Bathroom vanity unit

shiraz99

I have one of those under sink bathroom vanity units and like most I've seen it has a board at the rear that conceals all the pipework to the sink. How does one remove this to access the tap connections, I'm thinking of changing the mixer tap but can't get to the isolation valves at the rear.

sheenas

Normally the draw removes and you can access the pipe work. There is no guarantee the taps have an isolation valve and you may have turn the water off at the main stop !!!!!!.

WIAWSNB

Do you know the make? And model?

bjorn_toby_wilde

A picture would also help if you can.

shiraz99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81918082#Comment_81918082

There's no internal drawer, I'll post a pic later.

shiraz99

Here's a couple of pics. It's a basic vanity unit, probably from B&Q or Homebase with a back panel rising up at the back. I've had a closer look and it can't be removed as its locked in place with cams on the rear so you'd need to dismantle sides first. You can just about reach the connections at the back but blindly so god knows whoever fitted it didn't make it easy for themselves.

shiraz99

Here's the connection.

grumpy_codger

I think you can just disconnect the horizontal part of the waste pipe (empty the trap 'bottle' first) and then pull the whole thing together with the basin a little away from the wall.

cpbackhouse

Yes, I had a vanity unit almost exactly like that and the back panel was not separately removable as it formed part of the structure of the vanity bace unfortunately .

bjorn_toby_wilde

Probably did all the plumbing without checking the height. As you say, made life difficult for you and the isolators are pointless if you can’t reach them.

@grumpy_codger ‘s suggestion is good depending on how it’s fixed to the wall but if you have to cut away silicone and make a mess doing it…..

You could turn off the main stopcock and hot water valve instead of the isolators if you can’t reach them. Then undo the flexi connectors where they’re attached to those copper tails.

You’ll need a tap box spanner to undo the mixer tap from underneath. That’s often the hardest part, especially as the nut is usually corroded in place.