advice about changing basin or sink taps wanted?

martin57

Hi folks,


The taps on my bathroom basin were wearing a lot on the top (the part that you screw with hand) with some sharp edges on them, so I got one of those universal fitting tops with the little plastic inserts that go on the metal spindles on the tap fitting itself, a waste of money as it only lasted a few months, plastic insert just wore down, so whole top that you turn on with just went round and round.


Anyways have been told by a plumber that its actually better to change whole tap fitting itself, with new taps rather than get just a top for each existing old tap. I know that the tops come with the copper connection that screw onto old tap, but he believes that its not a good idea to put new on old, and better to go for the whole job lot new.


He has given me the same advice for the tops that fit my mixer in kitchen sink, replace the mixer rather than putting new tops on the old mixer?


Just wondering if this is sound advice.


Thanks
Martin57

phill99

Yes it is.

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm no expert, but my opinion would be that he's right. If the taps have worn to that degree then the washers and whatnot inside will also be getting worn. OK, putting a new washer in is a doddle, but I would think everything else would be starting to get worn as well. Fitting new taps is very straightforward ( a DIY job really ), and "plain" taps are not expensive, so if it were me I'd just bung some new ones on.

For the kitchen, in principle the same theory holds true - the only caveat would be that a mixer tap tends to be quite a bit more expensive, so it's not such a clear-cut decision. But in theory yes, if the whole thing is starting to wear out then replace it.

Like I said, this is just my opinion - I'm quite happy to be corrected by others :-)

martin57

Thanks a lot for replies. it does seem a shame though that if tap top head ( the part that you turn with your hand ) is faulty that the whole fitting needs to be replaced.


I had used something similar to this, but the EeZee brand


http://www.builderdepot.co.uk/kwikpak-ezee-tap-universal-tap-tops-pack-of-1.html


But the problem is that those collars that I had to fit the spindle fitting inside were only made of plastic hence only lasted a few months.


Just wondering does anyone know of a good quality universal tap top set that maybe come with brass fittings to fit that spindle at top of tap?


Thanks
Martin57

wallbash

You have posted a price of £12 for a refurb, a cheap set of taps from somewhere like screwfix would cost under £20.

And I would find it easier to just to replace.