The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones with
discs in. Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was that
there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure) drips,
is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve in the water
supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber in? Rented
property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.

soup wrote:
The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones with
discs in. Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was that
there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure)
drips, is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve in
the water supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber in? Rented
property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.

About all you can do is make sure its clean. Unless you replace the
cartridge - £15-£20 pair.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 21 Dec, 13:34, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
soup wrote:
* The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones with
discs in. *Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was that
there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
* Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure)
drips, is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve in
the water supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber in? Rented
property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.

About all you can do is make sure its clean. * Unless you replace the
cartridge - £15-£20 *pair.

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Hard water area? Take it to bits and soak it in descaler. Agitate with
an old toothbrush - ensure it is really clean. Put it back together.
Job done.

As you say they are not supposed to require maintenance as the cermaic
does not "wear out" or degrade like rubber does over time. However
limescale can still form which will prevent the tap from closing
properly.

I couldn't find replacement cartridges for mine, so tried the above.
Worked fine.

Luke

On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:39:24 -0800 (PST), Wingedcat wrote:

On 21 Dec, 13:34, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
soup wrote:
* The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones with
discs in. *Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was that
there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
* Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure)
drips, is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve in
the water supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber in? Rented
property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.

About all you can do is make sure its clean. * Unless you replace the
cartridge - £15-£20 *pair.

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Hard water area? Take it to bits and soak it in descaler. Agitate with
an old toothbrush - ensure it is really clean. Put it back together.
Job done.

As you say they are not supposed to require maintenance as the cermaic
does not "wear out" or degrade like rubber does over time. However
limescale can still form which will prevent the tap from closing
properly.

I couldn't find replacement cartridges for mine, so tried the above.
Worked fine.

Luke

Our hot tap closes off okay, but then starts to drip a few minutes later -
turning it further stops it until the next time it is used. I can only
conclude that once shut-off, the tap cools and something contracts, so
slightly opening it.

SteveW

In message , Steve Walker
writes
On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:39:24 -0800 (PST), Wingedcat wrote:

On 21 Dec, 13:34, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
soup wrote:
* The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones with
discs in. *Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was that
there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
* Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure)
drips, is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve in
the water supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber in? Rented
property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.

About all you can do is make sure its clean. * Unless you replace the
cartridge - £15-£20 *pair.

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Hard water area? Take it to bits and soak it in descaler. Agitate with
an old toothbrush - ensure it is really clean. Put it back together.
Job done.

As you say they are not supposed to require maintenance as the cermaic
does not "wear out" or degrade like rubber does over time.

Except that they do

However
limescale can still form which will prevent the tap from closing
properly.

I couldn't find replacement cartridges for mine, so tried the above.
Worked fine.

There is a plumbers merchant near me which has five or six ceramic
cartridges, a photo and some dimensions, and I can nip in and see if
they have something compatible for you


Luke

Our hot tap closes off okay, but then starts to drip a few minutes later -
turning it further stops it until the next time it is used. I can only
conclude that once shut-off, the tap cools and something contracts, so
slightly opening it.

SteveW

--
geoff

On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:24:16 GMT
soup wrote:

The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones with
discs in. Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was that
there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure) drips,
is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve in the water
supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber in? Rented
property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.


Sorry to say that my experience is that ceramic are just as bad as
seat&washer taps. They may last longer before they drip, but once they
start the only option is to replace the cartridge. The problem is that
they are usually fitted by some oik in a factory with an air weapon, so
you can't get them out without some enormous force, damaging the tap.

I rather like seat&washer, you can usually re-cut the seat (needs the
proper tool) and fit a new washer for pennies.

R.

TheOldFellow wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:24:16 GMT
soup wrote:

The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones
with discs in. Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was
that there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure)
drips, is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating valve
in the water supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a plumber
in? Rented property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.


Sorry to say that my experience is that ceramic are just as bad as
seat&washer taps. They may last longer before they drip, but once
they start the only option is to replace the cartridge. The problem
is that they are usually fitted by some oik in a factory with an air
weapon, so you can't get them out without some enormous force,
damaging the tap.

Agreed, I change lots of them. Never had trouble getting them out though.

I rather like seat&washer, you can usually re-cut the seat (needs the
proper tool) and fit a new washer for pennies.

Me too. Simple, easy & cheap to repair. It couldn't last, somebody had to
improve things.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

geoff wrote:
In message , Steve Walker
writes
On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:39:24 -0800 (PST), Wingedcat wrote:

On 21 Dec, 13:34, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
soup wrote:
The taps in the kitchen were replaced a few years ago for ones
with discs in. Now I thought one of the pros of using disc taps was
that there was no washer to perish so the tap would never drip.
Unfortunately the Hot tap (so not subjected to mains pressure)
drips, is this a D-I-Y job to repair (does have an isolating
valve in the water supply) or should I ask the landlord to get a
plumber
in? Rented property so not wanting to replace the tap my self.

About all you can do is make sure its clean. Unless you replace the
cartridge - £15-£20 pair.

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Hard water area? Take it to bits and soak it in descaler. Agitate
with an old toothbrush - ensure it is really clean. Put it back
together. Job done.

As you say they are not supposed to require maintenance as the
cermaic does not "wear out" or degrade like rubber does over time.

Except that they do

Yup they certainly do..

However
limescale can still form which will prevent the tap from closing
properly.

I couldn't find replacement cartridges for mine, so tried the above.
Worked fine.

There is a plumbers merchant near me which has five or six ceramic
cartridges, a photo and some dimensions, and I can nip in and see if
they have something compatible for you

The larger B&Q's have started to stock a range now. Failing that try
www.brev.co.uk

Crap & annoying web site, but a big range.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Wingedcat wrote:

Hard water area?

Not supposed to be (Balerno:Edinburgh:Scotland: Two miles from the
reservoir), and nothing else has ever "furred up".

On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:22:13 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

TheOldFellow wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:24:16 GMT
soup wrote:

I rather like seat&washer, you can usually re-cut the seat (needs the
proper tool) and fit a new washer for pennies.

Me too. Simple, easy & cheap to repair. It couldn't last, somebody had to
improve things.

Yes, I got conned the same way years ago. I'd go for washers in
future.
Apparently, they can be damaged by bits of 'grit' in the water. For
example when the water company have done repairs.

I've had to replace both carts on my kitchen Frankie taps. What was
really annoying is they had a 5 year guarantee and the first one
failed after 3 - but I fixed it before realising.
It was REALLY difficult to get the cart out - had to use use a vice,
blow torch etc.. to loosen the part that needed replacing.