Basin hot water tap. Meeting resistance when closing

[pappyon]

My bathroom suite was installed about 8 - 10 years ago.

I am now finding that the basin HOT tap is getting more difficult to turn off completely. The tap screws in easily till there is only a trickle of water coming and and then it seems to meet some sort of resistance. What makes it harder is the fact that it is one of these stupid bulbous-shaped smooth ceramic taps which are difficult to get a grip of especially if your hands are wet! Once I exert a little extra pressure on it the water shuts off OK.

I have read that what could be causing the trouble might be limescale from the combi boiler getting into the hot water!

The cold tap is still working like it was brand new!

Would changing the tap washer cure this fault, or would I have to replace the head gear, and if so are these universal?

 

[Technotim]

Its the corse worm thread inside the valve that is the problem.
you need to take the valve out remove the cir clip below the spline turn the valve so it is washer up tap the spline of the valve on a surface so the internal mechanism comes out unscrew the two parts clean and dry them then pack them with silicone grease.
and put them back together in the reverse order.

 

[Bahco]

Not worth messing about IMHO. Taps are about £15 - £25 and I would replace them if they are 10 yrs old.

 

[pappyon]

Please excuse the delay in replying, I wasn't notified by email that there had been replies to my post. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to reply!

I have found the reason why this particular tap has been giving trouble.

The washer despite being the standard basin tap washer size of 13mm instead of going down on to the valve seat has been catching on a lip standing proud of the seat.

The diameter of this lip is 13mm, but the dia of the valve seat is only about 8mm. This has resulted in the edge of the washer catching and tearing on the lip and obviously not seating correctly unless undue force was applied.

I don't know how the tap turned off properly even when new!

There is no damage to the valve seat eg pitting or corrosion etc, and the head gear is working fine

My question now is can I buy tap washers that are less than the standard dia of 13mm