Dripping tap help!

gazman100

Hi all, hoping for some help from a tap expert. Basically I have a dripping kitchen mixer tap, nothing serious, just annoying.

So this weekend I attempted to fix it - turned off the water, took the tap apart, went down to the plumbing spares shop and got a replacement cartridge, fitted it... and it still drips. As a test I even tried the new hot tap cartridge to see if it still drips and it does. So 2 questions really, I am assuming that as it stops when the cold water is off it must be the cold water supply dripping? And is there anything else it could be?

Thanks in advance
Gareth

diystarter7

Getting the exact right cartridge could be a nightmare. They look the same but many are very close but not exactly to your speck.

Measurements have to be precise - see link below re this. You've already changed the hot and cold around so I am guessing it's very slightly different to the one you had but other may be able to shine more light on this as I'm no plumber but changed one years ago on one of our baths.

http://www.showerright.co.uk/Tap Spares/Measuring and specifying a tap valve.htm

grumbler

I think, the only explanation is that the seal at the bottom doesn't work for some reason. If so, you have to improvise to make it working.

gazman100

diystarter7 said:

Getting the exact right cartridge could be a nightmare. They look the same but many are very close but not exactly to your speck.

Measurements have to be precise - see link below re this. You've already changed the hot and cold around so I am guessing it's very slightly different to the one you had but other may be able to shine more light on this as I'm no plumber but changed one years ago on one of our baths.

http://www.showerright.co.uk/Tap Spares/Measuring and specifying a tap valve.htm

Fortunately there is a helpful supply store nearby that help out if you take the old one and tap in with you, but even then it isn't an exact match, so yes I agree! To be clear I haven't swapped the hot and cold around, I just tried using the new (spare) hot cartridge as a test of whether it would stop the dripping.

gazman100

grumbler said:

I think, the only explanation is that the seal at the bottom doesn't work for some reason. If so, you have to improvise to make it working.

Thanks for that, but not sure I follow. Seal at the bottom of where?

shiraz99

What type of tap and where is it leaking from. A picture would be great of you wouldn't mind.

diystarter7

grumbler said:

I think, the only explanation is that the seal at the bottom doesn't work for some reason. If so, you have to improvise to make it working.

OP, consider that as often that is the problem

grumbler

gazman100 said:

grumbler said:

I think, the only explanation is that the seal at the bottom doesn't work for some reason. If so, you have to improvise to make it working.

Thanks for that, but not sure I follow. Seal at the bottom of where?

Blue and red

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you could try THIS on old tap, just give it a clean ( vinegar or lemon juice) sometimes just turning bottom washer over works.

gazman100

grumbler said:

gazman100 said:

grumbler said:

I think, the only explanation is that the seal at the bottom doesn't work for some reason. If so, you have to improvise to make it working.

Thanks for that, but not sure I follow. Seal at the bottom of where?

Blue and red

Ahh OK thanks. I replaced the entire cartridge though so isn't that - that's what I was expecting it to be.

gazman100

shiraz99 said:

What type of tap and where is it leaking from. A picture would be great of you wouldn't mind.

 

Does that help? Or did you mean brand etc? If so it’s from Howdens but can’t be any more specific. The dripping is just coming out of the end of the tap.