Had a tap that I didn't use for close to 10yrs. As single mom money is a big problem. All my male relatives advised me to get a new tap. That would also mean a new basin etc. Today I got it off all by myself. Thank you Thank you You have no idea how grateful I am. 👏👏👏👏👏
Excellent video. I just fixed a bathroom tap following the steps you show. Made it very straight forward. We now have full pressure on the hot tap rather than a dribble as was the case. I also used your tip of using the attachment for the hoover to hold the tap in place whilst unscrewing the inner part. Worked a treat - 👍👍
Thank you Dan. I was in the middle of dealing with a seized tap and had already thought of more leverage, but had no idea how to achieve this. Sat down with a cup of tea to stop all the swearing that had begun, and came across your video. Toilet rolls and hoover pipes, brilliant. It took me less than 2 minutes to find the bits and undo the tap. Thank you again for saving my taps from my kak handed attempts at DIY.
Glad to see you use a Ring spanner, the first (and only? ) one to do so, out of MANY such vids on YT. Brass stubborn nuts, are easy to damage with loose fitting tools.
Bought a 22mm, £4.50, spanner to at least 'attempt' to get the head off my totally seized 1960s bath hot water tap, which had been dripping for weeks... only to find I needed a 23mm, aaargh! I found tapping and direct heat from a paint stripping heat-gun and 2 sharp tugs... freed it!!! It was only the top 2 bits of thread that were 'stuck'... the lower threads were pristine shiny brass! The rubber washer had completely crumbled away, but, only after FIVE DECADES daily use. Total cost...yes, £4.50!!! I was so chuffed that I went on to do the same with the 3 other similarly ancient bathroom taps. Good ol' TH-cam!
Thanks. Old outdoor tap needed new washer but couldn't undo the nut. Your advice about using a lever to get better torque meant I could get the whole tap off and replaced the whole thing. Cheers
This video saved my life 😂 couldn't get any purchase on the weird-shaped tap until I tried the henry hoover pipe and it sorted me right out 🙏 Thanks a million
Thank you Dan, getting the additional leverage was particularly useful. I didn’t have a box spanner, so used one of the fittings from a vacuum cleaner to cover the spout and it worked after all else had failed. I also used silicone spray (not WD40) to help loosen the stuck valve and I think it helped.
Thanks a million! Old bath star tap would not unscrew to get to the washer, no wire brush I used a junior hacksaw carefully to remove dirt on top of thread. Then for leverage I used large adjustable spanner and to stop tap moving (as pipes all soldered here years ago and that would be a disaster) the end of mole grips with the adjustable nurled bit at the end made it as long as possible whilst still a half inch within the grip and put it into the tap water outlet as far as possible and the leverage made the tap undo really easy! LEVERAGE is what we need as you say! New washer on (and that was a bas----- to get over the spigot! Thanks, Mike. Thanks,
Danny, This is the best video out there. Thanks so much for sharing the different ways. Not all ways work in all situations and by systematically trying your suggestions I managed to remove my stubborn cartridge with no damage. Really appreciate it !
Thank you so much! I fixed my cloakroom tap in about 10 mins following your instructions. There was no water flow from that tap but there is now. I also used a suede brush and the tapping technique, plus the toilet roll round the tap. I had to put my vacuum cleaner tube over the tap too. My tip would be to put a bucket or bowl under the end of any longer tube over the tap as there was water backed up and it poured onto my floor! But that's a minor issue!
I have the exact same taps its seized on the on position so running constantly. The screw on the handle wont budge (and starting to strip) so can't get to the metal underneith and now i have a constantly running tap. Any help? 😫
Dan, I am glad you mentioned WD40 is a no no. My Ma's taps are seized with limescale, Midlands water-and have old-fashioned plastic bit which slips over main fitting-just as in your vid, but is seized to main brass fitting. I have seen these cracked too. Is there a tip to 'dissolve' limescale to remove plastic bit? I will change tap, but in meantime she wants old tap! Vinegar?
No bollox I just fixed my tap it was seized I wasn’t waiting till Thursday for a bath lol thanks buddy appreciate your video grabbed me wera set of and got to work baths running 🛁
Thank you so much! The idea of using the vacuum cleaner tube was brilliant! I had no plumbing pipe to hand but everyone has a vacuum! All your advice was spot on and sound! Thanks for posting.
@@PlumbingGy Thanks for the quick reply Dan, while you're here where is the best place to get the replacement washer and seal at the top? My tap is an Armitage Shanks just like the one in your video. I'm looking online but having no luck.
