Can I oil a mixer tap arm?

chuckles30

I hope this is the right place.....if not, please feel free to move it.

The mixer arm on my kitchen sink tap has got very stiff over the last couple of weeks & everytime I move it, I feel the entire tap unit is moving unless I keep hold of the bottom section. I am afraid this will eventually do damage to the connections under the sink. Now my question is, can I put oil (normal 3in1 or other) onto the tap unit to loosen it up? Or am I looking at a new tap? It's only there about 5.5 years, so really hoping there's something I can do to keep it working as it seems way too soon to have to replace it.

Joey the lips

Why not use vegtable oil.... Its food grade and it lubricates. Wont have the same properties as 3 in one but wont do you any harm if it gets into the water.

heinbloed

Use stable silicone 'grease', this is available for the purpose.The trade name is petrol jelly.
See here, first column, 3rd row:

http://www.lunns.net/tapspares/

You local drug store sells it as well.
Do not use mineral oil or vegetable oil. Mineral oil is a no go for food contact and vegetable oil is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Both should not be used for hygene reasons. Both could degrade/decay the sealants.

Since this hard moving turned up very sudden it might be a case of displaced sealant rings.

Billy Bunting

VASALINE.

Joey the lips

heinbloed wrote: »

vegetable oil is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Both should not be used for hygene reasons..

Oh please. I imagine that a whole family will be struck down and die because of a tablespoon of veg oil...

However the vasaline is excellent and a perfect all round solution.

heinbloed

Is it legal to contaminate the drinking water with organic substances?

It is not the vegetable oil which causes problems but the bacteria breeding on it and the decay products resulting from unlicensed aditives combined with organic matter like EPDM, plastics (sealant rings, tubes, pipes).

Talk to a hygene officer for further informations concerning the legal requirements for drinking water.

Billy Bunting

heinbloed wrote: »

Is it legal to contaminate the drinking water with organic substances?

It is not the vegetable oil which causes problems but the bacteria breeding on it and the decay products resulting from unlicensed aditives combined with organic matter like EPDM, plastics (sealant rings, tubes, pipes).

Talk to a hygene officer for further informations concerning the legal requirements for drinking water.

Your life must be so complicated :rolleyes:

Could you expand on EPDM just so there is no misunderstanding on what your saying.

Joey the lips

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Your life must be so complicated :rolleyes:

Could you expand on EPDM just so there is no misunderstanding on what your saying.

He means the tiny little o ring that the vegtable oil will not get anywhere near. But its cool. The op has vasaline. I am guessing like most men he has that in his lunch box.

freddyuk

It is most likely the neoprene O ring has decayed or dislodged and will therefore be damaged. Any form of lubricant is only delaying the inevitable replacement of the O ring (or rings).
Undo the grub screw round the back of the tap and pull off the spout gently.
Clean the surfaces and replace the O ring or rings and the tap will be good as new for at least another 5 years.
If you have hard water the scale will destroy O rings quite quickly.
Probably cost less than a tub of Vaseline. Good luck even finding mineral oil.

Billy Bunting

Joey the lips wrote: »

He means the tiny little o ring that the vegtable oil will not get anywhere near. But its cool. The op has vasaline. I am guessing like most men he has that in his lunch box.

You spoilt that one Joey, was waiting for the links and utter tosh that would explain a simple o ring. :rolleyes:

heinbloed

Billy Bunting asks:

Could you expand on EPDM just so there is no misunderstanding on what your saying

EPDM is artificial rubber, Billy Bunting. Frequently used in rubber hoses, extendable hoses drawn from the kitchen tap. Modern things, available from the plumbing shop, B&Q, IKEA etc.........

chuckles30

Thanks folks for the replies......I do have vaseline, so will give that a go.

But given what Freddy suggests about hard water....I think I may need to open it up and clean it out as I live in a hard water area. Short term fix of vaseline though until I feel like fixing it....

Micky Dolenz

heinbloed wrote: »

Is it legal to contaminate the drinking water with organic substances?

It is not the vegetable oil which causes problems but the bacteria breeding on it and the decay products resulting from unlicensed aditives combined with organic matter like EPDM, plastics (sealant rings, tubes, pipes).

Talk to a hygene officer for further informations concerning the legal requirements for drinking water.

To call it contaminate is ridiculous. There are far worse things in our water supply then a drop of vegetable oil on an O ring.

Bacteria lives everywhere, all over a tap, pipework filter and the water itself. Your whole point is completely moot and only serves to argue for arguments sake.

OP, KY jelly is another good one.

heinbloed

My question

Is it legal to contaminate the drinking water with organic substances?

isn't answered.

Is this due to a lack of knowledge?

Micky Dolenz

heinbloed wrote: »

My question



isn't answered.

Is this due to a lack of knowledge?

Why not ask the Galway County council or numerous other councils who have had to restrict water or issue boil notices. While you are at it you could also ask them how they ensure that no contaminates enter the water supply when repairs are carried out through out the system.

Joey the lips

I think this one has ran its course.....