Changing Sink Taps the Easy Way

Silverline Box Spanner Set

15MM X 1/2" BSP Adaptor for Flexible Tap Tail Connector

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#taps #diy #diyhacks

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[RobbieRSA]

You helped me here. Thanks. Removing an old crusty tap, the nut wouldnt loosen for hours. Wd40 and enlisting my wife to hold the tap body so it didnt twist as i turned, it EVENTUALLY got the nut off, but the plate and tap STILL wohldnt budge. Watched your vid to see if there was another fastener or something and i saw there wasnt. This gave me the courage to give it a good hard pull from the top, and it finally came off. 👍

[kevind]

I usually put a tiny smear of silicone grease on the O-rings. Just to make sure they don't distort in any way.

[chrisgoodson]

The hardest part is often not the fitting but the removing of the original mixer tap. If it's been leaking, which is why it's being replaced and it's been for a while the nuts behind have rusted solid. Couple that with terrible access

[ScienceNotFaith]

You made it much more difficult than needed. The under-sink plate should be put on BEFORE you push all the hoses through the hole. Notice the plate is C shaped. That way you can put one side through, then the other side so you don't have to thread it on from underneath. Then you only have to tighten the bolt, not have to hold everything from the top and try to thread the nut while keeping the plates from falling off. The manufacturer doesn't usually diagram this in the instructions. But from those of us who have done it a lot, those C-shaped plates really save a lot of frustration and time.

[SteveHit]

A great video, full of tips; I’ve sanded, rather than filed , valves before, using emery on a board and holding the valve, as I find this easier to get a flat, 90 degree surface for the washer to engage with.

[RubberduckbathroomsCoUk]

What you need are flat face iso valves, they come with one end for compression and olive over side is a flat face with thread. Flat Face Iso Valves.

[vmankay]

The one thing I hate about the flathead screw isolation valves is when they've rusted and become hard to turn. Much prefer the ones with a handle, and better still the metal version versus the plastic ones which are hollow and often become brittle and snap off.

Good video nonetheless Roger!

[effervescence]

That's why I always keep extra radiator tails that aren't used when changing valves. Good for tap connections.

[jbjoe]

On some taps, especially basin taps you don't have any other way than use flexi to tighten. And by hand it is enough. Install some of them before ten years and they still working properly.

[antimosh]

I always fully open the taps and turn the water on via the service valves to flush the pipework, and to stop any debris getting caught in those super fragile ceramic valves.

[am]

Another couple of tips are that the tap back plate can be installed from the top, hence that crescent moon shape. Another is I use Hepworth irons on the bottom of the Felix (Screwfix sell them) and this prevents twisting the Flexi when tightening.

[shiny]

After having a couple of disasters with rubber lined flexi's splitting I hard pipe everything in where possible, you can still get copper tails to fit monobloc's. The only pair of flexi's I've got in the house are JG speedfit - the white coloured ones that don't have the stainless braided outer, I think they are a similar material to washing machine hoses, much tougher than the braded rubber ones IMHO.

[colinmiles]

Fascinates me how we (in 2023) still have to fiddle around making things fit. How hard can it be?! Great video - thanks.

[GarrisonFall]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It's great to have these things explained by someone who knows what they are doing. As a DIY-er I'm always left wondering if there was a better way to do things.

[johncurrie]

Roger i honestly thought you were going to show everyone the correct way. That is to put the washer and locking nut on from above and twist through the hole. Making the whole job so much easier.
Admittedly i only discovered this 6 months ago thanks to a young lad on tik tok after 25 yrs plumbing.
Need an update mate.
Great vid anyway 👍🏼

[tracer]

Above all else never accidentally rub your fingers over any cut outs in the stainless steel sink. I wiped a sink with a wonder wipe prior to fitting the tap and didn’t realise until the sink filled with blood that I had completely cut 1 inch of my finger tip off. Luckily it was stitched back on otherwise I was in for a skin graft. When they say the edges are sharp they ain’t kidding.😂

[lukecarter-whittley]

I had to change a leaking tap about 6 months ago, and had no idea it would be so fiddly.
As some have said here, half the trouble was removing the previous half rusted fittings...a great tip about the box spanners - that would have made things a whole lot easier!! 😂

[sween]

@3.30 the reason those are that shape is so you can fit it through the hole from the top, no faffing about trying to hold stuff up under the sink (slotting in as one unit), then simply tighten the nut up under the sink,

[Growlerinthebush]

Had lots of practice in my home as wife wants the changing out every two to three years, this year they are black, I don't nip up the hoses as I find that hand tight is fine never leaked. I always have problems with the plug hole leaking even with seals top and bottom so rightly or wrongly just put a line of silicone around the threads that makes a better seal. Just have to make sure the overflow hole lines up with the cut out on the plughole. I invested in a set of box spanners when I was a Handyman and they have served me well.

[PaulChapmanbz]

If you're fitting the sink and mixer tap isn't it easier to fit the tap to the sink first and then drop the complete assembly into the recess?