Have I do the right tap washers fitted?

[DIYspanner]

Basically, I replaced the washers on a mixer tap a few months back and the new ones are smaller because I figured out the old ones were too big for the valve bore and causing low water flow. The new ones were big an improvement.

I looked tried the taps today and the problem has returned. A turn or so before the water flows on the cold. I took the valve out and the seat has indented the washer with a groove so I'm wondering if this type of tap is supposed to use ordinary washer or not.

Here's the photos -

 

[blup]

Can you post a pic of the replacement tap washer as you fitted it onto the tap valve

Blup

 

[DIYspanner]

The 3rd photo above is the fitted washer.

I took it of the valve to get a better photo of the washer face that seals on the bore face, 2nd photo.

 

[blup]

Difficult to say without seeing the washer in situ but looks oversized, hence it being crushed

An independent plumber would be able to identify the correct part.

blup

 

[DaveHerns]

Is the washer the same size as the jumper it sits on? This may take a washer with rounded edges, might be called a Delta washer.

 

[Elkato531]

If your tap washer looks like that, you are turning the taps off too hard. If you need to crank them down so hard to stop them dripping, then there is a good chance that the seatings are pitted and grooved. They can sometimes be ground down if the grooves and pitting isn't too deep but usually new taps are required

 

[Madrab]

That's an old white contract tap, £30 at best, don't think it owes you anything really? I'd just replace it for a shiny new one.

Probably spent the same in time, effort n bits.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mono-mixer-kitchen-tap-white/2348t

 

[JohnD]

IME the people who turn off taps with great force tend to be older people who have lived with dripping, worn-out taps and have got into the habit of doing them up tighter and tighter instead of changing the washers. You'll probably find your spindle feels a bit loose too as the thread is worn out.

An undamaged tap and washer can be turned off with a fingertip and might last 30 years on the original washer without dripping or significant wear on the thread.

 

[DIYspanner]

Well I've put a replacement 15mm tap washer on and the water is flowing nicely so just needs a nip in future when turning off.

I do however think its a bad tap deign to have a grove in the valve seat that acts to indent the washer. Far better just to have a flat face for the washer to check on to.

By the way, thanks all for posting!

 

[DIYspanner]

I got a pack of 3/8" tap washer which have an o/d of 16mm. The rubber is lot firmer than the ones I got at the local hardware a couple of days back, those ones were quite soft.

I've fitted a couple of these new 3/8" washers to the taps and they seem better when turning off the taps so obviously better quality rubber.

Just a note, I measured the washer seats and they're about 17.5mm diameter so that's some way between a 3/8" washer which is 16mm and a 1/2" washer which is 19mm.

The taps did have 1/2" washer but they wouldn't pass easily through the tap thread so it seems 3/8 is right for the job.

 

[dilalio]

I suppose this is a DIY forum but if I had to go through all of this for a customer it'd end up costing a couple of hundred quid whereas a new one of those supplied and fitted would be about a 1er

 

[DIYspanner]

That's the philosophy behind DIY, saving the £s!

I planed a door yesterday, I wonder what joiner would charge for that!

 

[dilalio]

I planned a door yesterday, I wonder what joiner would charge for that!

Well, for a start he would be a chippie not a joiner and he would have 'planed' not 'planned' it

 

[DIYspanner]

So we have chippies, brickies and sparkies.

What's the modern term for plumber?
.... may as well be politically correct on all counts!