TO RENEW A TAP WASHER

Evening Star, Issue 21092, 3 May 1932, Page 2

TO RENEW A TAP WASHER

Household water taps are usually of the screw-down type, in which a “ jumper ” is inserted, a threade spindle fitted with a handle which turns in the upper_ part of the body. As the jumper is raised by turning the handle the two waterways in the body of the tap are connected, and the water is allowed to flow. If the washer (which is made either of rubber, rubber composition, compressed fibre, or leather) becomes badly worn the tap drips, however tightly the jumper is screwed down. The remedy for a dripping tap is a new washer, and the size required is usually Jin or Jin, according to the size of the tap. These can be purchased at any ironmonger’s, and it is a good plan to keep a few washers of both sizes in the workshop. Before attempting to replace the washer it is first necessary to turn off the water supply. The supply to the cold water tap -will come from the street main (in which case there will be a stopcock, probably on the footpath whore the water enters the property; the supply to the hot water tap comes from the roof cistern. If there is no stopcock between the cistern • and the tap it is possible to plug the hole I in the cistern through which the water enters the pipe either with a tapered end of a broom handle or, if the hole is in the side, with a plug-shaped- piece of wood nailed at right angles to the handle. The plug should not fit tightly into the hole, as the water causes the wood to expand. It is important that any repairs to the hot water system should be carried out while there is no fire under the hot water boiler, and to, ensure that the flow from the tap is normal before the fire is relighted. It may be found on removing the plug from the cistern that water will not flow through taps on the upper floors, due to an air lock. This can be remedied by closing the tap and turning on the water at a lower level. The tap to be mended should bo left running whilst the ballcock to the cistern should be tied in a closed position. Having removed the head from the body of the tap, the washer will be seen on a brass seating at the lower end of the spindle. The nut securing the old washer to the jumper shoidd be unscrewed, the new washer fitted, and the various parts of the tap replaced.