Bath tap leaks water poured on it from shower. Bath tap itself does not leak!

[diylady]

Pls can any how help. I’ve spent a miserable day trying to fix my bath mixer tap. I have had this problem for a couple if weeks since we had a shower installed above the bath. ( see picture for which tap i have).Having read up lots , it seems water is leaking through the base of the hot tap and then down through the hole. In preparation to fix today i bought a fix a tap (essex) kit for acrylic baths
I took the bath mixer taps off today, ( (eventually- it took me a while as space is tight) ans washers were ok but i persisted and put on the new tap kit washer etc...

Outcome is still is the hot tap is still leaking from hot tap.
I’ve read posts to suggest putting silicone about base but confused as to where really

when we say base, is this when standing up looking at the bath and lifting up the taps and putting some sealant on where the tap hole is and then putting the taps through. Or is it underneath the bath directly around the hole and the. Securing rubber washer , brass plate and then brass back nut.

The fact i have changed the taps washers and still its leaking in the same place upon complete removal and installation of new seals - also new tap flexi connectors .. practically everything apart from a new tap, makes me wonder what the problem is.
Im suspicious that the rubber and backnut arent sealing because the bath is bumpy underneath. See pics

Or it could be the hot tap is faulty

last week i sealed around the taps with clear silicon on when the tap meets teh bath from above .. still leaked . I havent done it today/ yet but i a not sure it would make any difference. Any advice welcome ?

 

[diylady]

Forgot to add pics

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have had this problem for a couple if weeks since we had a shower installed above the bath.

If you had it installed (by a company), why can you not get them back to sort out?

 

[diylady]

The taps are not new taps .. Maybe i wasnt clear in my explanation.
Taps are existing - about 3 years old but we didnt have a shower above the bath until 2 weeks ago. The new electric shower doesnt leak or anything but the existing taps now are leaking because of the water is splashing on top of them.
There is no issue with the shower. The taps have probably always leaked when water was splashed on them. I have now troed to fit it and struggling, so after advice

 

[Alec_t]

Sounds as though the seal between the taps and the bath has failed. Can you tighten those big nuts underneath the taps?

 

[accelerator]

So, to clarify, what you are saying is that water from when you're having a shower is splashing down onto the bath side where the taps are, and it is leaking through the holes that the taps go through? i.e. the interface between the bottom of the taps and the top of the bath surface is not watertight?

This video may help you understand how bathroom taps should be properly installed:

 

[diylady]

Thanks for the video . I followed the exact same procedure

 

[diylady]

Sounds as though the seal between the taps and the bath has failed. Can you tighten those big nuts underneath the taps?

Yes but input on a new fix a tap kit today , so not sure whats going on. Cold tap is fine . Hot tap is the problem

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes but input on a new fix a tap kit today , so not sure whats going on. Cold tap is fine . Hot tap is the problem

From what you are saying, it must be the underside of the tap, to the bath, seal which has failed. The only way to fix that, will be to remove the tap completely, source and fit a new seal, then reassemble.

 

[diylady]

From what you are saying, it must be the underside of the tap, to the bath, seal which has failed. The only way to fix that, will be to remove the tap completely, source and fit a new seal, then reassemble.

I can do but thats exactly what i did yesterday. I bought a essex fix a tap kit and fitted the new rubber seals and brass backnut yesterday and still leaking only on the hot tap.

 

[diylady]

Think i may have to concede that this one is above me now and get someone in . Thanks again everyone

 

[diylady]

One other note - so the flanges/collars on the tap i have are not fixed, so one other option i guess i have is to go to a fixed flange/collar tap as think it leaks from there when water goes on top

 

[Alec_t]

so the flanges/collars on the tap i have are not fixed

In that case the water could be drawn in by capillary action between the tap base and the flange, then run down the threads of the fixing. Try some sealant/mastic between tap and flange, also between the under-bath seal and the bath itself (to fill any gaps due to the rough underside).

 

[oldbuffer]

1. Presumably your picture of the taps is not of your own taps as they already have a shower diverter valve fitted. However, assuming your's are similar check to make sure the rubber O rings that between the chrome cup washer at the base of the taps and the upper surface of the bath are in good condition and in place. It is these rings which are the primary seal to stop water passing. If water can't get past them, it doesn't matter much if the under-surface is not perfectly smooth.
2. Once you are sure the taps themselves are as water tight as you can get them, it might be worth getting someone to pour water slowly over the taps while you look underneath to see where it is coming from.

 

[diylady]

1. Presumably your picture of the taps is not of your own taps as they already have a shower diverter valve fitted. However, assuming your's are similar check to make sure the rubber O rings that between the chrome cup washer at the base of the taps and the upper surface of the bath are in good condition and in place. It is these rings which are the primary seal to stop water passing. If water can't get past them, it doesn't matter much if the under-surface is not perfectly smooth.
2. Once you are sure the taps themselves are as water tight as you can get them, it might be worth getting someone to pour water slowly over the taps while you look underneath to see where it is coming from.

Hiya - so my taps are these ( picture 1 ) .They are the ebb and flo bath shower mixer taps. They are similar to the ones i put in my original post as my exact ones i cannot find as they are 2 + yrs old. . We havent really used the little shower thing ( only to clean the bath) . 2 weeks ago we had an electric shower fitted above the bath . Picture 2 and now we get the problem

Also , last week before replacing the rubber washer under the collar/ flange i put dow 785+ clear silicon around the edge of the collar and around the inside collar( see red to show on pic 3)