Mixer Tap replacement

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

HELP,  I have a kitchen mixer tap – make unknown to replace.  Water off, flexipipes (Male stub ends) removed, looked under the worktop, no obvious means of removing the mixer tap.

Both water inlets are female thread to take the flexi hoses, but one inlet is threaded on the outside as well.  No obvious way of removing either.  No obvious means of attachment between the fitting under the work surface nor removable collar above the work surface.

Any ideas ??

I thought the black thing in the quadrant of the fitting would be some sort of catch, but it seems to be a gasket.  The 6mm hole on the right of the fitting had a 6mm rod threaded into it with a screwdriver slot in the free end – but what was this for.

Of course, the kitchen fitters are long gone with the instructions.

Bob

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

its the water pipe with an internal hexagon that when loosened releases it I think.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Will Check Bernard

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Perhaps undo the taps from above?

Robert Butler

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

These are normally held by the 6mm rod and a nut. Is that sealant I see on the plate? The fitter may have glued it in.
I had trouble a couple of weeks ago when SWMBO wanted a new tap and waste on the small vanity sink in the en-suite. The trouble started with no isolation valves at the fittings for the flaexi-hoses. Then they put the palastic waste in front of the fittings AND used solvent weld fittings. I had to cut the pipe to get access. Yhey could have run it down the other side or used compression fittings. Finally, and worse, they stuck the waste in with silicone sealant. As it has a integral overflow the top of the waste does not even need to be sealed. IT was very hard to get out and I was worried about breaking the basin.
A pair of isolators were less than £6.
Don’t know if the plumber was lazy, didn’t think, was looking at future work or all three.

Robert.

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

It looks to me that everything that holds the tap have been removed, wobble the tap about from the top it should just pull out, probably just stuck if the plumber used a sealant which it shouldn’t need, normally that brass plate falls off when the retaining screw is removed.

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

As above, the tap is probably installed and dismantled from above.

Many Bristan taps are made to this design.

Please read the installation instructions for this one:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bristan-echo-easyfit-mono-mixer-kitchen-tap-chrome/4648g

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Agree with the above. Standard fitting is a threaded road in the base of the tap unit. On this fits a long nut. Simple</p>
There are sets of special long & thin box spanners to make fitting easy.

As others say, looks like everything mechanical has been removed & probably just held in situ with sealant or possibly residue

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Yep, its a Bristan “Cherry Washer” should be able to find online fitting instructions

https://www.bathroomspareparts.co.uk/bristan-cherry-washer-blh153-42684-p.asp

 

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

That’s the one Jason.

Thanks to all    Bob

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Not seen that style before. Every day is a school day 🙂

Robert.

[howardbParticipant @howardb]

I was interested in fitting a Bristan easyfit mixer tap to replace an awkwardly installed kitchen leaking tap where there is very little room between the back of the heavy resin double sink and the wall, and would require the dismantling of most of the structure of the kitchen unit and double drainer pipework under the sink to gain access to remove the old and fit the new.

I started enquiring about the easyfit system and immediately found there have been serious problems with the design, much worse is to be found on YouTube.

Bear in mind when reading this that these postings were about 10 years ago, Bristan may have changed the design since then.

https://ukplumbersforums.co.uk/threads/problems-with-bristan-easyfit-kitchen-taps.92732/

 

 

 

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

In my experience those type of taps are a total-pain-in-the-arse.

You would need to be deformed to even get near them to do anything and usually they are not held very firmly in the sinktops, very little to hold them in place.

Alot to be said for two simple taps or a simple two point mixer.

Robert, what makes you think the plumber wanted to make it handy for you ??

Again, I speak from bitter experience .

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Mines been no trouble, if the tap comes loose, you tighten the alen screw in the back of the tap. I suppose I could have left it for another 6 months and have it blow off, but mine takes a lot of turn to get that loose.

[derek hall 1Participant @derekhall1]

I had an interesting issue when I fitted a replacement mixer tap last year.

I have conventional vented hot and cold water system, mains cold feed to taps and header tank and gravity fed hot water.

When I replaced the old mixer tap in the utility room with a new one I fitted it with isolation valves and the flexible pipes to make sure any future work was easier.

Next day I noticed that there was water overflowing from the outlet on the cold water header tank in the loft. Suspecting an old partially stuck ballcock I replaced it with a new one, next day overflow started again.

I then found that by isolating the cold water feed valve to the mixer tap I had just fitted resulted in the problem being “fixed”. Some “research” on the interweb found what the real problem was. The mains cold water pressure was overcoming the gravity fed hot water (as it was lower pressure) and finding its way back into the cold water storage tank.

The recommended solution was to fit a non return valve onto the hot water feed thereby preventing mains cold water pressure from returning to the cold water header tank.

Had no problem now for over a year. Does not explain why the old mixer tap never had this issue, or the existing mixer tap in the kitchen has never exhibited the same issue.

Perhaps it was my choice of mixer tap…?

Regards to all

Derek

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Many a good mixer tap does not mix any water until after the valves be they conventional or more likely these days 1/4 turn or lever mixer type. A lot don’t even mix until it exits the spout which saves contaminating the mains and also as the hot runs inside the cold means you don’t get burnt by a hot spout.

Probably not a good make which was allowing presumably mains water and gravity hot to mix within the body. Possibly not WRAS approved.

On a similar note be careful when buying new mixers particularly those with a flexi head for doing pots & pans etc as they often need mains pressure on the hot so to work well on gravity hot you end up having to put a pump on their hot supply.

oddest one I fitted was a touch sensative where if you have your hands full or they are dirty you just have to touch part of teh spout or body and the water starts to flow at a preset temp/rate. That had a nice threaded tube that just fitted the standard 35mm hole with washers and backnut to hold it tight. Not sure I really like it a sit is easy to turn on when you don’t intend to at at over a grand a bit spendy for some.

 

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

I agree with Robert. The tap is probably stuck with sealant. The threaded rod should have had a nut on it.  Lever the quadrant off with a screw driver. You may then have to dig out the tap itself from below.

[Oldiron]

On Oldiron Said:

I agree with Robert. The tap is probably stuck with sealant. The threaded rod should have had a nut on it.  Lever the quadrant off with a screw driver. You may then have to dig out the tap itself from below.

Look at my links

There is no threaded rod to put a nut on, the 6mm hole is for an unthreaded guide rod that keeps things inplace while you fit from above

You can’t lever the “quadrant” off as it is still being held from above by one of the two brass sockets as one is threaded into the quadrant and needs to be undone with an allen key from above once the tap body is removed from above by loosening to grabscrews towards the rear.

[Oldiron]

On Oldiron Said:

I agree with Robert. The tap is probably stuck with sealant. The threaded rod should have had a nut on it.  Lever the quadrant off with a screw driver. You may then have to dig out the tap itself from below.

Good luck with that, a crowbar might snap off the brass socket but the sink may not survive.

Now a tiny allen key will remove the tap and allow access to the fixing from the top.

Speedy can then spend the next hour trying to spin up the 6mm nut from underneath on his new tap.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Set of long box spanners makes it a lot easier on your nuts

https://www.screwfix.com/p/faithfull-monobloc-spanner-set-4-pcs/939rh

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

I have a long plastic box spanner with handle that came with a posh tap once

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Dave Halford  Jason B,  I stand corrected.

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