How do I take out bath taps?

[JtB]

Hi all,
I'm getting water leaking under the far side bath tap (photo below) and dripping through the hole onto the floor. Can anyone please tell me how to get a spanner into the narrow gap between the bath and the wall so that I can take out the taps and re-seal the hole?
Thanks.

 

[breezer]

tap spanner, it is desigend for th job

 

[JtB]

thanks breezer. Are there different types and sizes of tap spanner, or does one type/size fit all?

 

[Bahco]

What you need is a basin spanner which is a chrome tube shaped tool with a wrench at the top which swings to the left or right depending on whether you are tightening or loosing nuts.
Cost £4-5
Hope my description is good enough

 

[shaggy]

Careful here, my basin spanner only fits 1/2" not 3/4". Can you get one that fits both?

 

[JtB]

basin spanner which is a chrome tube shaped tool with a wrench at the top which swings to the left or right

Thanks, I'll check the local DIY store tomorrow. Looking at my taps though, there doesn't seem much space between the bath and the wall to be able to swing anything to the left or right.

 

[breezer]

they don't "swing" as you put it, they turn

 

[ChrisR]

The top two on this page do the job, though there are severall sprung versions of the top one. I'd recommend the second one down - lots of cheapo but adequate copies about, and the one I always try first.

http://www.monument-tools.com/W+Ttable.htm

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

You may have noticed that plumbing fixtures are mostly designed by double jointed gynocologists or total tw**ts, take your pick.

 

[kevplumb]

or blokes whose missus went over the side with a plumber

 

[JtB]

How do I turn off the water to the hot taps? In my airing cupboard there's loads of valves and I found the one that feeds from the header tank to the cold taps, but I couldn't find one that feeds from the top of the hot water cylinder to the hot taps. I tried shutting off the valve that feeds from the header tank to the bottom of the hot water cylinder, but the hot taps continue to run. Any ideas anyone?

 

[kevplumb]

either the valves passing or you didnt allow it to drain
otherwise turn off cold coming in and drain down

 

[JtB]

Thanks - does it normally take long to drain? I left a hot bathroom tap on for several minutes and it didn't stop. I had assumed that since the hot water feed from the cylinder emerged from the top of the cylinder, then as soon as the supply to the cylinder was cut, then the water would stop without the cylinder having to drain.

 

[kevplumb]

your valve is passing drain down im afraid

 

[masona]

Might be an idea to put in a isolated valve on the hot side for the future