Bathroom Taps

If you are anyway unsure, we always advise that you seek professional assistance for you tap installation.

Before you grab your toolbox, make sure you note what type you have. Most basins will be fitted with either a pillar tap or a mixer tap. Once you’ve noted your type of tap, it’s important to note whether you’ll be replacing a tap or installing a tap in a place that has never had one before. The former option will make your job a bit easier. If you are replacing an existing tap with a new one, it makes sense to use the existing plumbing wherever possible. Firstly, turn off the water supply, either at the isolation valve or the main stopcock if you don’t have an isolation valve. Then, with your basin spanner, disconnect your supply pipe from the current tap so it can be removed. Use the basin spanner to access both the nut on the tap and the backing nut and undo the old and tighten the new. Poke the end of the spanner up to the compression nut o the base of the tap and wrap the jaws around it until you have a firm grip on the nut. Then carefully apply pressure to the nut to undo it. Using the basin spanner again, put it under the sink, wrapping the jaws around the backing nut on the base of the tap that holds it to the sink. Undo it and fully remove it. Once the old tap is removed, clean the tap hole well to remove any dirt or grime, as this new tap will hopefully be staying there for a while. Once cleaned, take your new tap and drop it through the tap hole. Ensure it is centrally positioned over the tap hole and reach underneath and screw up the backing nut until it’s finger tight. Now, position yourself under the sink and use your basin spanner to fully tighten the backing nut, ensuring the tap is lining up on top of the basin as you are tightening it (a pair of extra eyes might be good, or just regularly pop your head up). Then screw the tap end of your tap connector on to the base of your tap, finger tight first and then some pinching with the basin wrench. With the tap end connected, you can now connect the other end to the supply pipe. If you’re using the same connector, then push on the push fit or add a compression nut before tightening with a wrench. Once the pipe is prepped and ready, push on the push fitting until it goes the full way down the pipe and then pull it back gently to ensure it is engaged.

With everything connected up and assembled, all that is left is to run the water to check for any leaks. If there’s some leaking, don’t worry, just check all of your joints and carefully tighten any that are leaking. If everything looks good, then congratulations, you’ve changed a tap!

Fixing a leaking tap may require the help of a professional plumber, so we always advise you seek professional help if you are unsure.

After you’ve turned off the water supply, remove the handle and take off the cover/ nozzle to find the retaining screw inside the tap. Then take your screwdriver and unscrew the retaining screw to take off the head of the tap. You should now be able to see the valve, and using a spanner,, undo the valve by unscrewing the nut section at its bottom.

To remove the washer of the tap, carefully prise it out of place with your screwdriver –if it’s necessary. Then simply replace this washer with a new one –it’s likely that it’s what is causing the problem. Also check if the supply pipes are leaking, which may have happened if you accidentally damaged them during your repairs. If your tap is still fixing then it is time to call in a professional.

Increasing the water pressure in your taps may require more than a quick-fix, so you always advise that you seek professional help if you are unsure.

Washing your hands is one of the most basic day-to-day tasks, and as such, it shouldn’t be in any way difficult. But a tap producing water at a low pressure can make hand washing much more difficult, awkward and time-consuming than it needs to be. The most common cause of low water pressure is a faulty valve, so it might be time to replace your current valve. It may also be caused by clogged pipes which can be helped with a few ingredients in your cupboard. Use a baking soda and vinegar mix to unclog mineral build up and have them working good as new. There may also be a crack in your pipes, in which case, you will need to change the pipe completely.

The first thing to consider before choosing your taps is to check how many holes your basin has. If it has one hole, you have the choice between single-lever (which features a lever to allow you to precisely control the water temperature that will streamline from the one sprout) and monobloc taps (which has just one sprout but with two handles to control the flow of hot and cold water that the one sprout will output). If you have two tap holes, you’ll have to go for pillar taps (which has two separate sprouts for the output of water, one for hot and one for cold).

Taps are one of the dirtiest parts of the bathroom (they are touched before our hands get cleaned, after all). As such, a frequent cleaning of taps is needed in order to ensure proper hygiene. A wipe of anti-bacterial spray always does the job, but if you don’t want to subject your tap to any harsh chemicals, good idea, and there are many natural remedies for cleaning your tap –most of which can be found in the cupboard. Rub a half squeezed lemon rind over your tap to clean it, possibly leaving it for a few hours if there is a large limescale build up, then clean away. The acidity of vinegar is also great for cleaning taps. Make a solution of equal quantities vinegar and warm water then take a scrub pad with this solution and rub it all over your taps. If grime has collected at the tap joint, grab an old toothbrush dipped in the solution to scrub it away. Baking soda is also extremely helpful in removing stubborn stains.