Dripping lever mixer kitchen sink tap

Murtinho

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/8428110/Trail/searchtext%3EKITCHEN+TAP.htm



The one above, has been dripping from the spout(ie where the water comes out) since i put it in a yr ago. The constant Chinese torture of it has gotten to me. Hasnt gotten anyworse over time however.

Ive tried adjusting the little screw behind the hot/cold emblem. Have trawled the net to no avail. Anyone got any ideas?

heinbloed

Since it is only a year old the sealant rings should be still o.k.....

The little screw behind the hot/cold emblem

has nothing to do with the sealing. Open it with an allan key and lift/pull-off the handle upwards.
There you'll see a brass piece with two flat sides, the big thing. Find a suitable spanner (maybe 28 mm) or an exact fitting plier. Tighten the brass valve slightly .

The job should be done now.

If it still drips then the sealant rings might be defect.

With a 1 year old household item there should be still guarantee on it. If so ask for a replacement before tackling the sealant rings at the cartridge.
If working on the cartridge to replace the sealant rings grease everything before re-asembling with food-grade silicone ("petrol yelly"). This silicone (lip balm) costs around €1.- in the drug store. It's also available with strawberry flavour (smiley). Don't use engine oil !

Murtinho

heinbloed wrote: »

Open it with an allan key and lift/pull-off the handle upwards.There you'll see a brass piece with two flat sides, the big thing. Find a suitable spanner (maybe 28 mm) or an exact fitting plier. Tighten the brass valve slightly .
ine oil !

It'd dripped at the same rate since day 1. Ive taken out the screw behind the hot/cold emblem again, i can only pull handle up so far, ie to as far as when the water flows at its fastest. Do i force it a bit further?

heinbloed

Yes, pull it further in upright/closed position.

Murtinho

Sorry,just want to clarify before i rip it off and have to install a new one, i'd do that only for it was an awful job last time.

To get water to pour out of the tap i pull the lever up, to get warm water i push it left,for cold to the right. Do i push this lever up past the level where the water flows fastest?

heinbloed

The tap must be closed, no water flowing. The handle should be then in a nearly-horizontal position.
Pull it upwards, vertically. Not diagonally!

If your tap is properly fixed under the sink then it won't break.

Murtinho

ta, i think i get you now but it wont budge, ive tried forcing a screw driver under but only damaged the metal, the part you only see when the tap is up.
Any tips for loosening it?

heinbloed

No. Try to run for a minute the cold water. Cooling down the valve will make the square metal niple (on which the handle sits) shrink, contracting.

Only manual force will help.

Murtinho

Murtinho wrote: »

ta, i think i get you now but it wont budge, ive tried forcing a screw driver under but only damaged the metal, the part you only see when the tap is up.
Any tips for loosening it?

Just found this,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7e2bIfP8Us&feature=related

which is what i should be doing i guess? At 55 seconds but no way is it that loose

heinbloed

Yes. Try a bit lubricant in the thread hole where you took the screw out. WD40 or the like.

Murtinho

got if finally, bent a screwdriver in under and got a bit of leverage off the plastic bit inside,the chrome was bent but pushed out again nicely.

Now onto the next step!

Murtinho

I found a 6 sided brass screw that only comes up 2-3mms so its hard to get a grip on it. I tried to turn it and got it slightly tighter but no difference. I then took it off and realised i had to turn the hot water off too! Anyway i emptied this chamber, cleaned it as best i could, cleaned the brass threads and grooves, put it back and still no better, tried it with plumbers tape and no better either.

Im now wondering, at the bottom of the chamber there are three holes where water comes in. Theres a blue plastic (weird, like three touching "0"'s) washer at the bottom of this, maybe this needs replacing?

Murtinho

Tried a few things but nothing improved it, i've now noticed a small hairline crack in the bottom of the plastic mixer thing. I presume a part to fix this tap would be impossible to find?

heinbloed

...noticed a small hairline crack in the bottom of the plastic mixer...

These cartridges can be bought incl. the 0-rings. Take the old one with you when going to the DIY shop or the plumbing shop.
Check with Argos as well, they might have them or can tell you where to get them.
Remember to 'grease' everything before putting it back.

Billy Bunting

heinbloed wrote: »

From this thread we can take that these cowboys are happy to boast about their ignorance here on the forum.

.

:rolleyes:

heinbloed

Text and context, Billy Bunting. A question of literacy.

