Fitting and fixing taps

Press, 8 May 1986, Page 28

Fitting and fixing taps

Fixing a leaking tap or fitting new taps are small tasks, but can make a big difference to how you feel about the plumbing in your house. The Plumbing Information Bureau advises you how to go about these two tasks.

Before attempting either, turn the water off at the mains supply tap (the toby). This controls the supply of water to the house from the street mains and is usually found half a metre or so outside your front boundary line. The tap is concealed inside a small square iron box with a hinged lid. Search thoroughly if you cannot find it easily. Often the toby is buried or hidden in overgrowth. Look inside your boundary line also. If you cannot find it contact your local government authority. The toby should be checked occasionally to ensure it has not seized up and is free of dirt and debris.

Continual dripping or difficulty in turning off taps indicates a worn washer. With the simple outside tap, screw off the upper part of the tap completely to expose the washer which will usually be held in place with a small nut. Unscrew the the nut, replace the washer and

screw the tap mechanism back into its seating. Interior taps usually have a cover sleeve just under the tap grip. Here it may be necessary to remove the grip, or handle, first to remove the cover. The grip will usually be held in place with a small nut which will be located under a cap or disc on top of the handle. The sleeve is often held in place with a screw thread, and you should bind a piece of cloth around it before using a wrench to unscrew it. Otherwise you may mar the surface.

After re-assembling the tap, turn on the water at the main and clear the airlock at each tap throughout the house.

Washers come in several sizes, and you should have a selection on hand. Most hardware stores, plumbers or branches of Plumbing World have small packets containing a range of different common sizes.

If you do not happen to have the right size, it is sometimes possible to make a temporary repair by reversing the washer in its seating, turning the unused side uppermost.

Hot and cold washers used to be of different compositions, but new washers can be used with either.

New taps can lift the look of a bathroom or brighten the kitchen sink bench especially if they are colour co-ordinated to

match other accessories. Your local branch of Plumbing World will have an attractive range to choose from, and will advise how they should be fitted. While you may be able to replace your old taps yourself, the bureau advises that the best equipped to do the job is a plumber. Old taps can sometimes be “impossible” to remove. Brute force may result in a damaged basin or vanity or even fracture

the joint, or, if the connection is corroded, you may need to replace part. Either way, you will need the attention of a plumber. If you are game to do it yourself, remember to turn off the water at the main before you start and check for leaks before you regard the job as complete. Another tip: to avoid scratching the new tap, wrap a piece of cloth around it before you apply a wrench to screw it in position.