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Help Please With Replacing Bath Taps and Basin Taps

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Our hot water tap in the bath needs replaced as its gunged up with limescale. OH not sure how to do it and was messing about with the hot tap on the basin and this has broken - so now we have both hot taps broken. All the little plastic bits have snapped - I guess through wear and tear as they are ten years old.

We now have to fit new basin taps and new bath taps. We were hoping just to replace the insides and keep the old taps but this looks unlikely now.

Have taken the bath panel off to have a look at the taps and its scary - can anyone tell us how to change both the taps in the sink and the bath as so far we've called 3 plumbers who don't seem interested probably because its a small job for them.

At the moment we are having to put the hot water tap for the bath on with a spanner as it won't turn using the hot water knob - same with the one on the sink now.

Comments

  • All that you will need is a plumbers spanner(under basin type), these are quite cheap.
    Now do not br afraid, i am no plumber but this is very easy as there is no soldering involved.
    1) make suer your hot and cold water suply are turned off.
    2) turn taps on to drain off any water.
    3) Unscrew the tap from underneath the basin/bath using spanner.
    All you have to do is unscrew the tap, and replace new one in reverse order.
    What goes around - comes around
    give lots and you will always recieve lots
  • Just a couple of things to add to the previous post:

    It is possible to buy a kit to 'repair' taps. These can be purchased from any good DIY shop and basically consist of a new tap valve and knob. The main body of the tap can be left where it is and the brass valve unscrewed and replaced, fitting the new knobs on top.

    If you do decide to go the whole hog and replace the taps:

    If your bathroom is upstairs, drain the pipes using all the taps both in the bathroom and downstairs kitchen - helps to fully drain the pipes, thus preventing any water surging back up.

    There will be a metal nut securing the water pipe/flexible connector to the tap. Unscrew this first - make sure you hold on to the tap to stop it turning. To unscrew the nut you can use a spanner/plumbers grips/wrench. When you have removed that nut you can then remove the larger plastic or metal nut that holds the tap onto the bath or basin. Again, be sure to hold the tap.

    When replacing the taps just do the above in reverse order. Make sure that you remeber to put a rubber or fabric washer in between the bottom of the threaded tap pipe and the water pipe/flexible connector.
  • robowen
    robowen Posts: 3,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Firstly, can I say it would help you to put a location in your user profile. You would be surprised at how many people would offer to come have a look for you. Myself and Plumb1 have done several jobs for other users before now. This is not a pitch for work..believe me :A We plumbers dont need to advertise ! :rotfl:
    I have had other users call past my house to help me with things I know nowt about.

    Secondly, a lot of people say how easy it is to change taps. Get a spanner , undo nut, change taps. job done. :doh:
    The other day, it took me 6 mins to change the basin taps - I had good access with flexi connectors already fitted. Easy job.
    I started on the bath taps, cold was about 10 mins to do. Hot tap took about 2 1/2 hours. After removing the bath panel, I had very little access due to a combined sink and toilet cabinet at the tap end of the bath. I had to lye flat on me back at the end of my reach trying and struggling to get the blasted nut off the tap. I couldnt see the nut I had to get off either.
    I had my son sat in the bath trying to turn the tap as I held onto the nut trying to get it off. Eventually the nut gave and the tap came off. As I secured the new tap on it wouldnt tighten up as the wood under the tap end of the bath was rotten, so I had to fix a new piece of wood in there to tighten onto with a bigger washer.
    Got the water back on and the old dear said to me "what took you so long" :mad:

    Don't underestimate the evilness of taps.

    rob :D
    If only everything in life was as reliable...AS ME !!
    robowen 5/6/2005©

    ''Never take an idiot anywhere with you. You'll always find one when you get there.''
  • Just to add to Rob's tales of woe about taps :D , if the bath cold tap is tank fed then it is likely to be the lowest point on that pipe run, couple that with an old gate valve letting by and pretty soon after removing the tap there'll be a puddle of water that will get bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Set a towel down there and it's sopping wet within about a minute, lovely to rest your arm on! If there's a problem getting the tap back on quick, then it becomes a miserable job.

    Not saying you shouldn't tackle these more simple tasks as a DIYer, I'm just saying the same as Rob, they're only easy when they don't go wrong!
  • Thanks to everyone after tears and tantrums taps are now both on (thanks to OH!). The bath taps were the worst because there is very very little room to move. Bought one of those spanner things and have put taps on as tight as he can but could do with being adjusted just a bit more but no more room to manoeuvre. Was thinking of putting sealant round the taps (on the outside) just to secure them. This site is full of fantastic information and I am sure you have all saved us a small sum. Thanks all plumbers and DIYers who replied.

    Robowen: thanks for advice have now put in location. :D
  • robowen
    robowen Posts: 3,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I find the best way to secure bath taps is to turn the tap anticlockwise to the wall(spout to the right of centre).
    Tighten up nut underneath with fingers then spanner. Then hold nut with spanner and turn bath tap back to centre position. This tends to get a good fixing.
    You need to do this before connection of the water pipes.

    rob :D
    If only everything in life was as reliable...AS ME !!
    robowen 5/6/2005©

    ''Never take an idiot anywhere with you. You'll always find one when you get there.''
  • plumb1_2
    plumb1_2 Posts: 4,395 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Have to agree with Rob and MSP, replacing bath taps can be a nightmare, i have had to core drill a few out in the past, and expect to in the future.
  • plumb1 wrote:
    Have to agree with Rob and MSP, replacing bath taps can be a nightmare, i have had to core drill a few out in the past, and expect to in the future.

    Yes, there's nothing quite like hack-sawing through the thread of a tap in the 1mm gap between tap and bath surface because that red lead all the way up the thread simply won't let the back nut budge!
  • I agree totally with what has been said previously, especially if the bath is tight against the wall there is often no room to get your arm in to do any work at all.

    There are some basic instructions here-

    http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/diy_plumbing_replacing_basin_taps.htm

    The box key seems a good idea!
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