North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Taps and Mixers’ Category

The cover and head come as one piece in a modern shrouded head tap. As such, it may be not immediately obvious how to remove the shrouded head to get at the washer inside and replace it to stop the leak.

It may be the case that the head is secured in place by a screw under the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ button, or alternatively next to the head. If there is no screw there, you might be able to simply pull off the head, or it may need to be unscrewed after turning the tap on full.

Drain the supply pipe and expose the screw that retains the head by pulling away the coloured indicator button.

Next, release the screw completely and lift away the head of the tap. The head may be held in place by a side screw or it could be a push fit as mentioned above.

Use a couple of spanners when doing this, utilizing one of them to prevent the body from turning and the other to release the headgear nut, and then completely lift out the headgear assemblage.

Finally, remove the washer from the jumper unit by simply releasing its retaining screw. Choose a new washer of the correct size from the DIY store, fit it into the tap and reassemble the whole thing.

If in doubt about the exact type and size of washer that you need, take the old damaged one along to the store to make sure that you get the correct one.

It is not uncommon for bathroom taps to need replacing after years of use. Whether the tap is leaking or the homeowners simply want a new and polished look, this do it yourself project is pretty easy and affordable. The first thing to do when replacing the tap is to turn off the water beneath the sink. There should be water valves under the sink, but if not, turn off the main water supply.

Next, remove the handles of the existing tap. This is done by removing the cover at the top of the handle and removing the screws located in the handles. There should be a nut at the base of the tap stem, holding the entire unit in place. This will also need to be removed. Now, the entire tap can be removed.

Clean the surface before installing the new tap. The new unit should have springs included. Install the spring with the smaller side facing up and push the new unit on top of the spring. This may take a few tries to get it lined up evenly. Once it is in place, replace the stem and the bonnet nut and tighten. The original handles can be used again, or new ones installed for a completely different look. Updating the handles alone will provide for a nice and clean look.

Once the new springs are installed, the tap should not leak and the handles should work appropriately. When the repair is finished, turn the water supply back on and test for any leaks. If there are leaks around the handles, the spring may not have been positioned correctly and this will require removing the hardware and installing again. For leak prevention, use plumber’s tape around the threads of all nuts and bolts in the fixtures.

Anyone who’s been kept awake by a dripping tap when they should have been sleeping will know just how maddening it can be. Dealing with it, happily, is a simple DIY job. Forget architects and building experts, just roll up your sleeves and get to work.

First, turn off the water supply to the tap. If you’re lucky, there’ll be a servicing valve near the tap, but in older properties you might have to turn off at the mains (the mains stop valve is usually in the kitchen). Then, just open the tap and let all the remaining water flow out (but make sure the immersion heater and/or boiler are turned off for hot taps, and close the valve on the cold water ‘feed’ pipe to the cylinder). If you’ve got an open vent system (with a tank in the loft), open all the taps in the bathroom to drain the cistern.

Place a plug in the basin and wrap a cloth around the tap’s stem to avoid damaging the finish.  Hold the tap in place through the cloth with one adjustable spanner and unscrew the top with another (with some taps, you’ll have to pry open a top cover before you can loosen it). Unscrew the tap’s collar with the wrench and remove it. Underneath the assembly you’ll see the worn rubber washer – the cause of the leak. Remove it, replace it with a new one, clean everything up with a cloth and screw the collar back into place. Turn on the water supply – and look forward to sweet dreams.

Whether you’re modifying existing plumbing or running pipework to a new location, fitting a bathroom sink in a bathroom is likely to present few difficulties provided that you give some thought to how you will run the waste to the vertical stack.

When choosing a bathroom sink you will have the choice of wall-hung or a pedestal bathroom sink. They are invariably made from vitreous china, but bathroom sinks that are supported all round by a counter top are also available in pressed steel and plastic.

Be sure to select your basin taps at the time of choosing your bathroom sink, in order to ensure the bathroom sink of your choice has holes at the required spacing in order to receive the basin taps – or no holes at all if the basin taps are to be wall mounted.

When it comes to the pedestal bathroom sink, the hollow pedestal provides support for the basin and also conceals the unsightly supply and waste pipes. The bathroom sink is secured to the wall with screws, but the pedestal supports much of the weight.

With the wall-hung bathroom sink, the older wall-hung basins are supported on large, screw-fixed brackets, but a modern concealed mounting is just as strong provided the wall fixings are secure. Be sure to check that you can screw into the studs of a timber-frame wall or take off the plaster and install a mounting board. If you want to hide the pipes of the wall-hung bathroom sink, consider some form of panelling.

Whether they are traditional or contemporary in design, there is a huge range of basin taps designed to complement the basin unit of any home. With a vast array of basin taps to meet all budgets, take your pick from stylish mixer taps, single lever taps and basin taps in pairs, that offer that finishing touch to any bathroom.

Many basin taps are marvellous to look at and most modern basin taps have many features that allow you to have complete control over the water flow.

Mixer basin taps allow you to mix hot and cold water at your convenience and also allow you to control temperature. Basin taps now even possess automatic features that mean you do not even need to touch the tap, allowing you further convenience, but also with great style.

Most basin taps are made to standard sizes, so fitting your basin taps to a new unit should not prove difficult, however, if you’re replacing taps on an older fitting, be sure to check that your new basin taps cover the access holes correctly. Also remember to check that the spout is long enough to deliver water where you want it to go – there must be enough overhang to wash your hands underneath the basin taps, for instance.

