It is important to install standard taps in your home because not all taps work like same though it feels like that. If you are in doubt about the quality of your taps at the time of installation, you must ask a professional about them. Most of the taps that are low in quality start to drip after a few months. This leakage results in the wastage of money and time of the homeowner.
If you have a lever tap installed on your sink and suddenly it has started to drip, it is a sign to worry for you. Initially, the leakage issues are easy to fix, the more they sustain, the more damage is done. It is therefore recommended to regularly observe the taps and check for any leakage or drip that can mature into a bigger issue.
Common Plumbing Issues and Their Impact:
Generally, after a few years of wear and tear, the washer starts to leak. This is a common problem but needs attention. In most cases, replacing a rubber washer is enough to solve the problem. What if you ignore the problem? On average, a dripping tap washer can cost about 4.5 thousand liters of water per year. This impact is huge if looked in the perspective of wastage of natural resources. Therefore, it is pragmatic to change the washer.
Modern Mixer Taps:
Now a day ceramic cartridges have completely replaced rubber washers and O rings. But the replacement of a cartridge will not be the point of discussion here. We will only discuss the replacement of a tap washer in this article.
How to Change a Washer on a Lever Tap?
A few easily available tools are listed below to change the washer on a lever tap.
- Flat-headed screwdriver
- Spanner
- New washer
- Old cloth or towel
Pre Cautionary Measures:
Before starting the replacement, you should turn off all the water connections from different sources. Some sinks have isolation valves underneath, turn them off. If there is no valve, turn off all the connections at the main. If the mixture has a connection from an immersion heater or boiler, make sure to turn it off.
Removal of Tap Header:
The first step to changing the washer on a lever tap is the removal of the tap header. Usually, the mixer tap has two handles on both sides. One for the cold water and the other for hot water. It is recommended to check the washer of both these handles to avoid another remedy.
On top of the taps, you will find caps or covers. Remove these covers using the flat head screwdriver. Underneath the cap there is a screw, you need to loosen to eradicate the header assembly. Loosen the screw using a screwdriver and remove the assembly. Now you can remove the tap valve using an adjustable spanner.
Removal of the O Rings:
The O rings are placed at the body of the valve and the washers are at the base. Check the condition of O rings and apply some lubricants. Make sure you do not hurt yourself in the process. Remove the O rings now. Once you have removed the O rings, remove the washer that you to replace.
Check the seat where the washer is placed. You may find it faulty and the prime reason for leakage but the replacement of the seat will not be discussed here.
Replacement of Washer:
Choose the washers and O rings of the ideal size that fits your assembly. Place these washers on the valve in the allocated place. Now lubricate the assemble and put the headgear back in place using your tools. Tighten all the assembly and finally put the cap back on it. If any other tap is having the same issue, repeat these steps to get rid of the issue.
Another Possible Reason for the Leakage:
There is a probability that the leakage is caused by the tap spout which also contains O rings on its assembly. Remove the spout with an adjustable spanner and check the O rings. If you feel they are in healthy condition, screw the spout back otherwise, replace the O rings with new ones of the same size. In this way, your comprehensive maintenance will conclude successfully.
Summary:
Plumbing issues like changing the washer on a lever tap seem like a small problem. But if it is not taken care of in the initial stage, can cause wastage of water. Therefore, this article focuses on providing a guide to the readers on “how to change a washer on a lever tap”. After going through these lines you will be able to change the washer of a dripping mixer tap.
For more plumbing services, click here.
FAQs
Do modern mixer taps contain washers and O rings?
In modern mixer taps, O rings, and washers are replaced by ceramic cartridges.
Can the replacement of the washer be done without the help of a professional plumber?
The process to replace a washer on the mixer tap is quite simple and you can do it yourself following the set of instructions illustrated above.