My Dripping Tap - Please help

[cks333]

Hi,



I hope someone can help me in this. My tap shown above has been dripping a lot for the last few days. I could not open the tap head so that I can change the washer/valve to fix this problem.

I tried with wrench and screwdriver but the top part did not come out. I don't know what I was doing wrong. It looks as if the top part is attached firmly. Any ideas/ suggestions on how to remove the tap head so that I can access the valve screw inside.

Many thanks for your time and help.

 

[dontknowitall]

Bit tricky to say but it looks as if the top part unscrews from the lower bit.

Hmmm ... well, yes ... errr ... let me try again ...


If the club head is 60mm (top to bottom) and in 2 or 3 pieces the top third (10mm) unscrews from the rest of it - if you see what I mean. (The 60mm is my guess of the club head judging from your photo.)

 

[dontknowitall]

View attachment 2046

Hopefully this makes better sense!

 

[cks333]

Thanks for your reply. So, you are saying that I can unscrew the top part to access the valve screw ?

If so, which tool can i use for it as i already tried with a wrench (tried turning the top part) and screwdriver (tried lifting it up in vain) ?

Your diagram is useful to me. Many Thanks.

I tried searching for diagramatic info in internet but could not find it. Please let me know the tool and I will try.

Thanks again for your quick reply.

 

[dontknowitall]

They can be devils. You could try scraping some of the dirt away with a stanley knife and WD40 and so on. You can use a leather belt and then grips or any other method you can think of.

It might be easier to get a plumber in as we tend to have a variety of tools to do these things.

 

[cks333]

Hi,

I reside in Coventry, West Midlands and did ask for a quote over the phone to local plumbers today.
One quoted £68 incl. VAT + Parts
Another one quoted £45 + VAT + Parts
Is this normal ?

 

[HoodedClaw]

Well, I dont charge that much, its only a 30 min job and I'm not vat registered, so overall would be about £40 for me, but I'm half the cost of most plumbers in the area

Gator grip - that should undo it, its just rubber strap with a handle, very useful - or leather and grips, it won't be on 'that' tight, could also heat the cap up, hot air gun?

 

[cks333]

Hi HoodedClaw / Antony,

Thanks for your advice. Gonna try this weekend. Will check out if there is any non-vat reg. plumber so that i can ring if I am unsuccessful.

 

[WHPES]

for some taps the head just comes off in one piece. Have you tried prying the head off?

 

[markproperjob]

why not just turn off water supplies and replace pair of taps ~( if you think you are able, of course)instead of calling rather expensive plumbers from your area?
could be more viable.
taps havnt got concealed allen screws holding heads on have they?
or maybe just bully both tap heads off with grips, (expecting they will be damaged), and fit pair of tap revivers?

 

[mikegas]

use a set of grips on this part and unscrew

 

[cks333]

Thanks mike. Gonna try this weekend and update you. Your time is much appreciated.

 

[royston]

Im pretty much sure that the rounded section at the top will unscrew leaving you with a screw holding the rest of the tap top on. When you take that screw out, the top will completely lift off leaving you access to the tap body.

 

[cks333]

Hi All,

Many thanks for all your help and advise. I have managed to unscrew the top part and the nut as well. It has got a ceramic catridge inside it. I cleaned it and put it back but again dripped. So took it to B & Q and they said that they sell only generic ceramic catridges and cannot use theirs. They asked me to go to plumbing specialist shops where i can get the correct catridge.

Any idea about plumbing specialist shops ??? I checked online but could not find the correct one. I put back the old one and the dripping continues. What a hassle to find the spares !

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[HoodedClaw]

If you know or can find out the make I go online for parts. there are a few really good spares companies with exploded diagrams of valves.

All the dripping cartridges I've had so far have just needed a really good clean and descale.

 

[dontknowitall]

You could try these people:

Lunns

 

[markproperjob]

Ive always used plumb center.
They are a big national firm and every large town has one on an industrial area somewhere.
I know they sell their own brand half inch ceramic tap valves.
But you can also buy tap revivers, these come with a variety of style heads and give you a new valve using traditional tap washers that are less prone to problems. Your existing tap heads may fit these valves, take one along to compare. Cheaper than b&q!
118 wolesley plumbcenters in your area.
Mark

 

[cks333]

I managed to get one from Edwin fryer in Coventry. This solved my problem. Many thanks for everyone who answered my queries. Fantastic forum in my experience.