Stupid Kitchen Tap Design - washer swap
Discussion
Have swan neck mixer tap in kitchen. Cold water feed is fine, but hot water output has reduced in recent months to a tiny trickle. Tap barely opens 1/4 of a turn. Pressure is ok I think as hot taps in downstairs wc and in utility are fine and other hot taps and shower are ok. Sure it is just washers on hot tap side of mixer.
Problem is, I can't get at it? All other taps I have seen, you flip off the top, unscrew the tap handle which exposes the mechanism so you can remove it and replace washer. This one has no obvious way of removing washer & mechanism. To add to the joy, the isolater valve leaks like hell when you close it so will probably have to drain the hot water system. Nice.
Can't load pic of tap but it looks like this one:
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...
Problem is, I can't get at it? All other taps I have seen, you flip off the top, unscrew the tap handle which exposes the mechanism so you can remove it and replace washer. This one has no obvious way of removing washer & mechanism. To add to the joy, the isolater valve leaks like hell when you close it so will probably have to drain the hot water system. Nice.
Can't load pic of tap but it looks like this one:
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...
According to the info on the web-link they have a ceramic disc cartridge, so the cartridge will have to be replaced (I believe). Does it have one of those flexible hose tap connectors? If so, it might have a kink in it, thus preventing a good flow of water.
On getting at the cartridge/washer; does the tap have a small grub-screw holding the handle on? If not it might just pull off. Then unscrew the round bit at the base of the shaft to get at the nut holding the cartridge/washer.
On getting at the cartridge/washer; does the tap have a small grub-screw holding the handle on? If not it might just pull off. Then unscrew the round bit at the base of the shaft to get at the nut holding the cartridge/washer.
robinhood21 said:
According to the info on the web-link they have a ceramic disc cartridge, so the cartridge will have to be replaced (I believe). Does it have one of those flexible hose tap connectors? If so, it might have a kink in it, thus preventing a good flow of water.
On getting at the cartridge/washer; does the tap have a small grub-screw holding the handle on? If not it might just pull off. Then unscrew the round bit at the base of the shaft to get at the nut holding the cartridge/washer.
No flexible hose at all, all copper pipe.On getting at the cartridge/washer; does the tap have a small grub-screw holding the handle on? If not it might just pull off. Then unscrew the round bit at the base of the shaft to get at the nut holding the cartridge/washer.
Ahhh I see yes - the bit that looks solid may be a cover, yank tap off, remove cover to expose cartridge nut. Good thinking. I didn't see a grub screw, but maybe try harder getting tap head off. I'll look tonight!
Hate plumbing. Really hate plumbing....
As already said, handle will probably have a grub screw holding it on, then unscrew the shroud to expose the tap body, then you'll be able to get a spanner on it to undo the tap assembly.
You don't need to drain the entire hot water system, your hot water cylinder should have a gate valve on the cold feed, turn that off and it shuts off the hot water with out the need to drain the tank.
You can buy a set of 1/2" ceramic disc tap bodies for £20 from b+q.
You don't need to drain the entire hot water system, your hot water cylinder should have a gate valve on the cold feed, turn that off and it shuts off the hot water with out the need to drain the tank.
You can buy a set of 1/2" ceramic disc tap bodies for £20 from b+q.
Ricky_M said:
As already said, handle will probably have a grub screw holding it on, then unscrew the shroud to expose the tap body, then you'll be able to get a spanner on it to undo the tap assembly.
You don't need to drain the entire hot water system, your hot water cylinder should have a gate valve on the cold feed, turn that off and it shuts off the hot water with out the need to drain the tank.
You can buy a set of 1/2" ceramic disc tap bodies for £20 from b+q.
Thanks for the info, not had chance to have proper look yet but it sounds reasonable!You don't need to drain the entire hot water system, your hot water cylinder should have a gate valve on the cold feed, turn that off and it shuts off the hot water with out the need to drain the tank.
You can buy a set of 1/2" ceramic disc tap bodies for £20 from b+q.
Another thing to bear in mind, it may not be the ceramic cartridge, instead it may be the diffuser being scaled up.
I was having a similar problem with my tap and the problem turned out to be the diffuser screwed into the end of the tap. (Of course I only found out after taking apart the tap...)
I was having a similar problem with my tap and the problem turned out to be the diffuser screwed into the end of the tap. (Of course I only found out after taking apart the tap...)
squicky said:
Another thing to bear in mind, it may not be the ceramic cartridge, instead it may be the diffuser being scaled up.
I was having a similar problem with my tap and the problem turned out to be the diffuser screwed into the end of the tap. (Of course I only found out after taking apart the tap...)
Hmm thats interesting - when I turn on the hot water only, it starts off fairly slow but as the temperature of the water increases, it reduces to a trickle. The hotter the water, the slower the flow but this symptom only affects the hot tap part of the mixer....I was having a similar problem with my tap and the problem turned out to be the diffuser screwed into the end of the tap. (Of course I only found out after taking apart the tap...)
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