Dribbly mixer tap repair

[Welderpaul]

A tenant has a driping mixer tap so I need to change the cartridges. Are the cartridges a standard item/fitment?

The tap won't be particularly fancy or expensive.

Thanks!

 

[123hotchef]

fook it off and change the whole tap mate, cheaper in the long run, trust me

 

[daleyd]

No they are generally specific I think - I recently changed a shower cartridge and it was a minefield even sending the manufacturer (aqualisa) pictures they managed to send me the wrong one (twice). Got a refund and sorted now but there’s loads of different ones.

 

[123hotchef]

No they are generally specific I think - I recently changed a shower cartridge and it was a minefield even sending the manufacturer (aqualisa) pictures they managed to send me the wrong one (twice). Got a refund and sorted now but there’s loads of different ones.

oh shower mixer cartrigues are even worse than tap cartrigues

 

[hunter27]

Take out one of the inserts and take it to a plumbers merchant. Most merchants will have a selection with different splines, lengths and threads. Most taps seem to have no makers name but I have never been let down yet with getting an insert that will fit.
Also take the tap handle with you.

 

[angellonewolf]

as above prob be quicker to swap out the tap

if you can be bothered and have a good plumber mechants near you you could remove the carts and take them see if they had the same ones but the time taken farting around and inserts for a 10er each

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there are quate a few taps the same ish for 40 quid i change them at work quite a lot and the time taken removing the carts going to the plumbers merchants going back and refitting its easier to go on my way to the place to toolstation/screwfix buy a same ish one for 40 quid get there swap out and go knowing its all new

 

[brightspark]

screwfix do the cartridges cheap theres 2 types just take one out and go match it up they come out easily and saves farting on replacing the lot .i done mine https://www.screwfix.com/search?search=tap+catriges

 

[angellonewolf]

the more expensive taps you have in there the less chance of finding a match at your local places

 

[Welderpaul]

the more expensive taps you have in there the less chance of finding a match at your local places

It won't be expensive

 

[Kram]

A tenant has a driping mixer tap so I need to change the cartridges. Are the cartridges a standard item/fitment?

The tap won't be particularly fancy or expensive.

Thanks!


View attachment 483094

Thats a Wickes ****e tap, ours is intentical. Chrome plated zinc construction and likely rotted out inside. Within a month I had to helicoil the cold water lever thread and the grub screw.

I wasnt paying, so no choice, but it was one of 20 or so items I wanted to reject and have them repair from the very expensive new kitchen.


I suggest to replace it with a solid brass type, chrome plated or otherwise, but not a zinc item with chrome or brass plating.

 

[addjunkie]

Buy 3 or 4 new taps, should last you till a new kitchen is required

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I reckon they're just made in batches from whatever the manufacturer has at hand when that batch was made...new tap will be easier unless it's a big brand.

I usually stick with either Hudson Reed or Franke...more money but their stuff lasts very well and spares are easy to get hold of.

 

[DAPPH]

I totally recommend Tap Magician , log in, read their website , phoning them if needed .
They have literally thousands of tap parts & cartridges .
Eleven years ago we tried all over the place locally to get them to no avail , I had to send them a couple of pictures of my cartridge , within minutes of getting them they had identified the cartridge and the tap and put a hot & cold set in the post to me .
IIRC sub £20 by card over the phone for the pair .
Five year later on I needed another set as the water board had flushed a drilled cast iron mains 70 mtrs away mains and metal particles disturbed in the flushing had scored the ceramic faces on my cold water tap .

Tap Magician were able to call me up by post code & name order references & get me another set in the next post .

It's best to replace both cartridges at the same time whilst your water is off at the stop valve even though the hot may not be leaking at present.

The likes of Plumb Centre, BQ & amazon and eBay were unable to supply the correct cartridges as the number of splines were for Pegler taps .

I seem to recall that most of their brass body stocks are UK made in house on the very .latest CNC machinery .

 

[daleyd]

I totally recommend Tap Magician , log in, read their website , phoning them if needed .
They have literally thousands of tap parts & cartridges .
Eleven years ago we tried all over the place locally to get them to no avail , I had to send them a couple of pictures of my cartridge , within minutes of getting them they had identified the cartridge and the tap and put a hot & cold set in the post to me .
IIRC sub £20 by card over the phone for the pair .
Five year later on I needed another set as the water board had flushed a drilled cast iron mains 70 mtrs away mains and metal particles disturbed in the flushing had scored the ceramic faces on my cold water tap .

Tap Magician were able to call me up by post code & name order references & get me another set in the next post .

It's best to replace both cartridges at the same time whilst your water is off at the stop valve even though the hot may not be leaking at present.

The likes of Plumb Centre, BQ & amazon and eBay were unable to supply the correct cartridges as the number of splines were for Pegler taps .

I seem to recall that most of their brass body stocks are UK made in house on the very .latest CNC machinery .

That’s who I got my replacement cartridge for my shower from (It was their eBay shop not website I got it from but the same company) after the actual shower manufacturer sent me the wrong one twice - and very well priced too!

 

[dobbslc]

It might be worth a dab of plumbers grease on the cartridge and seals as the grease can be washed away over time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PLUMBERS-SILICONE-GREASE-Waterproofing-Gaskets/dp/B0BS9W3LDT/ref=asc_df_B0BS9W3LDT?mcid=daf3f72cd38e3332b6d44e8edeb057d5&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697322420285&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=463038940363607886&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046034&hvtargid=pla-1946328178771&psc=1&gad_source=1

 

[Ian X]

Minefield of wasted time and journeys for me. I bought a new mixer in the end. I took photos of the leaky cartridge and cleverly used Google lens, to no avail whatsoever. I guess if you have a good plumbing supply shop or decent ironmongers near you its possible you'll come up trumps.

 

[DAPPH]

When Water Boards flush their mains after repair work or tapping in a mew supply on iron pipe a lot of suspended fine grit , rust and iron cuttings also get move /stirred up. If you happen to be using water or are on a branch that a neighbour is also drawing water from the supply pipe that's being flushed at that time it often brings in the abrasive bits , on ceramic valves it simply beds in on one of the ceramic faces and eventually scores both faces so it leaks .


I've not found a hot ceramic tap leaking, I suspect the fact that there is either a big tank or a special sediment filter in the supply line close to the boiler .
Stood at the kitchen sink yesterday , I wondered if fitting a sediment trap directly after the stop tap might help prevent sediment ingress .

 

[Welderpaul]

Thanks for your replies chaps. I'd rather avoid changing the tap at the moment. Screwfix has four different types of cartridges, so for ease i'll buy one of each then take the others back. Should mean its a quick in and out operation.

 

[DAPPH]

Thanks for your replies chaps. I'd rather avoid changing the tap at the moment. Screwfix has four different types of cartridges, so for ease i'll buy one of each then take the others back. Should mean its a quick in and out operation.

I send you wishes for good luck in getting the right set & my commiserations if you don't .