Fix my tap

Belmit · 30-01-2012, 19:39

Pretty much since I moved in my outside tap has had a very slow leak from what I understand to be the double-check valve at the base of the tap. This tap has one on the underside like mine:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plum.../sd2696/p32002

I reported it when I moved in, had people come round to do snagging on other stuff, and they said they'd need to get a plumber in for it. I don't believe them, and think all it is is that the o-ring has perished. Tightening the nut will only stop it for so long, and now doesn't seem to do anything as it's gotten worse.

My question is, does my diagnosis sound right, and if so what do I need to Google to find the right part? Clearly I'm entering all the wrong terms. Once I have this part I can quite easily turn off the water and replace the ring, and I'm pretty sure I don't need to wait in for a plumber!

Glaucus · 30-01-2012, 20:32

Depends, it might just be Oring and might be the face of the metal having an indent in it/corroded.
Best things turn water of and take it apart will take seconds. If its just Oring buy it, or if you need to grind the face of, you can buy a little hand tool and very easy to do.

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/diy-tap-...ign=GoogleBase

Pheebs · 30-01-2012, 20:53

Can you take a piccie?! I'd do as above in the respect of taking it apart and seeing whether there any scratches/corrosion that's evident. Is do it when you have a spare couple of hours and take the parts to your local plumbase or equivalent (I have an awesome plumbing merchant near by

)

Grab yourself some plumbersmate and make sure you have some vaseline available!! I never plumb without now!!

Belmit · 30-01-2012, 21:12

Thanks for the tips both.

Just been trying to find an isolator for the outside tap but I can't fathom it. It just disappears into the wall and then... nothing. I can turn the water off completely as there's both a tap stopcock and a Sure Stop switch under the kitchen sink. I can only assume there's an in-line valve somewhere. If I could just switch it off at least I could stop worrying about it until it's light enough and not freezing out. Five minutes trying to tighten it earlier and suddenly realised my hand had gone numb!

Belmit · 30-01-2012, 21:37

The tap:
http://imageshack.us/f/841/imageqywc.jpg/

Slightly better shot of the valve:
http://imageshack.us/f/69/imagepmm.jpg/

Pheebs · 30-01-2012, 23:08

Ahhh ok... You may get away with replacing the tap if its leaking from there only (take off, loop ptfe, clean elbow and then bosh back on and wait) but if not then you need a wall plate elbow... There's various types you can get, some people favour push fits (I never trust push fits especially when using them with old fittings)...push fit elbow.... This I think is in keeping with the one you have at the moment (Which will be a bugger to remove and not damage the copper piping coming out of the wall.) if you can get it off I'd replace it with a compression elbow. It's my preferred fitting, which I tend to loop with Ptfe tape on the inside (anticlockwise I think... The opposite way to the screwing action!!) then tighten it carefully on. My main concern would be the damage to the copper piping poking out the wall as if that fluffs up then that will be a monkey to sort!

Pheebs · 30-01-2012, 23:10

By the way make sure you have two decent pairs of adjustable pliers.... They're a godsend!

Belmit · 30-01-2012, 23:11

Fingers crossed it's the rubber ring then!

Pheebs · 30-01-2012, 23:41

Ahaha, that'll learn me for not reading properly (been on phone typing!!) Yeh, bosh it apart take duff bits to plumbase, ask replacement, jobs done!! Thought it was the whole lot was duff!

Belmit · 05-02-2012, 16:56

It was the ring. Yay!

30-01-2012, 19:39	#1
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Fix my tap Pretty much since I moved in my outside tap has had a very slow leak from what I understand to be the double-check valve at the base of the tap. This tap has one on the underside like mine: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plum.../sd2696/p32002 I reported it when I moved in, had people come round to do snagging on other stuff, and they said they'd need to get a plumber in for it. I don't believe them, and think all it is is that the o-ring has perished. Tightening the nut will only stop it for so long, and now doesn't seem to do anything as it's gotten worse. My question is, does my diagnosis sound right, and if so what do I need to Google to find the right part? Clearly I'm entering all the wrong terms. Once I have this part I can quite easily turn off the water and replace the ring, and I'm pretty sure I don't need to wait in for a plumber! __________________

30-01-2012, 20:32	#2
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	Depends, it might just be Oring and might be the face of the metal having an indent in it/corroded. Best things turn water of and take it apart will take seconds. If its just Oring buy it, or if you need to grind the face of, you can buy a little hand tool and very easy to do. http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/diy-tap-...ign=GoogleBase __________________ Last edited by Glaucus; 30-01-2012 at 21:37.

30-01-2012, 20:53	#3
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Can you take a piccie?! I'd do as above in the respect of taking it apart and seeing whether there any scratches/corrosion that's evident. Is do it when you have a spare couple of hours and take the parts to your local plumbase or equivalent (I have an awesome plumbing merchant near by) Grab yourself some plumbersmate and make sure you have some vaseline available!! I never plumb without now!! __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

30-01-2012, 21:12	#4
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Thanks for the tips both. Just been trying to find an isolator for the outside tap but I can't fathom it. It just disappears into the wall and then... nothing. I can turn the water off completely as there's both a tap stopcock and a Sure Stop switch under the kitchen sink. I can only assume there's an in-line valve somewhere. If I could just switch it off at least I could stop worrying about it until it's light enough and not freezing out. Five minutes trying to tighten it earlier and suddenly realised my hand had gone numb! __________________

30-01-2012, 21:37	#5
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	The tap: http://imageshack.us/f/841/imageqywc.jpg/ Slightly better shot of the valve: http://imageshack.us/f/69/imagepmm.jpg/ __________________

30-01-2012, 23:08	#6
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Ahhh ok... You may get away with replacing the tap if its leaking from there only (take off, loop ptfe, clean elbow and then bosh back on and wait) but if not then you need a wall plate elbow... There's various types you can get, some people favour push fits (I never trust push fits especially when using them with old fittings)...push fit elbow.... This I think is in keeping with the one you have at the moment (Which will be a bugger to remove and not damage the copper piping coming out of the wall.) if you can get it off I'd replace it with a compression elbow. It's my preferred fitting, which I tend to loop with Ptfe tape on the inside (anticlockwise I think... The opposite way to the screwing action!!) then tighten it carefully on. My main concern would be the damage to the copper piping poking out the wall as if that fluffs up then that will be a monkey to sort! __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

30-01-2012, 23:10	#7
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	By the way make sure you have two decent pairs of adjustable pliers.... They're a godsend! __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

30-01-2012, 23:11	#8
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Fingers crossed it's the rubber ring then! __________________

30-01-2012, 23:41	#9
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Ahaha, that'll learn me for not reading properly (been on phone typing!!) Yeh, bosh it apart take duff bits to plumbase, ask replacement, jobs done!! Thought it was the whole lot was duff! __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

05-02-2012, 16:56	#10
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	It was the ring. Yay! __________________