ALSVIK dual control kitchen mixer tap

[DukeJon]

Hi,

I have a ALSVIK dual control kitchen mixer tap from Ikea. It started dripping recently and I don't know how to repair it. The taps don't seem to be removable so I can't replace the washer.

The kitchen was already fitted when we moved into our house so we don't have the receipts, but I believe the model is less than 10 years old so it would have been under warranty.

I have been asking around and have been told by Ikea that I need to buy a new tap and get it professionally fitted. This seems a bit extreme - what should have been a 10 minute job with a screwdriver looks as though it might end up costing £200 with parts and labour.

Anyone have any ideas what I can do?

thanks in advance
DukeJon

ps. the actual fitting is seen in this thread:

http://www.ikeafans.com/forums/ikea-instructions/10651-alsvik-faucet.html#post208333

 

[oldbuffer]

Often, people tell you something cannot be dismantled when they don't know how to do it. Start by thinking that someone put it together in the first place. There are various one time fasteners (like the serrated springs used to hold pram wheels on), but they are actually pretty rare, and especially rare in plumbing. The tap head is usually held onto the cartridge (the 117642 thing) by an M4 machine screw.

Some taps have a disc covering this screw, which may be a spring fit in the top of the cap, or be held in by a fairly fine thread. Others have a small Allen screw under the lever (like the six sticking out of the head of your tap). Some heads (for example Aqualisa shower valve heads) are held on by a push fit O ring. I would try the following, in this order:

1. See if the very top of the head unscrews.
2. See if the very top can be gently levered out with a fine screwdriver.
3. See if removing the levers one at a time reveals a screw under one or more of them
4. See if the whole head can be pulled off the spindle using a fair degree of hand force.

If you can get the head off, isolate the water, remove the cartidge and take it, with the head (so that the supplier can check the splines fit the cartridge) to a good plumber's merchant. They will also need to know if it is a hot or cold cartridge (they usually have a red or blue rubber ring at the base anyway).

If you are in West London, I have found that Newco in South Ealing have a good selection, and if asked nicely will take the time to try and find a match.