how do I fix my dripping kitchen tap?

danger_mouse_tm

Hi
I have a kitchen tap that's dripping. I have disassembled it but the washers appear to be ok. Any suggestions?

dodzy

Just get a replacement set from any plumbing suppliers. Probably about 15€. Bring your one with you to ensure you get the same fitting to allow the tap-head to fit correctly.

DublinDilbert

Changing the washer is no good if the seat is in poor condition. Most people change the washer and it does stop the drip for a short while but the damaged seat will cut into your nice new washer.

There's a little tool that can be used to grind the tap seat flat, most plumbing suppliers will sell these.

Sleeper12

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

Hi
I have a kitchen tap that's dripping. I have disassembled it but the washers appear to be ok. Any suggestions?

There are no washers on your tap spindles. You have quarter turn taps so they don't use rubber washers. They are ceramic instead. There could be a tiny bit of dirt stopping it close fully.
It's far simpler replacing the spindle as suggested above.

danger_mouse_tm

Hi all
Thanks for the replies. The hardware shop where I bought the tap didn't have any spares for the tap. They did however suggest that dirt my have caused the problem in the inner workings of the tap. So, I put the set back together and lo and behold, the leaking stopped-for one day!
Is there any where online I could by the parts (spindle) rather than dismantle the tap and bring it to a plumbing shop? Should I also get one of those tools for grinding the seat down?

dodzy

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

Hi all
Thanks for the replies. The hardware shop where I bought the tap didn't have any spares for the tap. They did however suggest that dirt my have caused the problem in the inner workings of the tap. So, I put the set back together and lo and behold, the leaking stopped-for one day!
Is there any where online I could by the parts (spindle) rather than dismantle the tap and bring it to a plumbing shop? Should I also get one of those tools for grinding the seat down?

Go to a proper plumbing suppliers. They'll sort you out. Local HW stores are always hit & miss.

Sleeper12

You must have a chadwicks, Heat |Merchants etc near you. You would be better off bringing one spindle with you because they are not regular spindles. Your ones look like quarter turn spindles. Also you'd never grind the seat down for quarter turn spindled as they are ceramic and have no rubber washers.

jack of all

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

Should I also get one of those tools for grinding the seat down?

There is no "valve seat" as such to grind down, you replace the ceramic cartridge, so as previous poster says your best bet is a visit to a proper plumbers merchant.

danger_mouse_tm

Hi all,

Sorry to resurrect this again. I got a tap grinder before reading the last two posts and did a bit of grinding. I thought it had worked but a day later they started dripping again. I went down to Irish International trading on the Tramore road in Cork this afternoon and brought him one of the old spindles. He said he wouldn't have an exact match but could give me a kit with two new spindles and quarter turn tap heads. I asked him also for a spanner to match the old one as I could only remove one spindle - the spark plug spanner that I was using was just spinning on the hot spindle.
When I got home I realized he had given me a spanner to fit the new spindles. No matter, I borrowed an adjustable spanner from a neighbour and eventually got the old one out and fitted the new spindles and tap heads.
Problem: Both tap heads turn on in the SAME direction. i.e. anti clock wise. I've hardly done something wrong, have I? The only thing I can think of is that someone must have arsed around with the set at the store and mixed up the spindles from two kits. There's another almighty drive in to Cork again tomorrow if that's the case.

dodzy

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

Hi all,


Problem: Both tap heads turn on in the SAME direction. i.e. anti clock wise. I've hardly done something wrong, have I? The only thing I can think of is that someone must have arsed around with the set at the store and mixed up the spindles from two kits. There's another almighty drive in to Cork again tomorrow if that's the case.

tap inserts are different. They should turn in opposite directions. I've never needed to attempt to change direction of turn. Not sure if even possible. Back on the road I'm afraid.

Dtp1979

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

Hi all,

Sorry to resurrect this again. I got a tap grinder before reading the last two posts and did a bit of grinding. I thought it had worked but a day later they started dripping again. I went down to Irish International trading on the Tramore road in Cork this afternoon and brought him one of the old spindles. He said he wouldn't have an exact match but could give me a kit with two new spindles and quarter turn tap heads. I asked him also for a spanner to match the old one as I could only remove one spindle - the spark plug spanner that I was using was just spinning on the hot spindle.
When I got home I realized he had given me a spanner to fit the new spindles. No matter, I borrowed an adjustable spanner from a neighbour and eventually got the old one out and fitted the new spindles and tap heads.
Problem: Both tap heads turn on in the SAME direction. i.e. anti clock wise. I've hardly done something wrong, have I? The only thing I can think of is that someone must have arsed around with the set at the store and mixed up the spindles from two kits. There's another almighty drive in to Cork again tomorrow if that's the case.

One should be red and the other blue.