How to change a tap washer

Does your kitchen/bathroom tap still run after you turn it off? If so you need to replace your tap washer. Over time the washer within your tap gets worn and does not make a seal tight joint, to fix this you simply need to replace your tap washer. You can do this simply in two ways;

• Replacing the washer
• Replacing the Tap body

Turning off the water

Before doing anything you will need to turn off the water. The source of water that you turn off will depend on what tap you are working at and whether it is hot or cold water.

All hot water must be turned off at the cold water storage tank in your attic/roof space. There are usually two valves coming out of the bottom of the tank, one of which is for hot water. To clarify which valve is which try to follow it down through the ceiling, if the pipe leads into the top of you copper cylinder it is providing hot water.

Cold water that is supplied to your bathroom sinks can also be turned off at the cold water storage tank. However the cold water at your kitchen tap is supplied from the main. To isolate the main to your house there is usually a stop cock under your sink (sometimes not under your sink but in the kitchen). This must be turned off to isolate the water.

If you cannot find your stop cock or have found it but cannot get it turning you will need to isolate the mains water supply at the rising main, mainly found at the front of your house on the ground. To turn the water off here you will need a water key as the valve is generally low into the ground. Newly fitted rising mains come with a plastic key that can be used to turn off the water.

·        Always remember that turning a valve clockwise closes it, and turning it anti-clockwise opens it.

·        Always check that the water is off before starting work.

Replacing the tap washer

In order to replace the tap washer you will have to dismantle the tap, there are many different shapes and forms of taps but the principal remains the same for them all. Firstly you will need to remove the tap head to see the inner workings of the part, to do this use a small flat headed screw driver to prise open the top plate on the tap, this will reveal a small screw (usually star headed). Remove this screw and pull off the tap head.

             Modern Tap Structure

If you have older taps they may have a decorative shroud which will also need to be removed, to do this you will need to unscrew it from its thread. However take care not to damage the shroud as it will scrape easily, use a cloth to wrap around it when using grips if it is tight, as this will prevent damage to the shroud.

Tap with decorative shroud

You should now be able to see the inner workings of the tap, you will now need a shifter (Adjustable spanner). Place the shifter around the headgear nut and take a firm hold of the tap body insuring that it does not move (if you do not hold the tap body the joints beneath the tap my get Brocken and cause a leak), then proceed to turn the headgear nut anti-clockwise.  If the headgear nut is extremely tight you may want to use a set of grips to hols against yourself (once again use a cloth so that you will not damage the surface of the tap body). Once you loosen the headgear nut remove the body of the tap.

Tap Body

 You now have two options;

Option one; replace the whole tap body

Nowadays you can buy a tap body replacement kit in your local plumbing suppliers and B&Q; many also come with instructions on how to fit them. If you have decided to go for this option simply make sure you have got the correct size for your taps (sink taps are generally ½ inch and bath taps are ¾ inch) then place the body into the tap and tighten accordingly. Remember to hold the tap tight when tightening.

Option two; replacing the tap washer

Depended on your tap you will need either a ½ inch washer or a ¾ inch washer, when you have the tap body out you will notice that there is a washer at the bottom. This is usually secured on with a small nut; use a shifter to remove the nut and replace the washer (You will notice that the new washer will be larger than the original one that you are removing; this is because the original washer has worn over time). Once you have replaced the tap washer reassemble the tap in the same order that you dissembled it, remembering to hold the tap firmly when tightening the headgear nut.

Once you have reassembled the tap you can turn on the water supply again.