Normally you can purchase them individually from good merchants or just grab yourself a tap repair kit, small box that has most common washers inside and good for a few repairs normally get them from any good building merchants or Screwfix 👍🏻
@@PlumbingGy Thanks Dan, our bathroom basin cold tap was almost impossible to turn off! It is about 20 years old, your tip with hooking a spanner over the first spanner, using the vacuum pipe, and tapping the valve got it free! After brushing is down with a toothbrush and drying it and reassembling it is turning off ok again! :-) If it goes bad again I think I will just replace the valve. Thanks again for all those tips which has saved me a load of expense!
I have single hole mono block mixer tap. I have opened the top/handle but Not able to access the cartridge as the nut is not opening. Any suggestions Thanks
@Do It All Dan, I'm here because the handle is seized, so it's welded to the gland splines. The tap works, but I can't remove the handle to replace the washer. I unscrewed it and tried tapping the handle a few times from underneath but this hasn't loosened it. Any idea how to remove it?
Apart from using a flat bladed screwdriver to remove, using a cloth so it doesn't mark and then a pair of grips. Just make sure there isn't a tiny grub screw that is holding it in place (small Allen key hole).
I can't get my tap undone and I have been using WD40 (before seeing this video). Your reasons for not using it seemed to be that it would damage the very washers we are aiming to replace. Are you saying that we can use it if we clean it off thoroughly afterwards?
I personally wouldn't use any chemicals that can be harmful, regardless of which tap it may be. Unless you aim to replace all the washers on the cartridge (normally you wouldn't need to, only the seating washer) then the wd40 would be ok as it wouldn't damage the brass or steel.
@@PlumbingGy Thanks Dan. Got it unscrewed eventually but I didn't realise WD40 could do any damage to materials like rubber. I thought it was just a very thin oil that could creep into very tight spaces
@@PlumbingGy Thanks for that Dan, sensible reply at last, if you can send me an address I can send you one F.O.C you might want to do a video using it ?
Noooo - I came to this AFTER using WD40 and having no joy. Bloody fitting's coated in the stuff now and I still cant get it open. I'll just endeavour to give it a really good clean
The issue I have is the tap head/handle is seized onto the body. Got the cap and screw out no problem but go to lift the handle off to access underneath and it's solid even after hours of soaking in wd40 anyone have any suggestions? Thanks
Had this problem and the video was a great help, however, my tap was so tight on that in the end i used a an impact driver and 17mm socket that shifted it.😅
Thing is on my tap the nut is less than half the thickness of the one in the videos I watched, and the spanners just slip off every time and cause damage to the nut.
Thank you fir all the tips but l have a problem where the main water tap is seized and there is no water stopper under the tap like you showed in your video . Bear in mind mmy bath tap almost lije yours with whoer valve in the middle. Thank you
I think I see what you meant, in this case you have to isolate the water from the main stop tap inside your property. Then depending on what water heating system you have in place if it's a combi boiler the hot water will stop when the mains is isolated. If you have a hot water tank in the airing cupboard then you will need to isolate the hot water storage tank feed (big tank in loft, not small one) by either an isolation on the pipe to the loft or by bunging the tank feed with a drain valve kit. 👍🏻
There’s another video like this. But it doesn’t help for taps not shaped like this that have this problem. I need something to help loosen something that shouldn’t be so tight
Oh dear is WD40 bad? that's how i just unseized my tap. I'm assuming it's bad because it rots the washers? Well I have spare washers and didn't need to change the original, so no biggie.
@@rfcalm I just looked through it quickly and he did say not to use it. Not sure why I did not get it the first time. I was probably desperate to find a solution to a problem that I have had for decades and that my husband was never going to even try to fix. Wash basin taps were a little too overwhelming for me so I hired someone to replace them.
Hi my taps loose underneath but i cant tighten it up havent got the right spanner but need to change the washer badly the taps running mire than it was before
Thank you Dan, getting the additional leverage was particularly useful. I didn’t have a box spanner, so used one of the fittings from a vacuum cleaner to cover the spout and it worked after all else had failed. I also used silicone spray (not WD40) to help loosen the stuck valve and I think it helped.
Had a tap that I didn't use for close to 10yrs. As single mom money is a big problem. All my male relatives advised me to get a new tap. That would also mean a new basin etc.
Today I got it off all by myself.
Thank you Thank you
You have no idea how grateful I am.