Joey the lips

Billy Bunting wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Billy you have no reason to drag a text of one thread into this. If your going to do something explain the reasoning. This comment is bordering on an infraction.

heinbloed wrote: »

Text and context, Billy Bunting. A question of literacy.

Heinbloed you have a head of sense. Please use the report button if you have a problem with a post. I cannot correct a wrong doing if you apply your own measure of wrong. Remember 2 wrongs dont make a right.

Billy Bunting

Joey the lips wrote: »

Billy you have no reason to drag a text of one thread into this. If your going to do something explain the reasoning. This comment is bordering on an infraction.

Sorry Joey, but if you hadn't noticed what he posted earlier, i imported a post he made earlier today from another topic that was insulting not only to any plumber who takes part in helping on these boards but to every professional who has bothered to raise there head.

Joey the lips

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Sorry Joey, but if you hadn't noticed what he posted earlier, i imported a post he made earlier today from another topic that was insulting not only to any plumber who takes part in helping on these boards but to every professional who has bothered to raise there head.

Its still not an excuse. there is a report button there for a reason. If someone insults you report it. They are all investigated. If you constantly go back it makes it hard to deal with your problem.

Murtinho

Dunno what that row is about but Heinbloed has been spot on and 100% helpful to me. Off to theplumber suppliers now to see if i can get a part for my problem.

Murtinho

Murtinho wrote: »

Dunno what that row is about but Heinbloed has been spot on and 100% helpful to me..

he has his moments, but he doesn't play well with others:)

Joey the lips

Murtinho wrote: »

Dunno what that row is about but Heinbloed has been spot on and 100% helpful to me. Off to theplumber suppliers now to see if i can get a part for my problem.

If someone is helpful just thank the post. We dont need to ad fuel to the fire. Please dont carry arguements on folks. It ruins threads.

Murtinho

Anyway girls, i couldnt get the part so the plumber is booked in for tomorrow morning, couldnt be arsed to tackle it again due to the hardship of last time. Well i might have tackled it only for im working tonight and the risk would be that i'd be in a rush to get it done etc.
Not all bad however as im going to take the plunge and get a softener installed at the same time.

Joey the lips

Murtinho wrote: »

Anyway girls, i couldnt get the part so the plumber is booked in for tomorrow morning, couldnt be arsed to tackle it again due to the hardship of last time. Well i might have tackled it only for im working tonight and the risk would be that i'd be in a rush to get it done etc.
Not all bad however as im going to take the plunge and get a softener installed at the same time.

I knew you would not get the part. These taps are impossible to get parts for unless you buy a good one like franke. I have got into debates in the past over it so i avoided it for this one.

Are you getting a total water softner. ie it will soften the water to the whole house or just a softner for the mains kitchen sink.

If its a total softner make sure it comes with a manual override for watering plants and despite suggestions try not to stick in exposed out the back. A lot of these busted last year with the frost.

Murtinho

Joey the lips wrote: »

I knew you would not get the part. These taps are impossible to get parts for unless you buy a good one like franke. I have got into debates in the past over it so i avoided it for this one.

Are you getting a total water softner. ie it will soften the water to the whole house or just a softner for the mains kitchen sink.

If its a total softner make sure it comes with a manual override for watering plants and despite suggestions try not to stick in exposed out the back. A lot of these busted last year with the frost.

I could have gotten the part by monday, but i cant have it dripping all w/e.

I was at a suppliers and am looking up the avoca water softener for €460, going to discuss with the plumber about bypassing it for the kitchen sink/drinking water, i can live with the kettle getting damaged. Afaik the mains under the kitchen sink covers the whole house, i turned it off overnight to limit dripping damage but the showers, washing machine etc didnt work this morning. Anyone know if the Avoca is any good? Was considering the Clack before but at twice the price seems expensive.

heinbloed

Here some mail order adresses:

http://www.lunns.net/tapspares/ (good detailed page!)

http://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/range-replacement-tap-valves-cartridges.htm

http://www.tapsuk.com/40mmceramicvalve-large-ceramic-valve-%2840mm%29.html

Murtinho

heinbloed wrote: »

Here some mail order adresses:

http://www.lunns.net/tapspares/ (good detailed page!)

http://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/range-replacement-tap-valves-cartridges.htm

http://www.tapsuk.com/40mmceramicvalve-large-ceramic-valve-%2840mm%29.html

ta Heineblod, but like i said earlier i need it sorted asap, went to 3 places, one said that they did a clear out a few weeks ago and most likely had a few then. Any im just going to get a new tap installed and a softener while im at it.