishes or showering.Lastly, of course, you’ll also need a new washer! If you know the size or can measure it before buying another one, buy a few so you have some spares in case of mishaps in the right dimensions. Otherwise, get a kit with a variety of sizes.

Changing a tap is a fairly straight forward job for both DIY novices and professional plumbers alike as long as you take your time and concentrate on the task in hand. It’s essential to compare the old and new washer sizes, as using a mismatched washer can lead to leaks or poor water flow, causing more issues in the long run.Richard told us, 'Not turning off your water isn't recommended. Most well plumbed taps will have an isolation valve on the water pipe, and this can easily be turned to the off position. 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. Like many things, mixer taps, whether they’re old or new, have moving internal parts and anything that moves over time will eventually wear and then fail. Ready to dive into the world of Monobloc Mixer Taps? These modern taps feature ceramic discs instead of traditional rubber washers, ensuring a longer life and smoother operation.

The next step is to release the tap valve, use a correct sized spanner above the joint and firmly hold the tap spout to prevent the body of the tap turning on the basin or sink - if the tap does move, the connection under the basin/sink may be loosened causing a leak.Ceramic assemblies are very commonly found on monobloc, or mixer taps, as well as so-called quarter-turn taps. The operating mechanism requires just a quarter of a single handle turn to start and stop the water flow, so they’re a lot easier to use for anyone with dexterity issues.

One of the most common plumbing jobs around the home is replacing a worn tap washer to stop a dripping tap, here we show you how to make this a simple job. 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. Both rigid and flexi hose connections also come with several different methods of actually making the connection from the supply pipe to the tap. Proper tools: A plumber will have all the tools required for this task, ensuring that your tap is fixed correctly without causing further damage. When a tap head is turned on or off, a rotating screw forces the tap washer to move up or down (respectively) within the body of the tap assembly. This lifts it away from the seat and opens up the flow valve. In doing so, it allows pressurised mains water held in the plumbing system to pass through the tap spout at varying volumes and speeds. Key to this function is the fact that tap washers are typically made from materials that can be squeezed or compressed to form a watertight seal (although exceptions do exist for certain tap types). This enables them to seal off the valve opening more effectively, even in cases where general usage-related wear and tear has caused small surface irregularities over time.

Replacing a tap washer or tap valve

As pretty much all taps feature a screw fitting that connects your connector of choice to the actual tap, this in itself is a form of compression fitting, but instead of using an olive, normally a rubber seal is used to create the seal once the connector is screwed up.