👏👏👏👏👏
Excellent video. I just fixed a bathroom tap following the steps you show. Made it very straight forward. We now have full pressure on the hot tap rather than a dribble as was the case. I also used your tip of using the attachment for the hoover to hold the tap in place whilst unscrewing the inner part. Worked a treat - 👍👍
Thank you Dan. I was in the middle of dealing with a seized tap and had already thought of more leverage, but had no idea how to achieve this. Sat down with a cup of tea to stop all the swearing that had begun, and came across your video. Toilet rolls and hoover pipes, brilliant. It took me less than 2 minutes to find the bits and undo the tap. Thank you again for saving my taps from my kak handed attempts at DIY.
Glad to see you use a Ring spanner, the first (and only? ) one to do so, out of MANY such vids on YT. Brass stubborn nuts, are easy to damage with loose fitting tools.
Bought a 22mm, £4.50, spanner to at least 'attempt' to get the head off my totally seized 1960s bath hot water tap, which had been dripping for weeks... only to find I needed a 23mm, aaargh! I found tapping and direct heat from a paint stripping heat-gun and 2 sharp tugs... freed it!!! It was only the top 2 bits of thread that were 'stuck'... the lower threads were pristine shiny brass! The rubber washer had completely crumbled away, but, only after FIVE DECADES daily use. Total cost...yes, £4.50!!! I was so chuffed that I went on to do the same with the 3 other similarly ancient bathroom taps. Good ol' TH-cam!
Great. Am currently attacking 6 taps to replace washers. This is very simple and easy to follow. I am, however, an ardent DIYer. Thanks for the video.
Brilliant video and easy instructions that covers all difficulties 😊
Thanks. Old outdoor tap needed new washer but couldn't undo the nut. Your advice about using a lever to get better torque meant I could get the whole tap off and replaced the whole thing. Cheers
This video saved my life 😂 couldn't get any purchase on the weird-shaped tap until I tried the henry hoover pipe and it sorted me right out 🙏 Thanks a million
Thank you Dan, getting the additional leverage was particularly useful. I didn’t have a box spanner, so used one of the fittings from a vacuum cleaner to cover the spout and it worked after all else had failed. I also used silicone spray (not WD40) to help loosen the stuck valve and I think it helped.
Thanks a million! Old bath star tap would not unscrew to get to the washer, no wire brush I used a junior hacksaw carefully to remove dirt on top of thread. Then for leverage I used large adjustable spanner and to stop tap moving (as pipes all soldered here years ago and that would be a disaster) the end of mole grips with the adjustable nurled bit at the end made it as long as possible whilst still a half inch within the grip and put it into the tap water outlet as far as possible and the leverage made the tap undo really easy! LEVERAGE is what we need as you say! New washer on (and that was a bas----- to get over the spigot!
Thanks, Mike.
Thanks,
Thanks Mike, I’m glad it helped. If you ever need any help with more jobs just send me a message.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@@PlumbingGy Thanks Dan, but I will now have a lie down until the new year, ha!
😂😂😂 I can’t fault that
The hammering actually worked!!! Thank you--it was super stuck and I feel very accomplished now.
Danny, This is the best video out there. Thanks so much for sharing the different ways. Not all ways work in all situations and by systematically trying your suggestions I managed to remove my stubborn cartridge with no damage. Really appreciate it !
Thank you glad it helped
Thank you so much! I fixed my cloakroom tap in about 10 mins following your instructions. There was no water flow from that tap but there is now. I also used a suede brush and the tapping technique, plus the toilet roll round the tap. I had to put my vacuum cleaner tube over the tap too. My tip would be to put a bucket or bowl under the end of any longer tube over the tap as there was water backed up and it poured onto my floor! But that's a minor issue!
Glad it helped you out and you have the problem sorted, thanks for the input and the support 👍🏻
I have the exact same taps its seized on the on position so running constantly. The screw on the handle wont budge (and starting to strip) so can't get to the metal underneith and now i have a constantly running tap. Any help? 😫
Thanks very much for your video, doubling up spanners for more leverage worked a treat to unscrew a tap cartridge that had previously been immovable.
Thank you for the tip about adding a tube to the spout. Brilliant! Sorted my stuck tap with minimum fuss!
Glad it helped thanks the support 👍
Dan, I am glad you mentioned WD40 is a no no. My Ma's taps are seized with limescale, Midlands water-and have old-fashioned plastic bit which slips over main fitting-just as in your vid, but is seized to main brass fitting. I have seen these cracked too. Is there a tip to 'dissolve' limescale to remove plastic bit? I will change tap, but in meantime she wants old tap! Vinegar?
