01905 670031
Worcester Plumbers - Plumbers in Worcester Available 24 Hours
Budget Plumbing
Our Worcester plumbers show you how to perform a simple plumbing repair: How to change a tap washer:
1. Isolate water supply to the tap you wish to re-washer. If you are unsure how to do this please refer to our guide on isolating water supplies.
2. Remove the protective cap from the top of the tap head. Depending on the tap you have you will either have to pries the cap off or on the traditional style taps unscrew the cap.
3. After removing the protective cap you will have to remove a screw in the recess you have just revealed. This screw will either be a slot or Phillips headed screw. Before removing the screw I like to pop the plug into the waste outlet.
4. Once the retaining screw is removed the head can be removed by gently pulling upwards.
5. This should reveal the valve body. The valve is usually made of brass however steel and plastic ones do exist. Use either an adjustable spanner or a correctly sized spanner and turn the tap valve anti-clockwise whilst holding the tap spout still until the valve is removed.
6. Once the valve is removed inspect the rubber tap washer for wear. If the washer is worn or split replace by either prising the washer off or by first removing a tiny nut, replacing the washer and the tiny nut if required.
7. If the tap washer was in good order the seating where the tap washer seals against may have been at fault. These can get coated with lime scale, split, crack, pit or generally perish. Visually inspect the tap seating for wear. If the seating is in good order reassemble the tap. If the seating is faulty in anyway mentioned above please see our tap reseating guide.
8. Once the tap is reassembled, close the tap gently then restore the water supply. Then gently open the tap up allowing the tap to expel any air. It is a good idea to allow the tap to run for 10 seconds or so to remove any debris you may have disturbed whilst servicing the tap.