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Dripping tap.Do not assune it is always the tap washer.
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I managed to stop this yesterday after seeking advice on this forum about how to release a jammed shut off stop cock \ valve for supply to the kitchen sink..All the advice received was greatly appreciated . Changing the. washer made no difference , so I made a phone call the the plumber but there was no reply. By deduction I assumed that the gland was worn , so I purchased a set of new ceramic glands and was greatly relieved to see that the drip had stopped when I turned the tap off. I also had to buy a new set of tap heads as the new fitting was not a screw one. You just push the handle from side to side to turn the water on or off . I now wish I had changed the glands on the taps on one of my other houses as I paid a plumber £230 including VAT to fit a new pair   |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's almost never the washer anyway
It's usually the tap seat that has grooves due to imperfections in the brass.the water erodes the imperfections and you get small grooves where the water escapes as the rubber washer won't go into said grooves.
Problems occur when people keep overtighten the tap to stop the drip, causing damage to the valve.
So end up fitting tap restorers.
And reseating the tap with a small tool which grinds the tap seat.
Don't assume that the other plumber ripped u off coz sometimes the groove is too big to grind/reseat.
However as you have ceramic quarter turn valves this is irrelevant as they work differently. You can still get grooves and imperfections in the brass.
Btw I am a carpenter so this is probably all bollox anyway. |
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"It's almost never the washer anyway
It's usually the tap seat that has grooves due to imperfections in the brass.the water erodes the imperfections and you get small grooves where the water escapes as the rubber washer won't go into said grooves.
Problems occur when people keep overtighten the tap to stop the drip, causing damage to the valve.
So end up fitting tap restorers.
And reseating the tap with a small tool which grinds the tap seat.
Don't assume that the other plumber ripped u off coz sometimes the groove is too big to grind/reseat.
However as you have ceramic quarter turn valves this is irrelevant as they work differently. You can still get grooves and imperfections in the brass.
Btw I am a carpenter so this is probably all bollox anyway. "
. Hi. Thanks for the reply. I usually use tradesmen but like to be able to do some tasks myself. I was quite happy with the service from the plumber and as he is VAT registered his charges were fair. Your advice is much appreciated as some of these jobs are never as straight forward as they look. |
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"It's almost never the washer anyway
It's usually the tap seat that has grooves due to imperfections in the brass.the water erodes the imperfections and you get small grooves where the water escapes as the rubber washer won't go into said grooves.
Problems occur when people keep overtighten the tap to stop the drip, causing damage to the valve.
So end up fitting tap restorers.
And reseating the tap with a small tool which grinds the tap seat.
Don't assume that the other plumber ripped u off coz sometimes the groove is too big to grind/reseat.
However as you have ceramic quarter turn valves this is irrelevant as they work differently. You can still get grooves and imperfections in the brass.
Btw I am a carpenter so this is probably all bollox anyway. "
Can I assume that the ceramic quarter turn valves are better. I only bought them because that was all that Wickes had in stock..When I realised that they were quarter turn valves I had to buy new tap heads as well. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Ceramic lasts longer, but they're prone to getting small bits of grit and scale preventing them to shut off also they are usually more expensive.
They are easier to use that's for sure.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"It's almost never the washer anyway
It's usually the tap seat that has grooves due to imperfections in the brass.the water erodes the imperfections and you get small grooves where the water escapes as the rubber washer won't go into said grooves.
Problems occur when people keep
overtighten the tap to stop the drip, causing damage to the valve.
So end up fitting tap restorers.
And reseating the tap with a small tool which grinds the tap seat.
Don't assume that the other plumber ripped u off coz sometimes the groove is too big to grind/reseat.
However as you have ceramic quarter turn valves this is irrelevant as they work differently. You can still get grooves and imperfections in the brass.
Btw I am a carpenter so this is probably all bollox anyway. "
See, now this is the reason for a post of the day award!!? 
Thanks for making me piss myself laughing with the punchline, - genius dude!!  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Do ceramic cartridge taps even have washers? Hi. I have one on the dining room table. The washer looks like a piece of hardened plastic and is colour coded for each tap. "
.That's the seat washer.
It just seals the valve to the tap head.
The two ceramic discs spin across each other to let the water out. |
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"Do ceramic cartridge taps even have washers? Hi. I have one on the dining room table. The washer looks like a piece of hardened plastic and is colour coded for each tap. .That's the seat washer.
It just seals the valve to the tap head.
The two ceramic discs spin across each other to let the water out."
. Thanks for the information . I am learning all the time |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've got an idea kitchen mixer tap - it doesn't drip but leaks from its base. Any ideas anyone please? "
.
Yes you need to remove the spout, this is usually held in place with a small grub screw!.
Then pull it out and you will see there's a rubber o ring around the male shaft, replace this and re-insert into female flange and tighten screw... It's a bit filthy this diy
No wonder builders are all horny fuckers.  |
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. Have replaced with a ceramic gland so no washer to replace for ten years hopefully