Personally I used a multi tool (oscillating saw) to cut the plastic/metal nuts out 👍🏻
Finally, someone that tells you the Spanner size
Thanks for this 👍 couldn't get any leverage but the Henry pipe did the trick 🇬🇧✌️
Great - thanks...all sorted. The box spanner tip was particularly useful! Thanks Dan
Thanks for the video, just seeing how to take it apart was very useful.
No bollox I just fixed my tap it was seized I wasn’t waiting till Thursday for a bath lol thanks buddy appreciate your video grabbed me wera set of and got to work baths running 🛁
Nice one mark 👍🏻
Thank you so much! The idea of using the vacuum cleaner tube was brilliant! I had no plumbing pipe to hand but everyone has a vacuum!
All your advice was spot on and sound!
Thanks for posting.
Thank you Barry, I’m glad it has helped and you know us plumbers utilise anything we can 😂👍🏻
@@PlumbingGy Thanks for the quick reply Dan, while you're here where is the best place to get the replacement washer and seal at the top?
My tap is an Armitage Shanks just like the one in your video. I'm looking online but having no luck.
Normally you can purchase them individually from good merchants or just grab yourself a tap repair kit, small box that has most common washers inside and good for a few repairs normally get them from any good building merchants or Screwfix 👍🏻
@@PlumbingGy Thanks Dan, our bathroom basin cold tap was almost impossible to turn off!
It is about 20 years old, your tip with hooking a spanner over the first spanner, using the vacuum pipe, and tapping the valve got it free!
After brushing is down with a toothbrush and drying it and reassembling it is turning off ok again! :-)
If it goes bad again I think I will just replace the valve.
Thanks again for all those tips which has saved me a load of expense!
No worries Barry thank you for the support 👍🏻
I have single hole mono block mixer tap. I have opened the top/handle but Not able to access the cartridge as the nut is not opening. Any suggestions Thanks
Unfortunately without seeing it, it's fairly difficult to give any advice, there are many variations
Brilliant video,thanks.sorted my stuck tap 👏👏
What size washer did you use for this exact tap
@Do It All Dan, I'm here because the handle is seized, so it's welded to the gland splines. The tap works, but I can't remove the handle to replace the washer. I unscrewed it and tried tapping the handle a few times from underneath but this hasn't loosened it. Any idea how to remove it?
Apart from using a flat bladed screwdriver to remove, using a cloth so it doesn't mark and then a pair of grips. Just make sure there isn't a tiny grub screw that is holding it in place (small Allen key hole).
Thanks, sorted out a stuck bathroom tap with minimal fuss after following this 👍
Glad it helped
The wire brush and hammer to loosen worked for me. Great
I can't get my tap undone and I have been using WD40 (before seeing this video). Your reasons for not using it seemed to be that it would damage the very washers we are aiming to replace. Are you saying that we can use it if we clean it off thoroughly afterwards?
I personally wouldn't use any chemicals that can be harmful, regardless of which tap it may be. Unless you aim to replace all the washers on the cartridge (normally you wouldn't need to, only the seating washer) then the wd40 would be ok as it wouldn't damage the brass or steel.
@@PlumbingGy Thanks Dan. Got it unscrewed eventually but I didn't realise WD40 could do any damage to materials like rubber. I thought it was just a very thin oil that could creep into very tight spaces
Good Effort as always !!! 👍
Good stuff bro. Learning some good tips. Keep up the good works
Cool tutorial. When i turn on my handle, water comes on, but after a few seconds, the hande begins to turn off by itself. Any ideas why
Don't qoute me on this but from what I have being learning,it sounds like you may just need to replace the seat and springs.its a cheap fix.
Good video, but if you find the headnut is stuck fast, look out for the easy tapslitter, makes it so much easier.
I have seen that graham worth the investment
@@PlumbingGy Thanks for that Dan, sensible reply at last, if you can send me an address I can send you one F.O.C you might want to do a video using it ?
Like the using a box spanner idea, any tips getting gland loose on a mixer tap fitted through a kitchen sink? always flex on me
nightmare Steve, always gets me. Only thing I do is apply no end of lube where possible 👌🏻
Giving them cheeky tips again Danny boi 😜😉🙊 x
Can I hammer the other end of the ring spanner if the spindle nut is too tight?
