Issue fixing dripping mixer tap

stevoh

Hi here’s a close up (bottom pic) and the other side which I managed to remove (top two pics)

neilmcl

So basically the white plastic bit just sits loose on that spline?

From the last pic it looks like it's been crushed in a bit so it's catching on the end (in the two and seven o'clock positions). You might want to get a small, flat blade screwdriver in there to try and widen it out a bit.

Jeepers_Creepers

Good pics, Stevoh.

As before, then - get 2 flat-blade screwdrivers in there, so they are bracing between the top of the brass flange and the inside white collar of the white thingy - one from each side. Lever both gently at the same time.

Perhaps try trickling boiling water over the white fitting to soften it slightly, but watch out for distorting it.

As you suspected, it is just 'push-fit', although darned tight.

stevoh

Thanks guys. Just had a quote for £210 quid to supply and fit new tap, so an extra incentive to sort this out myself!

One question though. I’m assuming the drip is from the cold tap as the water drips don’t feel hot. Anyway to know for sure? It would be a lot easier if it’s the hot side that needs fixing! 

Jeepers_Creepers

Let's see - one has a red collar, and one black...

No, you can't tell by the drips as they'd be cold by then anyway. But, if you run the tap, you'll soon feel which side becomes warm.

Convention - and colour - suggest you are struggling with the cold side. Why is this harder to sort?

stevoh

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Let's see - one has a red collar, and one black...

No, you can't tell by the drips as they'd be cold by then anyway. But, if you run the tap, you'll soon feel which side becomes warm.

Convention - and colour - suggest you are struggling with the cold side. Why is this harder to sort?

Thanks for your response. 

Just to clarify my understanding. You run each tap and then feel the temperature of the drips afterwards? So if the hot tap has just been running the drips would feel warmer?

I can get the plastic cover off the cartridge on the hot side, so if the issue was with this one it would have been easy to replace. 

stevoh

Hmm actually just run the hot tap and allowed it to become hot. The drips feel hot afterwards. Am I being stupid here or does this suggest it’s the hot side cartridge? (Fingers crossed)

victor2

Are there isolating valves on the hot and cold supplies to the tap? If so, turn one off and see if the drip stops.

But, on our kitchen mixer tap, a drip started so I replaced both sides, as the tap came apart easily.

Hasbeen

As per the 2 and 7 setting. I would carefully cut away away any "overhang" with a stanley blade. Then attempt again.

It is better to replace the two sides. Have cleaned discs before with limescale cleaner and it never works for me.

You will need the taps MFG name etc. The other way involves a bit of measuring to get the correct size.

As per here:  Shop by size (tapmagician.co.uk)

stevoh

victor2 said:

Are there isolating valves on the hot and cold supplies to the tap? If so, turn one off and see if the drip stops.

But, on our kitchen mixer tap, a drip started so I replaced both sides, as the tap came apart easily.

Yes it does. switching off the cold one it still drips. Unfortunately the hot one seems to have seized up though, but pretty confident its the hot side.
Great suggestion!