Kitchen tap leaking

wazza

I have a monobloc kitchen tap which has been leaking. I removed the stem which holds the washer. The washer has been shredded. I put my finger into the chamber/tap body and felt the seat (which the washer touches when turning the tap off) it has a bit missing. So everytime i turn off/on the tap the washer cuts into this jaggered seat and eventually shreds a bit which in turn causes the tap to leak.

Have put a new washer as a temporary fix. Don't fancy changing the whole unit because access is poor. I have heard there is something called a 'poppet' (think that is the correct spelling) which you can screw into the tap body. It provides a new seat for the washer. Has someone heard of this and if so where can i get hold of one and what is it's correct name.

Thanks

mister_t

I think you should just be able to buy a vale seat grinding tool for about a tenner. You can then grind the seat so it is flat again, pop in a new washer and there should be no more leak.

I tried this on my dripping tap but I had left it for far too long so the seat has a big groove in it that would take too long to grind down. My grinding efforts improved the leak but did not stop it, as I didn;t remove all of the groove. I am about to sell the house so I have just left it be.

This might help

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/dripping_tap.htm

Skiduck

wazza wrote:

I have a monobloc kitchen tap which has been leaking. I removed the stem which holds the washer. The washer has been shredded. I put my finger into the chamber/tap body and felt the seat (which the washer touches when turning the tap off) it has a bit missing. So everytime i turn off/on the tap the washer cuts into this jaggered seat and eventually shreds a bit which in turn causes the tap to leak.

Have put a new washer as a temporary fix. Don't fancy changing the whole unit because access is poor. I have heard there is something called a 'poppet' (think that is the correct spelling) which you can screw into the tap body. It provides a new seat for the washer. Has someone heard of this and if so where can i get hold of one and what is it's correct name.

Thanks

it's called a Tap Re-seating Tool.

wazza

thanks for the reply

have already tried the reseating tool. it is ideal for if the seat is pitted due to rust etc. my seat has a bit missing. i was hoping to find something like an adaptor/spacer which you screw into the tap body and then screw the stem into the adaptor/spacer. hope it makes sense.

Skiduck

wazza wrote:

thanks for the reply

have already tried the reseating tool. it is ideal for if the seat is pitted due to rust etc. my seat has a bit missing. i was hoping to find something like an adaptor/spacer which you screw into the tap body and then screw the stem into the adaptor/spacer. hope it makes sense.

sorry - i misunderstood.

I'll read properly next time lol

plumb1_2

Not seen them for ages, but you used to be able to buy a new plastic seatings that fitted inside the old brass seating, if you were unable to grind down.
Bet is still have the odd 1 in my lockup

Try B&Q

bestyman

I think they were called Oracstar adapt a tap . Much like the tap conversion kits you can buy nowadays but with a plastic funnel shaped bit that you could push down the damaged seating hole. The tap washer was replaced with a plastic bit that would mate with the funnel.

I fitted a few pairs many years ago but got the odd recall so stopped fitting them , the funnel would not seal 100% where it went in the old seat so would drip. Perhaps thats why they dont make them anymore.

To be honest you need a new pair of taps. If access is a problem you have 2 choices
1 struggle
2. get someone else to do it

Bestyman