Tap problem - dripping

splendid101

Hello all.

I'm having a problem with my cold tap in the kitchen. It's dripping. It takes an extra effort to turn it fully off. If you don't use a bit of force it swivels back and drips or even turns on more than that and become a light flow.

Using my incredible DIY skills I unscrewed it and took off the top but didn't have a clue what to do after that. I took the top off the hot tap which is working okay and there's no obvious difference between them.

I've attached some pictures to show what type of tap it is. I'd really appreciate a bit of help as I don't want to call out a plumber for something I think should be fixable myself.

Thanks for any help people can offer.

Alan


Hello all.

I'm having a problem with my cold tap in the kitchen. It's dripping. It takes an extra effort to turn it fully off. If you don't use a bit of force it swivels back and drips or even turns on more than that and become a light flow.

Using my incredible DIY skills I unscrewed it and took off the top but didn't have a clue what to do after that. I took the top off the hot tap which is working okay and there's no obvious difference between them.

I've attached some pictures to show what type of tap it is. Think they're pretty self explanatory. The last one is the bottom of the tap - looks pretty worn but I don't believe this is the problem.

I'd really appreciate a bit of help as I don't want to call out a plumber for something I think should be fixable myself.

Thanks for any help people can offer.

Alan

JohnnieK

At this stage I would go into heatmerchants and get a tap restorer. It's basically a new head washer and all. Just unscrew the old one out and screw the new one in.

Your giving yourself a headache over nothing. B&Q, Woodies might do them too.

splendid101

Bumping up this old thread I started.

Johnnie, thanks for the reply and sorry for never acknowledging you at the time.

The tap was okay for another while, I just turned it really tight every time and it didn't drip. Now it's gone to hell and is running all the time. Terrible waste of water. I'm glad the charges aren't in at present. I can't find the mains! I suspect the builders of my ridiculous apartment have it hidden behind the water tank out of reach and out of view.

When I try turn it off, the flow gets less and less and then suddenly gets really strong again. Like with a bottle cap, you screw it closed but with some cheap bottles when you screw too much it comes off the threads and you've to start again. So it won't stop the flow fully.

Question: do the taps pictured above originally have washers? Were my ones just worn away?

I tried putting on a washer (that wasn't the exact fit) and made it worse). I though it would help seal off the flow.

When I push down on the tap it slows it or cuts it off altogether. I've no way of holding it down though.

Thanks a lot guys.

Going to get the father in law to sort it out next weekend but don't want to wait six days if ye can offer a solution using your vast swathes of knowledge.

Alan

Cedrus

Your pictures don't get into the washer, open that brass nut just above the chrome shoulder and you'll find a rubberpolyplasticthingummy washer, the replacement will have to be almost perfect, these little robots of our domestic idyll ask for little but this is one time when the fit must be right.
Do not do this until you have isolated the supply, the kitchen cold tap will (should) be directly off the mains and the pressure will be huge. If you manage to get into it, measure it, flip it over and put it all back together, it'll work for ages, so you can then use your measurements to get a new washer and do it properly. At this point you should also consider a new tap or at least fitting ballofixes under the existing taps for easy renewal

JohnnieK

splendid101 wrote: »

Bumping up this old thread I started.

Johnnie, thanks for the reply and sorry for never acknowledging you at the time.

The tap was okay for another while, I just turned it really tight every time and it didn't drip. Now it's gone to hell and is running all the time. Terrible waste of water. I'm glad the charges aren't in at present. I can't find the mains! I suspect the builders of my ridiculous apartment have it hidden behind the water tank out of reach and out of view.

When I try turn it off, the flow gets less and less and then suddenly gets really strong again. Like with a bottle cap, you screw it closed but with some cheap bottles when you screw too much it comes off the threads and you've to start again. So it won't stop the flow fully.

Question: do the taps pictured above originally have washers? Were my ones just worn away?

I tried putting on a washer (that wasn't the exact fit) and made it worse). I though it would help seal off the flow.

When I push down on the tap it slows it or cuts it off altogether. I've no way of holding it down though.

Thanks a lot guys.

Going to get the father in law to sort it out next weekend but don't want to wait six days if ye can offer a solution using your vast swathes of knowledge.

Alan

You have fiddled with the head that much now you would be better changing it as I suggested earlier. B&Q do them and there not that dear. They come in a pack of two so you will have a spare as well. You will have it done in 20 mins.

splendid101

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I'm getting it fixed on Friday. Money worries have forced it to be left until then.

Johnnie, does a tap restorer need the water supply cut off? Not sure I can fully envision how they work.

Thanks again all.

JohnnieK

Yes the water does need to be turned off.

Gremlinertia

JohnnieK wrote: »

You have fiddled with the head that much now you would be better changing it as I suggested earlier. B&Q do them and there not that dear. They come in a pack of two so you will have a spare as well. You will have it done in 20 mins.

Apologies for the bump but having same problem here and didn't want to start new thread - added twist though, the washer i put in last time detached when i tried to remove brass piece it sticks on.. Tried removing with tweezers but just can't grab it.. Any suggestion?.

JohnnieK

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Apologies for the bump but having same problem here and didn't want to start new thread - added twist though, the washer i put in last time detached when i tried to remove brass piece it sticks on.. Tried removing with tweezers but just can't grab it.. Any suggestion?.

You will need a small long nose pliers, or a small flat head screw driver to try and turn it on it's side then grab with the pliers.