U wouldn't recommend it even if your supporting it with your other hand , it may put too much shock pressure onto the fitting
Noooo - I came to this AFTER using WD40 and having no joy. Bloody fitting's coated in the stuff now and I still cant get it open. I'll just endeavour to give it a really good clean
I did too!!!!!!!! Been spraying it all bloody morning!!!!
Cheers Dan . Total Pro 👍🏿
The issue I have is the tap head/handle is seized onto the body. Got the cap and screw out no problem but go to lift the handle off to access underneath and it's solid even after hours of soaking in wd40 anyone have any suggestions? Thanks
Did you figure it out? I'm facing the same problem
Had this problem and the video was a great help, however, my tap was so tight on that in the end i used a an impact driver and 17mm socket that shifted it.😅
I've just done the same and came to leave a comment, but I'll just second yours.
The impact driver took less than a second to remove it 😁
Thing is on my tap the nut is less than half the thickness of the one in the videos I watched, and the spanners just slip off every time and cause damage to the nut.
Try a tap splitter never fails me as a last resort
I’m struggling to remove a cartridge from a tap bloody thing is so tight
I'm struggling to take the 'cap' off.. its the aluminum ones
Undone the screw but the cap is not moving, can not get it off for the life of me, any ideas?
It's seized on you will need to apply plenty of lubricant and give gentle taps to loosen all u can do, if fails it's a new set of taps 👍🏻
Lovely thanks for ur reply, will have a look tomorrow
Thank you fir all the tips but l have a problem where the main water tap is seized and there is no water stopper under the tap like you showed in your video . Bear in mind mmy bath tap almost lije yours with whoer valve in the middle. Thank you
I think I see what you meant, in this case you have to isolate the water from the main stop tap inside your property. Then depending on what water heating system you have in place if it's a combi boiler the hot water will stop when the mains is isolated. If you have a hot water tank in the airing cupboard then you will need to isolate the hot water storage tank feed (big tank in loft, not small one) by either an isolation on the pipe to the loft or by bunging the tank feed with a drain valve kit. 👍🏻
great advice - thanks very much! Helped me get the job done!
Brilliant glad I helped
What would you do if the screw holding the tap head is stripped? I can't get the head off because the screw is damaged
Measure the scre against a drill bit and drill it off 👌🏻
Show us how to remove a stiff cold tap on a bath mixer tap.Not a soft job
Use the same methods, and don't be light handed.
Show me how on video
You want me to do the exact same video again for you?
is there any way I could send a pix of the tap
Great vid thanks 👍
Cheers, the whack it with a hammer bit worked.
🤣🤣🤣💪🏻
i use a lanolin based spray that doesn't mind rubber.
Tapping it with a hammer helped! Thanks
There’s another video like this. But it doesn’t help for taps not shaped like this that have this problem.
I need something to help loosen something that shouldn’t be so tight
I would suggest leverage Vincent, as for the shape there are a few tools that may help, Il send some links later on when I get home if that’ll help?
Adjustable spanner moved and slipped, so the corners of the hexagon got damaged.😢
Ouch
I can’t even take the screw out - had wd40 on it allll day... urgh
Bollocks. I used that dw whatsit and t still hasn't moved:(
Try harder 👍🏻👍🏻
@@PlumbingGy I'm thinking of taking a sledge hammer to it :)
🤣
Should have watched this video before I sprayed it with wd40 LOL but at least I know to clean it all off... if i get the damn thing off that is
Hahaa fingers crossed all goes well thanks for the support 👍🏻
Oh dear is WD40 bad? that's how i just unseized my tap. I'm assuming it's bad because it rots the washers? Well I have spare washers and didn't need to change the original, so no biggie.
Can you use some WD 40 or something like that at first?
Did you not watch the video?
@@rfcalm I just looked through it quickly and he did say not to use it. Not sure why I did not get it the first time. I was probably desperate to find a solution to a problem that I have had for decades and that my husband was never going to even try to fix. Wash basin taps were a little too overwhelming for me so I hired someone to replace them.
Hi my taps loose underneath but i cant tighten it up havent got the right spanner but need to change the washer badly the taps running mire than it was before
Thank you Dan, getting the additional leverage was particularly useful. I didn’t have a box spanner, so used one of the fittings from a vacuum cleaner to cover the spout and it worked after all else had failed. I also used silicone spray (not WD40) to help loosen the stuck valve and I think it helped.
I can't get the securing screw off. It's really stiff