Some tap problems?..

 

Mixers or taps, the water supply for a kitchen or bathroom is subject to fairly frequent damage, which requires either repair or outright exchange. A dripping tap can be repaired with a valve seat trucing tool. It can also be dismantled using a sink wrench, able to take all the different standard threads available. Finally, the mixer, popular with the most of people, has its own range of tools for its maintenance and replacement. Before any operation, it is of course essential to turn off your main water supply or your shut-off valves if you have them installed.

The sink wrench :

Very useful for removing the nut of an inaccessible and / or dirty tap, which is always done from below (except on some very rare models, where it is done from above. The clamping jaw of the tap wrench is perpendicular to the handle. The head of the wrench swivels and rotates into multiple positions. This makes it easy to tighten or loosen a nut when working space is very narrow or limited and a pipe wrench or socket wrench flat key will not fit.



Some models are telescopic. The jaw of the product is spring loaded for automatic thread gripping. It easily adapts to all possible dimensions





The mixer tap key :

The real happiness of the individual, allows you to change your mixer yourself.


It consists of a 13 mm socket wrench, a swivel handle and a string of adaptable bits to comply with various commercial standards. Once the thread of the mixer is grasped from below, it is easier to hold the mixer with your hand and unscrew it carefully. Note that some models are delivered with a mirror and a small clip-on LED lamp, in order to avoid slipping yourself under the kitchen sink. Do not retighten the threads yet, but first connect the two hoses, hot and cold water (not inverting them) and carry out a flood test. Mark (passing your hand) if no leaks are visible at the connections, and then tighten the threaded rod of the mixer, without forgetting to insert the U-shaped piece that holds it in place. 



Maintain your fittings and plumbing network :

Chrome-plated faucets can only be cleaned by rubbing them with a sponge and soapy water, or vinegar water for the most difficult tasks, without neglecting the base which is often submit to lime deposits.

To preserve the chrome of the mixer when disassembling the aerator (or aerator) to remove the lime residue, use an aerator disassembly wrench. This ABS tool has a minimum of 4 different types of diameters. Never use water pump pliers, your mixer would definitely suffer




Some advices :

Regularly clean your siphons in order to avoid any unforeseen drain clutter.

Regularly check the visible water supply network, especially the hose joints, and run your hand over the hoses for any signs of leaks, especially at the fittings.



Test the hardness of your water: it will determine the frequency of anti-limescale cleaning, and in the most excessive cases, the installation of a softening system. Test kits are also commercially available.

Also check the normal operation of each shut-off valve, they can easily save you from flooding and consequent costs. Change them if necessary. Finally also check the tap and the tank of your WC. A micro leak is detected with a little color (bowl cleaner, dye) poured into the tank. If the color comes out of the bowl without flushing the toilet, your installation is leaking and consuming water. Change the joints, float and / or entire mechanism. A leak can cause a loss of 20% in water consumption.

Operate the main water inlet valve regularly, it should always swing effortlessly. The detection of a network leak is also done by monitoring the screen of the water meter, with all the taps closed.

If the pressure of your house water network is above 3 Bars, you can install a pressure reducer at the start of your water installation. It will prevent you from excessive water consumption, leaks from the toilet flush, fittings, hot water tank, and will extend the life of your household appliance