Fixing leaking tap in bathroom

diamond_dave

Good on you AliceBanned for having a go at this! Ignore all these moaning minnies on this thread. The only way to learn is to try. Fixing a leak is relatively simple, but get yourself a GOOD diy book & you will be so pleased when its done. Best of luck.
I'll bet most of the moaners are guys with soft hands!

AliceBanned

diamond_dave wrote: »

Good on you AliceBanned for having a go at this! Ignore all these moaning minnies on this thread. The only way to learn is to try. Fixing a leak is relatively simple, but get yourself a GOOD diy book & you will be so pleased when its done. Best of luck.
I'll bet most of the moaners are guys with soft hands!

Thanks diamond dave.


I have this week off, from a very stressful office job, and to my surprise I am finding this kind of practical problem solving not frustrating (like my day job) but relaxing and fulfilling.


I am learning so much, and though it is taking ages, it is worth it as it is giving my brain a break from the horrible type of stress (ie about office politics, pointless work, and schmoozers). No way am I paying a plumber for basic diy - I even managed to get the stop tap working against all odds, so after that there's no stopping me. As long as I can turn the water off, why worry?!

AliceBanned

Horizon81 wrote: »

I totally agree with cyclonebri1. Whilst I admire the DIY route, do you really want to take a chance with water? Leaks can cause damage costing thousands if you get it wrong. You could save the money to'ing and fro'ing to B&Q buying parts and tools you may never need again and put it towards a plumber.

As for the pair of taps for £12 on amazon, well they're going to be Chinese rubbish. How can you expect them to last long at that price? Have a look in Toolstation/Screwfix for some WRAS approved taps that will be a little more expensive.

I'm doing it because I enjoy it and I want to learn. Simple. [EMAIL="I@I"]I[/EMAIL] just walked to B&Q along the canal. You might find these things stressful, but I don't, I find them quite the opposite. Anyway I came on here for advice, and the most obvious thing any idiot could do would be to call a plumber, but I'm no idiot, I'm not afraid of plumbing and think a lot of this basic stuff gets mystified so that people don't try it themselves.


Thanks for the advice on the taps -have not been to screwfix yet and have one nearby.

Horizon81

Indeed, when I first got my house I went on a steep learning curve for all things domestic including plumbing. I'll try many things DIY related but plumbing and electrics scare me for obvious reasons. But in terms of learning... you may want to join diynot forums and ultimate handyman forums where you can ask all manner of questions in a range of DIY areas and get some good responses. Nothing wrong with good old MSE of course, but you'll get more tradespeople and avid DIYers on those forums.

paulsad

Often just replacing a washer on an old style tap won't fix the drip - the tap may need re-seating - a re-seating tool is needed to do this properly.
Just my tuppence worth!

AliceBanned

paulsad wrote: »

Often just replacing a washer on an old style tap won't fix the drip - the tap may need re-seating - a re-seating tool is needed to do this properly.
Just my tuppence worth!

OK thanks. I that case I may buy new taps. My problem at the moment is getting the tap nut undone from the old one! It may be a few days as I'll need to ask a friend to try. I got a an adjustable basin wrench but it is useless - the normal basin wrench seems to have a better grip even. I think it must be very congealed.


B&Q fit taps for £50 but I would rather not pay that after I've got this far. It isn't bad though, if all else fails. I would only be asking them so that I can get this one off!

DirectDebacle

AliceBanned wrote: »

OK thanks. I that case I may buy new taps. My problem at the moment is getting the tap nut undone from the old one! It may be a few days as I'll need to ask a friend to try. I got a an adjustable basin wrench but it is useless - the normal basin wrench seems to have a better grip even. I think it must be very congealed.


B&Q fit taps for £50 but I would rather not pay that after I've got this far. It isn't bad though, if all else fails. I would only be asking them so that I can get this one off!

You say the backnut has disintegrated. If you can undo the nut on the isolation valve (holding the pipe to tap connector) can you then remove the tap with tap connector and feed pipe still attached? If so you should be able to remove the tap connector from the tap tail. You will have plenty of room to work on the tap connector nut.

AliceBanned

DirectDebacle wrote: »

You say the backnut has disintegrated. If you can undo the nut on the isolation valve (holding the pipe to tap connector) can you then remove the tap with tap connector and feed pipe still attached? If so you should be able to remove the tap connector from the tap tail. You will have plenty of room to work on the tap connector nut.

Thanks for the advice. There is a white plastic thing which was beneath the back nut but I can probably cut it. I only have it switched off at the isolation valve so will need to switch off at stop tap I presume.

AliceBanned

I ordered some degreaser on advice from Screwfix - to pick up tomorrow. It is WD40 but more powerful I think. Anyway, thought handy to have it for the stoptap which is a nightmare.


I will try what you suggest in the meantime..later today as I am having a break from it to get some cleaning done!

DirectDebacle

AliceBanned wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. There is a white plastic thing which was beneath the back nut but I can probably cut it. I only have it switched off at the isolation valve so will need to switch off at stop tap I presume.

The isolation valve will remain in situ. It is only the compression nut from the isolation valve which will be undone and remain on the pipe attached to the tap connector that will be removed as you pull the tap out of the basin. The isolation valve should still be doing its job. However it may be prudent to turn off at the mains (stop tap) and slowly turn back on after removal checking that the isolation valve is not leaking. If it is then turn off at the stop tap and remedy the leak on the isolation valve.

The whole point of the isolation valve is that you can isolate an individual outlet without shutting off the whole supply. Ordinarily in your situation the tap connector would undo and you could remove the tap with the isolation valve shutting off the water. The water will be stopped inside the isolation valve so it doesn't matter if only the tap is removed or all of the pipework from the isolation valve to the tap, the water is still stopped at the same point i.e. inside the isolation valve.