Reconditioning dripping ceramic disc tap?
 

On Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 2:40:42 PM UTC, Lobster wrote:
My kitchen mixer tap is one of those with a 90-degree on-off levers on
the H&C taps, with ceramic discs inside; unfortunately the hot tap is
dripping quite badly (sufficiently so for the tap always to feel warm
from the leaking hot water).

Having trawled the uk.d-i-y archives for a solution, I did as directed
and removed the cartridge from the tap and took it a couple of
plumber's merchants to get a replacement. One said it was no longer
made, buy a new tap (it's only 2-3 years old); the other said without
the manufacturer's name (which I've no idea) he couldn't help.

Before I go and buy a new tap :-( has anybody had any experience with
cleaning up or reconditioning these cartridges? If so, how? Mine
comes apart easily to give two small white discs with triangular holes
through, and they look perfectly clean and flat to me.

Or any other suggestions?

Cheers
David

I found that putting a fibre washer between the cartridge and the tap has sorted my dripping tap. I suspect the ceramic discs do not leak but the blue/red plastic rings deteriorate with time. Try it.

Reconditioning dripping ceramic disc tap?
 

Reconditioning dripping ceramic disc tap?
 

On Wed, 04 Mar 2020 09:27:33 -0800, kevidennis13 wrote:

I found that putting a fibre washer between the cartridge and the tap
has sorted my dripping tap. I suspect the ceramic discs do not leak but
the blue/red plastic rings deteriorate with time. Try it.

He probably did try it 16 years ago!

--
TOJ

Reconditioning dripping ceramic disc tap?
 

2004 eh, well there is a thing.
I hate ceramic taps, thinking of starting a special ceramic tap hating
society.. grin.
Brian

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On Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 2:40:42 PM UTC, Lobster wrote:
My kitchen mixer tap is one of those with a 90-degree on-off levers on
the H&C taps, with ceramic discs inside; unfortunately the hot tap is
dripping quite badly (sufficiently so for the tap always to feel warm
from the leaking hot water).

Having trawled the uk.d-i-y archives for a solution, I did as directed
and removed the cartridge from the tap and took it a couple of
plumber's merchants to get a replacement. One said it was no longer
made, buy a new tap (it's only 2-3 years old); the other said without
the manufacturer's name (which I've no idea) he couldn't help.

Before I go and buy a new tap :-( has anybody had any experience with
cleaning up or reconditioning these cartridges? If so, how? Mine
comes apart easily to give two small white discs with triangular holes
through, and they look perfectly clean and flat to me.

Or any other suggestions?

Cheers
David

I found that putting a fibre washer between the cartridge and the tap has
sorted my dripping tap. I suspect the ceramic discs do not leak but the
blue/red plastic rings deteriorate with time. Try it.

Reconditioning dripping ceramic disc tap?
 

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 6:17:37 PM UTC, Brian Gaff (Sofa 2) wrote:
2004 eh, well there is a thing.
I hate ceramic taps, thinking of starting a special ceramic tap hating
society.. grin.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
wrote in message
...
On Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 2:40:42 PM UTC, Lobster wrote:
My kitchen mixer tap is one of those with a 90-degree on-off levers on
the H&C taps, with ceramic discs inside; unfortunately the hot tap is
dripping quite badly (sufficiently so for the tap always to feel warm
from the leaking hot water).

Having trawled the uk.d-i-y archives for a solution, I did as directed
and removed the cartridge from the tap and took it a couple of
plumber's merchants to get a replacement. One said it was no longer
made, buy a new tap (it's only 2-3 years old); the other said without
the manufacturer's name (which I've no idea) he couldn't help.

Before I go and buy a new tap :-( has anybody had any experience with
cleaning up or reconditioning these cartridges? If so, how? Mine
comes apart easily to give two small white discs with triangular holes
through, and they look perfectly clean and flat to me.

Or any other suggestions?

Cheers
David

I found that putting a fibre washer between the cartridge and the tap has
sorted my dripping tap. I suspect the ceramic discs do not leak but the
blue/red plastic rings deteriorate with time. Try it.

Some good news about the repair of these wretched ceramic quarter turn tap cartridge valves - THEY CAN BE REPAIRED! Kev above is 100% correct.

I had previously repeatedly removed the cartridges, dismantled and inspected them, cleaned, de-calc'd the parts in a variety of fluids, greased them back up and replaced them - only for a drip to reappear.

The tell-tale was that only the coloured rubber end seals (like a bloated grommet/washer and both white in my case) looked slightly distorted, where each has been forced against the tap body, as they get tightened up.

So, I tweaked the sensible advice above about adding a washer but I have replaced the original white end-seal with a slightly thicker but same diameter black ordinary plumbers sealing washer. I actually got mine from Halfords - they sell them in a mixed box for about £8 for a hundred red fibre and black washers.

It makes the tap operation feel slightly more resistant but smoother and most importantly - no bl**dy drips. It should stay fixed for another nine years and if not - I'll just replace the washers again. They look to be the only part that can ever actually wear as the ceramic should last forever, the brass casing looks pristine and the plastic parts are all greased and only travel a maximum of a quarter-turn in each direction.

My sincere thanks to everyone that pointed the way. I previously discovered the make and model of my tap and the replacement cartridges (£32 & £4 delivery) but I've saved that and since I already had the Halfords kit, for the car, I reckon the fix entailed, some standard cleaning fluid, some plumbers grease and two rubber washers.

Now, where's my celebratory beer...€¦..?