Changing a tap is one of those basic jobs which most of us would call a plumber in to tackle. But is that really necessary? With a little bit of knowledge, and a few basic tools, you could probably tackle the job yourself. Plumbers will usually charge around £75 for the job, so even if you have to buy a couple of basic tools, financially it might be worth the effort.
What You Need to Do Before Starting to Change a Tap
Don’t rush straight to the tool box and grab a spanner. It’s important to work out what you’re going to do, and which tools you’ll need before starting work. The first thing to work out is where your mains water stopcock is. Usually, you’ll find it under the sink, in the cupboard under the stairs or even in the hallway in a block of flats. You’ll also need spanners, a wrench, pliers, a bowl to catch any drips, and an old towel or rags.
Turn the Water Off and Drain the System
Turn the water off at the mains supply and open the tap. This will allow the water trapped in the pipe to flow through and into the waste. Although this will get rid of most of the water in the system it won’t make it completely dry, so before you start dismantling the tap, place a basin or old towel under the sink to catch drips. Modern taps might have smaller isolating valves on the pipes leading to the tap, allowing you to turn just the tap off and leave the water connected to the rest of the house. These valves look like little taps or levers, and are often metal or red plastic.
Removing the Old Tap
The first job is to remove the old tap from the pipework. Just above the isolation valves, if there are any, there will be nuts which you can loosen with your spanner or wrench. At this point of the process you should expect a few drips from the water trapped in the tap or pipes; it’s nothing to be alarmed by. Once the pipe has been disconnected, it should be a relatively simple matter to pull the tap free. Some taps may anchored into the work surface, so just loosen off all other fastenings and remove the taps entirely
Attaching the New Tap
If you’ve bought a tap from a large DIY store there will be instructions in the box to tell you how to fit it. In most cases, it’s just a case of following the removal process in advance. Put the tap into position, connect up the pipes and then carefully tighten up all the bolts and nuts. If something doesn’t look right then stop, and check the instructions before continuing. There are lots of “how to” videos online if you get stuck. Once you’re happy that everything is attached, reconnect the water supply. Check carefully for drips or leaks, as you might have to switch the water off, and tighten the nuts and bolts again.
