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Cost of tap washer replacement

I have a dripping cold water bath tap. The speed of the drip is increasing and I need to find a plumber to replace the washer. The bath and taps are very old, fitted in 1949, would replacement washers be available? I am hoping that taps might be a standard size but before I try to find a plumber who isn't going to charge me a fortune or insist I need new taps as they are so old I thought I would try to find out what is feasible first.



Can anyone give a a ball park figure on the going rate for a plumber to replace a washer so I don't fall over with shock later.


A DIYer friend tried to replace it for me but he couldn't move the housing with the wrench he had and I didn't want to have to replace the bath as well if something went wrong and he broke the bath whilst he was doing the job.
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Comments

  • Penetrating oil on the tap housing, and you need two wrenches - one on the housing and one on the tap wedged to the bath so the tap body doesn't twist.

    Also try tapping the wrench with a hammer as the momentary force can unjam it without twisting the whole thing.
    A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.
  • Jackmydad
    Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If they're taps with a chrome cover over the innards, then the chrome cover can be a job to get off without damaging it. Proper penetrating oil can help, as can rag wrapped around and hot water poured over.
    You really need a decent strap wrench, and something to hold the tap body. I've got a piece of wood somewhere with the shape of the tap body cut out which I use to hold it still.
    The inside part called the "head" can be tight as well. Use a decent, well fitting spanner.

    The washers are available in all sizes and are literally pence.
  • missprice
    missprice Posts: 3,736 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As already noted, tap washers are cheap. Just to add I had really old taps probably around 1975/80 fitted. When a washer went I took old one out (well I didnt cos not strong enough) and trotted to a shop with the old one.
    Bought the biggest washers i could find and still they were not quite big enough. They barely did the job until I had whole bathroom replaced a year later.
    I believe they cost 8p each.
    63 mortgage payments to go.

    Zero wins 2016 😥
  • Jackmydad
    Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    missprice wrote: »
    As already noted, tap washers are cheap. Just to add I had really old taps probably around 1975/80 fitted. When a washer went I took old one out (well I didnt cos not strong enough) and trotted to a shop with the old one.
    Bought the biggest washers i could find and still they were not quite big enough. They barely did the job until I had whole bathroom replaced a year later.
    I believe they cost 8p each.

    The sizes seem to be variable these days. I wonder if some you get are a sort of metric equivalent or something.
    You need to go to a proper plumber's merchant.
    If you can find one these days!
  • greyteam1959
    greyteam1959 Posts: 4,707 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The biggest problem you, & anybody you get in to do the job, is that it could go expensively wrong.
  • The biggest problem you, & anybody you get in to do the job, is that it could go expensively wrong.


    What can go wrong?
  • Dan-Dan
    Dan-Dan Posts: 5,278 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What can go wrong?

    could end up with a damaged bath and knackered taps/s
    Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • greyteam1959
    greyteam1959 Posts: 4,707 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Dan-Dan wrote: »
    could end up with a damaged bath and knackered taps/s

    Exactly................
  • Am I wrong to assume if I get a proper plumber in they are responsible for any damage.


    The bath is 70 years old, it may be a cast iron bath, is it likely to be a bit harder to damage
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