New bath mixer tap leaks

BananaRepublic

This evening I removed the old mixer tap from my bath and replaced it with a new one, an R2 Fuse. I restored the water pressure, and there was a constant drip drip from one of the backnuts. So I removed the backnut, and reattached the water supply, and there was still a drip, from where the tap joined the bath. I replaced the mixer with the old one, and there is no drip at all.

Am I right to assume that this indicates a faulty tap? I assume there is an internal seal that is not working properly. This is a brand new tap, bought last week. I will take it back tomorrow, but informed suggestions are welcome given that I am not a professional plumber. Thanks.

Incidentally, I did ensure the washer between the backnut and the bath, and the one between the tap and the bath were in place, but even so it should not leak.

TELLIT01

No it doesn't necessarily indicate a faulty tap. First thing to try is wrapping PTFE tape around the tap thread and see if that fixes the problem. If that doesn't, it may indeed be a tap fault.

southcoastrgi

Did you replace the fibre washer on the tap connector, wrapping ptfe around the thread will do nothing it doesn't seal on the thread

BananaRepublic

southcoastrgi wrote: »

Did you replace the fibre washer on the tap connector, wrapping ptfe around the thread will do nothing it doesn't seal on the thread

Thanks. Not sure I follow. There is a rubber washer between the backnut and the bath. Each tap upright sits on a lose chrome ring. The chrome ring sits on a rubber washer which in turn rests on the bath.

I checked instructions in a plumbing manual. It looks okay. I assume PTFE tape goes between the threaded tap base and the water supply. The leak is not at that joint, it’s from two inches higher up, where the tap hot water upright meets the bath.

I assume that if the two connections between the water supply and the tap are sound, it should not leak elsewhere.

G_M

Hard to follow. There should be no pipework joining the bath. If the supply pipe is tightly connected to the tap, there should be no leak. Where the tap sits on the bath is simply where the water is escaping to, not where it is coming from.

BananaRepublic

G_M wrote: »

Hard to follow. There should be no pipework joining the bath. If the supply pipe is tightly connected to the tap, there should be no leak. Where the tap sits on the bath is simply where the water is escaping to, not where it is coming from.

Apologies. This image might help:



The leak is not from the base of the brass tube (where it connects to the water supply). It’s from the top of the threaded brass tube, where it meets the chromed part of the tap ie where it rests on the bath. Hopefully that is clearer.

nofoollikeold

If its leaking from where the threaded shank (brass) screws into the body of the tap, then the tap is faulty. Getting it replaced is one option.

Another, which might save some hassle, is to get two BRASS 3/4" BSP back nuts (don't use the plastic ones). Put them face to face on the threaded shank, tighten them firmly together, then use the lower one to tighten the shank firmly into the body of the tank. Separate the two nuts, then use them to secure the taps to the bath in the normal way.

BananaRepublic

nofoollikeold wrote: »

If its leaking from where the threaded shank (brass) screws into the body of the tap, then the tap is faulty. Getting it replaced is one option.

Another, which might save some hassle, is to get two BRASS 3/4" BSP back nuts (don't use the plastic ones). Put them face to face on the threaded shank, tighten them firmly together, then use the lower one to tighten the shank firmly into the body of the tank. Separate the two nuts, then use them to secure the taps to the bath in the normal way.

Thanks. Yes that is where it leaks. I figured out the problem.

I connected the hot supply to the tap without attaching it to the bath. No leak. So I reconnected the new taps to the bath using the original backnuts. No leak. I believe the problem was caused by the new backnuts which were slightly wider. They pushed against a wooden support, twisting the spigot relative to the body of the tap, and hence it leaked. Anyway, nice new taps are now fitted, and thanks all for comments.