Any Plumbers In?

[Hugh Manatee]

Aaaaghh! Leaking tap problem. Like most kitchen taps, ours is of the mixer type. Around Christmas it developed a drip that got steadily worse. Eventually I took it apart (plumbing really isn't my thing) and had a look. The thing is actually quite new so it all looked quite shiney and nice. No damage to the washer and the cartridge itself gleamed. Having tried Plumb Base for a new cartridge I was told they don't do anything that big. What was it from, a nuclear reactor? They had a look and proclaimed nothing much wrong with it.

Once home I took the cartridge to bits and found a really very thin washer at the bottom of it all. It looked like the type of thing I would bodge to cover my own shoddy engineering! I gave everything a clean and put it back together.

Lo, the tap stopped dripping! Trouble is over time it started again and now once more I am looking at the bits wondering what to do!

Do those that know have any idea? Does that very thin washer take up any slack in the manufacturing process? Help please as I have switched off the water and want a cup of tea!

 

[Globalti]

Better go and ask on DIYnot.com as there are some real plumbers on there!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I'm living with two drippy taps. Mostly cos I wants my cuppa tea.

 

[gbb]

Do you know if its a branded tap, Bristan for instance ?
Is it possible to track down the manufacturer and request replacement washers ?
Unlikely i know, but worth a try.

I'm coming to the conclusion so much stuff is carp nowadays...I replaced some taps at work. 2 months later the cartridge internals had gone. Fitted a new cartridge,,,,2 month at the most later...its gone again.

 

[Levo-Lon]

As above..you may find the part in B&Q..or srewfix...or buy some sealing washers..

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Well, I have taken the cartridge to pieces, given everything a gentle rub with fine wire wool and then rinsed off with clean water upstairs. I replaced the main washer even though the one taken off looked pristine. I put everything back together and turned the water back on and...

...No drip!! Our water is quite hard so I'm wondering if a scale build up ruins the tolerances? My next foray into the world of plumbing might be to fit a new tap. This one is drinking in the Last Chance Saloon.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

It sounds to me as if the washer seat in the metal casting is the problem rather than the washer itself. Tap washers seat on a ridge surrounding the water channel. Lime deposits and corrosion ruins the perfect ridge and the washer initially makes up for it when you tighten it a bit too much. However, when tightened too much the washers very quickly harden - within days, and then the gap in the ridge is exposed again. The only solution is to ream the seat. A cheap gadget for doing it can be purchased in DIY shops.

 

[Cuchilo]

Put a cup under it .

 

[Fnaar]

Don't 'faucet' either

 

[Lonestar]

Sod all that bawlox....All I did was replace the taps..TIA