Furthermore, whilst you have the water turned off, fit service valves to the pipes serving the basin taps so that the taps can be serviced in future without having to turn off the water.

Whether you are thinking of selling your house and want to maximise your profit or are just fed up with staring at the same tired fixtures as you lie in the bath, brightening up your bathroom should be a priority.

What’s more it need not cost a fortune. Have a good look around the bathroom. Isolate areas that need attention and then go to work compiling a list of trouble spots.

Top of the list is sure to be those boring fixtures. Things such as vanity unit doorknobs and hinges can be easily and cheaply changed. You will be amazed at how much difference such small items can make.

Give the room a lick of paint. Change the colour scheme. It will take a weekend at most. Think vibrant colour. Be experimental. Paint no longer costs the earth and it will be like having a completely new bathroom.

Painting not your thing? Then try wallpaper. Create a mural or alternate different patterns on each wall. Bathroom wallpaper is easy to hang and wrinkle resistant. Choose from a huge variety of patterns and designs.

Throw out those tired looking towels. Invest in some of the heavy styles in plush. Again, choose something colourful that complements your bathroom walls.

Don’t forget to have look at your shower curtain. When was the last time it was changed? Perhaps pick one in a fabric and line it with vinyl. There is really no need to keep buying the cheap and nasty plastic ones from the local supermarket.

Whether you are looking for functionality, a sharp contemporary look, or a more classic approach, there is a huge variety of sinks to choose from.

It all depends on your own taste, but before choosing your design it is also crucially important to consider things such as the size of your bathroom, whether you prefer to disguise the plumbing or would like to have some additional storage space.

Pedestal sinks are the most usual type of sink in domestic bathrooms. It sits on top of a ceramic column or pedestal and needs to be firmly fixed to an adjoining wall.

Although the overall size of the sink may vary, the actual bowl area is generously designed for family usage. In addition, the ceramic pedestal will also disguise the majority of necessary plumbing.

Wall hung sinks are also known as suspended sinks. As its name indicates, both the sink and pedestal are fixed to the wall but do not reach the floor. One of its most obvious benefits is ease of cleaning – particularly the underside of the fixture. Although more commonly installed elsewhere than the UK, it is enjoying increasing popularity due to its more contemporary style.

A Vanity sink will be either semi-recessed on a slim unit, or may completely cover an open-top unit.

Its main benefit is the large amount of additional storage space it can offer – as well as disguising all the plumbing. The storage area looks clean and stylish and assures your bathroom is free of avoidable clutter while keeping everything you need close at hand.

Choosing the right bath taps for your bathroom suite may be a lot harder than you think. The vast range on offer means that you will definitely be spoilt for choice. Of course, the modern fittings will always prove popular, especially with anyone who is living in a relatively new house or apartment.

Single (monobloc) bath taps are now a common sight with the majority of new bathroom suites and not only will they save you plenty of space around the head of your bath, but they will also complement any modern design. Wall-mounted bath taps, however, are also becoming more widespread and will give a sleeker appearance to your bathroom.

Chrome is easily the finish of choice for modern bathrooms, but if you want to add a touch of tradition, gold coloured or bronze bath taps will be the best option. For stand-alone baths, they will also be the most obvious choice. These old-style fittings come in a range of different categories, such as Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian, so if you are trying to match up your bath taps to any other fittings, accessories or furniture, be sure that it is part of the same style. Mixing brand names is also something that is never recommended.

Since the arrival of power showers, combining showerheads with bathroom taps is not as popular as it once was, but if you feel installing an electric shower in your new stylish bathroom will take away from its character, there are a variety of options that will suit both modern and vintage designs.

Installing new bathroom taps is not recommended if you are in any way unsure about how to go about doing it correctly. However, knowing how to install your own bathroom taps can greatly cut the cost of your bathroom. Of course, whether you are using a single-bloc mixer or just a regular two-tap pair, each will add its own degree of difficulty to the procedure.

The most important thing to do before you start to remove existing taps and connect the new ones is to ensure that the main water system has been shut off and completely drained. Also, you should never fix the bath into place before installing the bath taps, as this will make the job a lot harder, especially when you are trying to connect the pipe work to the taps.

The taps should be secured by hand on to the base of the bath or basin before the pipe work is connected. If you find that the existing pipes are unable to make a proper connection to the taps you will need to use corrugated copper piping, which you will be able to bend into shape, or flexible tap connectors to make a secure connection. You should then secure the copper piping to the insert of the taps before the existing pipe work.

Once the taps and the corrugated copper piping are in place connect the pipes and secure them tightly with a spanner. You can then tighten the bathroom taps to the bath or basin and turn on the water again.

The cost of some good quality basin taps can put a lot of people off when it comes to choosing the fittings for their bathroom suite, but fortunately there is a wealth of styles that will be able to fit any budget. If you are installing a completely new bathroom, and want to keep the cost relatively low, it will be well worth your while sticking to modern-style basin taps, as there is far more choice in this category. Traditional styles of basin taps can also be bought at a cheap price, but quite often these will not be up to a good standard of quality.

Also highly recommended is sticking to a chrome finish, as again there will be far more choice in comparison to other finishes, such as brass. Currently in trend and a common sight in modern bathroom displays are single-bloc mixer basin taps, which not only save space but also make it a lot easier to mix hot and cold water for the user.

However, if you are paying a professional to install your bathroom suite and are intending to use the same washbasin, it will be necessary to stick to a similar overall design to that which was previously installed if you wish to save on costs, as there will be more expense with fitting a single-bloc mixer tap as of course the basin itself will have to be replaced.