Help with my kitchen tap please

[NBee]

Hello all, happy Mayday.

My kitchen tap (installed 3 years ago) has the following symptoms: Hardly any pressure on the cold mains water. A trickle at best, and nothing if the washing machine is used, or if we run the hot water for a while from the same tap.

So, I took it apart, as I wanted to prove that it is the tap and not the mains pressure which was at fault. Sure enough, water flew everywhere! It seems to be the whole valve section that is faulty - I changed the washer and no difference.

Please see the photos below - what I need to know is whether the whole valve unit (sorry no idea what the technical term is!) can be replaced individually, or whether I have to install a completely new tap.

Many thanks for any advice.

 

[Softus]

You can buy these at any plumbers' merchant.

Some people call them valve bodies, some call them gland bodies...

 

[doitall]

Two tasks before you re-assemble.
1, Turn the spindle till the washer jumper is touching the valve body.
2, unscrew that black thing (aerator) on the spout and clean it out.
3, on the handle end there should be a circlip in the groove that you can see in your photo make sure its fitted.

Job sorted.

 

[Softus]

Well spotted - I'm a pratt.

NBee - did you remove that circlip? If not then its absence is likely to the cause of your problem, in which case fit a new one before lashing out on a valve body.

 

[NBee]

Hi guys, thanks for the replys.

Yes I did remove the circlip myself - I wasn't sure what it did, but assumed I had to take it off to unassemble it. I'll try what you suggest and put it back together, although I've already been down to the DIY store and bought some new tap heads (which include the valve) so if it doesn't work I can try one of the new ones.