How to change Basin Taps

Sick of that old dirty tap that barely works? Eager to get stuck in and replace it yourself?

Learning how to change basin taps or ‘bathroom sink’ taps is pretty straightforward. They are probably the easiest taps to change out of the different taps found in most homes. If your taps are very old and rusted or seized underneath, you may find you have a harder time removing them than you would with newer taps.

 

Basin Tap Fitting Tools

• Adjustable Spanner
• Pipe wrench(Water pump pliers)
• Backnut box spanner (for single tap basins)
• Monobloc tap spanner set (for basin mixer taps)
• Flat head screwdriver
• Towel

These are the basin tap fittings tools you will need for most basin tap replacements. Investing in some must-have plumbing tools will make fitting taps a lot easier especially if you plan to do it yourself from now on.

 

Tap tightening tool

If you have a basin mixer tap, then this is the same as replacing a kitchen tap. You will need a monobloc tap spanner set as the nuts are always a different size, typically between 8-13mm.

A standard tap back-nut box spanner is 27mm at one end and 32mm at the other. The 27mm end will be suitable for changing single basin taps (separate hot and cold taps), and the 32mm end will be suitable got changing bath taps

How to remove basin taps

1. Isolate the water supply to the basin taps.
2. Open the basin taps and the other taps in the property to get rid of the water from the pipes.
3. Put a towel down under the basin taps to catch any water.
4. SINGLE BASIN TAPS. Turn the nut on the bottom of the tap threads anti-clockwise with an adjustable spanner and pull the flexible tap connector to the side.
5. BASIN MIXER TAPS. Hold the isolating valve with an adjustable spanner and turn the nut on the top of the isolating valve and bottom of the flexible tap connector anti-clockwise with another adjustable spanner, and pull the flexible tap connector to the side.
6. Cut the pipes if there aren’t flexible tap connectors on the old taps.
7. Put a back-nut box spanner over the back-nut that secures the tap to the basin, and turn them anti-clockwise to unscrew and remove the back-nut.
8. Pull the basin taps or basin mixer taps out of the holes.

How to fit basin taps

1. Fit the new basin tap or taps into the holes in the basin with any foam or rubber seals supplied.
2. Tighten with the back-nut tap spanner.
3. Screw on the flexible tap connectors to the tap threads and tighten with an adjustable spanner.
4. If you had to cut the pipes, then you should fit some new flexible tap connectors
5. Close all the taps in the property and turn the water supply back on and check for leaks

 

How to change a basin tap head

To change the basin tap head, you need to find the screw keeping it fixed to the basin tap. This is normally covered with a plastic cap which can be screwed off or pulled off with a small flathead screwdriver.

Once this is removed, you can loosen the screw holding the head on the tap. This is normally a grub screw that takes a 2.5mm Allen key on a basin mixer tap, or a cross-head screw on single bathroom taps.

Once this is loose, the head or handle should just pull off the basin tap. Then fit the new basin tap head fastening the screw.

We would recommend purchasing the replacement head before beginning the job these can often be purchased directly from the manufacturer or your local plumber's merchant should be able to order them providing you know who manufactured the tap.

 

How to change a basin tap cartridge

To change a basin tap cartridge, you need to remove the head or handle as above, and then you will need to unscrew the brass cartridge anti-clockwise using an adjustable spanner.

You might need to hold the tap still with another adjustable spanner, whilst you take the cartridge out. These can be very stiff on old taps. Once out, just screw the new cartridges in and tighten them with the adjustable spanner.

For single lever basin mixer taps, once you remove the handle, you need to unscrew the shroud and the tap cartridge should lift out. Fit new cartridge and refit shroud and handle.

 

How to change a basin tap washer

If you fix a dripping tap, then changing the tap washer might be a solution. You can only change a basin tap washer on full-turn taps. A full-turn tap is when you have to turn the tap head several times for it to let the water out as fast at full flow.

If you have quarter-turn or half-turn taps, you will not be able to replace the washer as they don’t have them, they have ceramic discs.

If you have full-turn basin taps, then you will need to remove the tap cartridges as above, and then replace the washer with the same washer. Then refit the cartridge and the tap head.

Most local plumber’s merchants stock washers and tap cartridges and we recommend taking the old washer or cartridge to the plumber's merchant to make sure you get the correct one.