Mixer tap still leaking after changing ceramic cartridge

[millie900]

HI everyone,
could someone please offer some guidance please on having replaced the bat mixer tap cartridges, the hot is still leaking? It is in fact worse than it was prior to cartridge change! Pushing down on the top of the cartridge actually stops the drip, but can't keep the pressure on it with the tap cover. Is it time to change the whole tap unit do you think?

Any clues please?

TIA

Millie

 

[Burnerman]

Did you notice a rubber washer on the end of the insert, Millie?
If its not there, or the insert isn’t the exact same size the leak won’t stop.
John

 

[millie900]

Hi John,
thanks for your reply. Took the old cartridge to screwfix and asked for new one to stop the leak The red rubber washer definitely in place, do those washers come in differing depths?
M

 

[Burnerman]

Not as far as I know, but the new cartridge must be exactly the same length as the original one.....if it isn’t it just cant seal in the tap body.
Can you compare the two, side by side?
John

 

[millie900]

Thanks John, that makes sense, but without callipers, can't measure the difference, as looking at them they appear to be the same. Do different tap manufacturers have specific cartridges by any chance?
M

 

[Burnerman]

Indeed they do, and there are many variations unfortunately.
One of the best suppliers are lunns.net and they have a good website with pictures and dimensions.
As a general guide, the new cartridge needs to be within 0.5mm in length compared with the old one to fit properly.
John

 

[millie900]

John, that's really helpful thank you very much
I will investigate later. As ever these things happen at the most inopportune times - am desperately putting together a PhD application and academic CV ready for deadline tomorrow midday.....it's going to be an all-nighter I think
thanks again
M

 

[CBW]

Not ideal, but what I've seen some of our customers do to stop a drip is use an elastic band or hair bobble to put the pressure on.

 

[Burnerman]

John, that's really helpful thank you very much
I will investigate later. As ever these things happen at the most inopportune times - am desperately putting together a PhD application and academic CV ready for deadline tomorrow midday.....it's going to be an all-nighter I think
thanks again
M

Sounds like a dripping tap is the least of your worries, Millie.....
Prioritise your education - the tap can wait!
John

 

[millie900]

Thanks John

I am shall we say a more mature student who ought to know better than to put herself through this amount of stress at this time of life
M

 

[Burnerman]

Education is never wasted....apart from on some of us when we were young! I'd jump at the chance to do engineering research again.
Good luck with that, and also the taps....don't dwell too long on them - bite the bullet and go for a replacement quality set if you get grief.
John

 

[millie900]

Ironically, the tap is now sorted, albeit using the 'cold' replacement cartridge so it turns the wrong way. We don't use the bath anyway so not a problem at the moment. Will source the better quality replacement parts at a later date. Thanks for the info about the online source.

Well, PhD application has been submitted. I am (very) late to real academia, qualified last year as a nurse, currently completing an MSc, and plan to get onto a PhD studentship. Definite mid-life crisis, but loving the research aspect and the ability to influence and hopefully change healthcare policy and service delivery. I am too old for firefighting on understaffed and overstretched wards

Never too old to go into research, there are loads of opportunities - go for it.

M