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

Product Information

If you have pooling water around your faucet, then it might mean that your leak is situated around the joints or hinges. In some models this is located under the hot and cold caps which you can remove by hand or pop off with a slotted screwdriver, if you are stopping a leak in a monobloc tap, the screw can often be found underneath the temperature indicator button. Depending on the make and model of your mixer tap will in some cases depend on the size of replacement seal ring you will need to use. Unscrew the grinding blade from the re-seating tool and pull off the threaded section in the middle.

Most washers are symmetrical and turning the old one over will give you a new surface to work with so don’t do this. You may need to remedy dripping, leaking or stiff waterfall taps, so please follow the instructions in our ‘how to fix a dripping mixer tap’ and ‘how to fix a stiff mixer tap’ sections.

Dripping and leaking taps can lead to larger problems in your home so try not to put off any essential repairs. This is known as wear and tear and is perfectly normal for an item that is often used and is subjected to extreme temperatures. Taking apart a tap without first completing this important step will result in much more than just a small leak, so don’t skip this. You can either turn off the supply to your home using the main stopcock or find the isolation switch if you are working in a bathroom. Before attempting to use these steps to fix a leaky tap, first identify the type of tap you are working with as this may help you work out what the problem is.

It’s important not to overtighten any washers or valves when you replace them, as this can cause excessive stress on the valve and will soon lead to dripping again. If you cannot locate an isolating valve you can turn off the water to the whole property via the stopcock, which is often located under the kitchen sink or outside the property under a cover on the drive or path. Leave for ten minutes or so to allow the fluid to penetrate and try to remove the head of the tap again.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. 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 the tap is off the perforations are all out of line but when the tap is turned on they all line up and allow water to flow. Whether you're looking to get an outdoor tap installed, want new taps for your bathroom as part of a renovation or are planning to replace your old taps to make a quick difference to your kitchen, we'. Using a large open-ended spanner (or similar), wrap a tea towel or cloth around the largest open end (to prevent damaging the tap or tap head). For example, for a waterfall tap to properly function, you will need to tackle hard water and low-pressure issues.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. Sometimes there is a gland nut, which can be undone to reveal the O-ring sealing the gland to the head.