Where's the washer?

gerdalt · 05-01-2014 11:13pm #1

The tap is dripping. I think it needs a new washer.
But how to fix it?
Looks like there is a separate hot and cold supply and the drip is from the cold side. i.e. it's maybe not a real mixer, just two pipes in one.
On the end of the tap there's a blue plastic circle (for cold).
I think if I lever this off, there will be a screw behind it to allow removal of the tap head?
But then what?? I assume I'll have to turn off the supply before starting?

Any advice appreciated please.

Ger

Irish Steve · 06-01-2014 1:24am

It's not a washer as such, this is a quarter turn tap with (probably) ceramic inserts that control the water flow.

You are correct in that the valve can be got at by taking the head off, the screw is under the plastic cap on the control head. If there is no service valve under the sink, then you will have to go looking for a valve on the incoming supply, turn it off, and then turn the tap on before removing anything else to release the pressure.

Remove the plastic cap, and the screw, then pull off the control head and then you can use a "suitable" spanner to remove the valve body from the body of the tap. Replacement bodies are available from most plumbers merchants, some of the DIY stores, but take the one that comes out when you go to get the replacement, there are a number of different sizes and depths, and the wrong one will not work.

If it's a slow leak, it's possible that the seal on the valve body has gone hard, so the valve is not being pressed into the tap body with enough pressure to seal the ceramics, or there's a tiny piece of grit in between the discs that's not allowing a complete seal, but usually, it will be a case of a new tap body to solve the problem.

gerdalt · 06-01-2014 1:58am

Thanks for that Steve.
I'll attack it at first light tomorrow!!
Ger.

>>>>>>>> job done

Where's the washer?

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