What is this part of a tap called?

r_c

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Could you please tell me what this part of a tap is called?

It seems to be plastic and the chrome coating is flaking off. We live in an area with hard water and I am guessing that the coating on plastic is unable to stand up to cleaning products as well as the rest of the tap.

Are there taps out there where this part is not made of plastic (and hopefully will not flake)?

 
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Could you please tell me what this part of a tap is called?

It seems to be plastic and the chrome coating is flaking off. We live in an area with hard water and I am guessing that the coating on plastic is unable to stand up to cleaning products as well as the rest of the tap.

Are there taps out there where this part is not made of plastic (and hopefully will not flake)?

As Ian said...gan canny with the cleaning products.Chromed plastic is carp to start with.
 
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They're called tap base rings/plinths ... you get chromed brass ones, just need to get the sizes spot on ... and as mentioned, try to find non-aggressive cleaners.
 
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Thank you @Madrab. (And @durhamplumber for teaching me Geordie!)

We use Viakal - I guess a non-agressive cleaner = watered down vinegar?

Unfortunately this base ring is not circular, but good to know that spares are available.

Now, if only I knew how to make sure that the next tap I bought had a chromed brass base ring/plinth and not a plastic one .....
 
Now, if only I knew how to make sure that the next tap I bought had a chromed brass base ring/plinth and not a plastic one .

Buy a good quality, named make and go and see them/ask them before you buy it. The other benefit of that is that there will usually be spares for them when they're needed.
 
Buy a good quality
I was going to moan and say that I bought a quality brand: Hansgrohe .... but on further inspection of my invoice I see that the taps are in fact from a company called Marflow. :(
 
We live in an area with hard water and I am guessing that the coating on plastic is unable to stand up to cleaning products as well as the rest of the tap.

Time to save up for a water softener.
 
Marflow aren't that bad at all, they are one of the lesser known UK manufacturers.
How old is the tap as they do come with a 10yr guarantee but if you've been using chemicals to clean then that probably stuffs the warranty I would think.
Might be worth dropping them a line though.
 
OK, maybe I have been a bit too harsh on them.

Their product guarantee states:

The guarantee does not cover ... Damage or defects caused by: the use of inappropriate cleaning products**

** Should be cleaned with warm soapy water only and polished with a clean, soft dry cloth. Care should be taken in hard-water areas to ensure the cartridge is regularly cleaned.


Is Viakal considered inappropriate? (Surely it cant be if Mrs Hinch recommends it!) I haven't been able to get hard water staines off chrome with soapy water and a clean, soft dry cloth in the past.
 
It's a chemical (nonionic surficant) therefore it would seem to fall foul of the "warm soapy water" line. That being said what does 'soapy' actually mean??

I guess it comes down to how much you want to argue the point and how old the item is and does it really owe you anything.
 

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