PROJECT 2

FIX A LEAKING TAP

2021-03-04 -

The drip, drip, drip of a leaking tap is not just annoying, it also sends money, literally, down the drain. But you don’t need an expensive call-out from a plumber – fixing a leaking tap only takes a few minutes.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Turn off the water supply to the house at the meter. Open the tap to drain any water le in the pipes.

STEP 2 With an adjustable spanner, undo and remove bu on screw on handle top. It usually has the ‘H’ or ‘C’ to indicate the type of tap.

STEP 3 Remove tap handle and flange until you leave the tap bonnet and spindle exposed.

STEP 4 Use spanner to unscrew bonnet, which will have the spindle screwed into it, and remove. The valve will be le in the body of the tap, which is a ached to the vanity.

STEP 5 Remove old valve from tap body and replace.

STEP 6 While tap is still dismantled, unscrew spindle from bonnet, replace black ‘O’ rings and lubricate. Rea ach spindle. Put a new red body washer around bonnet where it will meet the body, put them together and tighten with a spanner.

STEP 7 Turn water back on. If tap still leaks, the body may need reseating, which evens out where valve sits and removes gaps water can flow through.

STEP 8 Disassemble tap again and screw tap reseating tool into tap body.

STEP 9 Turn handle on tool until grinding head meets the seat in the body. Turn handle a few times with a bit of downward pressure. A er a few turns, remove tool and check seat. The seat brass should be shiny and freshly ground all the way around. If there are any dark spots, reposition tool and try again.

STEP 10 Wash out seat to remove any metal filings. Replace tap assembly and test if leak is fixed. If tap is old and seat too worn, slip a stainless steel seat into body to provide a new surface for valve to sit on.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Put strips of painter’s tape on wall where towel rail will sit.

STEP 2 Measure and mark tape for centre of rail where it meets the wall.

STEP 3 Use a spirit level to mark a level line across the marks already drawn, forming a cross. If fiing a tall rail, as here, make sure the crosses at top and boom are plumb.

STEP 4 Remove mounting plate from towel rail and hold against tape so centre of plate is over centre of cross. Mark screw holes in plate on tape. Repeat with other 3 mounting plates.

STEP 5 Using a 5mm glass and tile drill bit, carefully drill holes for screws at each marked point.

STEP 6 Remove tape, insert the wall plugs into the holes and tap flush with the tiles.

STEP 7 Use supplied screws to aach mounting plates to the wall.

STEP 8 Li the rail so it sits over the mounting plates. Use an allen key to tighten the grub screws on the rail and hold it on the mounting plates.