Aside form this, washers can be replacing and seats reground using a reseating tool, so any issues can normally be easily fixed. More information on this can be found in our dripping tap project here. Changing a tap washer can only be done on full-turn taps, whether that’s a mixer tap, separate taps, bathroom taps or kitchen taps. In other designs (such as the Capstan mentioned below), the handle and shroud are two individual items.

The majority of wash basins, baths and sinks are fitted with individual taps, one that supplies the hot and the other for the cold water. Individual supply taps of this nature are called pillar taps. If you’re project involves working with the latter mentioned above then you are better off cutting off around 150 – 200mm off of the existing pipe and fitting a push fit flexi hose instead of trying to fit your tap to old and corroded existing fittings, much less of a headache! Aside from the traditional looking mixer tap, todays more modern mixer taps can look more like a single pillar tap. Commonly known as Monobloc Taps, these modern sleek and attractively designed taps fit very well with todays popular and minimalist look.If you are new to the world of plumbing then it’s a good idea to start off with these fittings. Not only are they easy to fit, they are also easy to remove again if you need to make any changes. Just push the joint down while pulling up the collar and then you can pull the fitting off. Poke the end of the spanner up to the compression nut on the base of the tap and wrap the jaws around it, making sure you have a firm and tight grip on the nut. Due to this, they are no longer simply just a go-to choice for the kitchen, they are ideally suited to all water supply needs in the home. Fear not, in this project we will take you through the process of how to change a tap, beit a kitchen mixer tap or a bath tap, although they may look totally different, the principles of the job are the same. This means that they are also easily operated and ideal for those that may struggle in operating other types of tap.

In essence, a threaded spindle with a washer on one end and handle on the other lowers of raises (screws up or down) the washer in to and out of a seat in the base of the tap body to increase or decrease and stop the flow of water. A push (or sometimes pull) button allows the user to easily switch between using either the taps or the shower as and when needed. Once cleaned, take your new tap and drop it through the tap hole. Pay attention to the seal on the underside of the tap that sits between it and the basin, bath or other.Changing a tap is a relatively simple DIY job if you have a sound knowledge of basic plumbing, but if you are new to this world, it may seem like a daunting task. In terms of the actual connection between supply pipe and tap, this will either be a flexi pipe or the copper supply pipe will run all the way up to the tap.

A two hole mixer has tails spaced 100mm apart, a three hole mixer appears to have separate valves and spout but they are linked by a tube below the basin. Monobloc Taps The monobloc tap is in some ways the best of both worlds; small and compact with all the benefits of a traditional mixer tap.This type of tap is pretty similar to the rising spindle type above in terms of the fact that the tap head screws a spindle with a seal at its base up and down, but instead of the seal turning with the spindle (as it does with the above mechanism), with this it is simply raised and lowered More information on the types of push fit fitting and how to use them can be found in our project here. What are the Different Types of Tap Mechanism? Normally the body of the tap which connects the valve and spout rests on the upper surface of the basin, the tails protrude through holes in the basin to meet the supply pipes. Due to their simple, non-pressure seals they do tend to last a good long time, but when they do go, generally the whole cylinder mechanism and sometimes the whole tap need to be replaced. The lever head turns the water on and off with the shortest push of the lever and is very useful for those with a disability or simply turning the tap when your hands are full, whereas bib taps tend to be wall mounted.

If you have a full-turn tap, where you have to turn the tap handle many times for the water to come out at full rate, then your tap has a rubber washer.

How are Taps Connected to the Water Supply Pipe?

As you will probably notice from the images, the supply of water is controlled from a single lever (similar to the single lever mixer mentioned above), but as with all other taps, hot is to the far left and cold is to the far right, with a range of temperatures in between, depending on where the lever is positioned. Once chopped off, use some fine grade sandpaper or wire wool to clean the end of the pipe fully. Make sure there is no dirt, grime, corrosion, old paint or anything else left that will end up inserted inside your chosen fitting as this could affect the seal and cause leaks.