Trying to FIX a LEAKING 1/4 Turn Kitchen TAP

[@charlesarnold4963]

I found your video extremely useful. I have a kitchen tap which is of similar design. It is only about 3 years since it was installed, but it is leaking! What I mean is; the tap is dripping. So I think the ceramic cartridge needs to be replaced. You have shown me how to go about it. I had no idea how to access the cartridges, just pull off the handles. How easy is that?! I had no idea where to source the replacement cartridges. I was totally unaware that Tool Station stocked them. You have shown me the way forward and increased my confidence in tackling the task. Thank you so much. I am extremely grateful. Keep up the great work.

[@ajburdett882]

It's is DEFINITELY worth noting that not all handles just pull off the taps. I work for B&Q in the kitchens section and the majority of the taps will sell will require you to remove a grub screw before you can take the handle off, in some cases this is a hidden grub screw, it could be hidden behind a cap or a cover or something. I haven't ever seen any that just pull off like yours did! Worth noting for sure because if anybody is attempting to pull them the same way you did they may be confused as to why they aren't getting anywhere

[@andrewpeat6342]

I've had a leaky tap for months but seeing how easy it can be I think I'll go for the fix instead of buying new, great video

[@johnjohnson-of4zm]

After an hour of searching I finally found a video that demonstrated how to remove the gooseneck instead of lifting off a collar. Mine didn't have an obvious allen wrench location and I could not for the life of me figure out how to get to the O rings (already replaced the cartridge). There was a spot in back with a rubber whole plug that matched the look of the neck. YOUR video helped me to look closer once I realized the whole thing lifted out of the collar. Replaced the O rings and good as new. Cheers mate!!

[@ozm007]

Great video vince a Tip there's also a filter at the end of the tap that builds up dirt it's good to open it and clean it out so the water runs much smoothly I enjoy every one off your videos peace ✌️

[@MrJozza65]

I actually did this on a similar tap a couple of weeks back; the hot side was leaking and every time we turned other taps on it made a whistling noise in the pipes! The version I have has a big plastic gear which fits on the cartridge and in the tap body, and that has much finer teeth for adjustment of the tap position. I did have to adapt the plastic gear a bit though, as it needed to sit further down on the shaft to get the tap tops nicely aligned. Used exactly the same cartridges as you, and I was surprised how cheap and easy a fix it was. I used a tiny smear of silicon grease to help the rubber washer when tightening the cartridge, but I also use Fernox a lot too.

[@brianthomson6012]

The spline orientation is fixed in relation to the fully open/closed valve. To get the handles to align you need to fractionally tighten up or loosen off (riskier option) the whole valve with the spanner. In your case if you can 'nip up' the cold valve a little more then you should be able to get the lever more upright.

[@Mymatevince]

Thank you Brian 👍👍👍

[@djfunkycraig]

Top tip, when you pulled that clip off you could press out the shaft and clean the components of any lime and calcium for the tap parts, and for the alignment of the handles nip one side up a fraction or back one valve off a tiny fraction, thanks for the vid 👍🏼

[@iamwonderFil]

love this real life house hold fixes. you are always so entertaining! greetings from Montreal!

[@dsakkas7]

Hi Vince, The answer to all your latest videos regarding plumbing items is: a) red wine vinegar with 5 or 6% acidity (plain wine and water ingredients and nothing else) and b) a suitable container (shape-wise) to accommodate each of those items so you don’t waste too much of that vinegar (yes, the cold/hot water valves had to be replaced). It’s important that you‘ve got some kind of a plan to every day’s choirs because you must let them soak for at least 24 hrs. A chrome layer or stainless steel items won’t be affected but be careful with galvanized or zinc layered items that the vinegar might go through and remove that layer. When I was in UK, I found that Cillit Bang (or similar products) was waste of time on heavy scale deposits. So, on items that cannot be contained, a towel spread over big surfaces (like the sink area) or wrapped around others of a more awkward shape and literally drenched with vinegar that you keep on “topping up” for around 24 to 36 hours, was a better option. After vinegar treatment, scrubbing off with the green side of a scouring pad on stainless steel items, finished them off nicely (not always suitable for mirror finished items, you need to check). Finally, to preserve O-rings’ life, for those that takes some time to be used, dust some talc powder on them.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks for all the tips deanoh 👍👍👍

[@dsakkas7]

@@Mymatevince You're welcome, Vince.

[@jimmuendo]

Hey Vince! Just a weird observation / tip! I wrapped some kitchen towel around my taps, where the limescale was bad; secured it with elastic bands, then soaked the paper towel in IPA! Left it for about 30 minutes, then all the scale & black marks just brushed away with a stiff toothbrush! 👍🏼

[@jamiefors5062]

Nip it up or back half a turn and that'll get that tap head on straight.......ceramic inserts are a nightmare, they just wear away......well done buddy on the fix

[@MarianA-vu8tb]

I had an identical tap leaking from one side but when that side valve was opened, not when closed as your situation was at beginning of video, that cartridge u can actually disassemble and it has some small o-ring that's perished and u can try replace it, or better yet replace entire cartridge like u did, remember when u removed circ-clip, that let's u pull out the middle pin which exposes the small o-ring I mentioned earlier on.

[@AnonymousRepair]

Great video, Removing the blue/red silicone seal and the top circlip should disassemble the cartridge, there should be an inner o'ring that has failed 👍👍👍👍

[@Mymatevince]

Ohhhh, so it may have been fixable then as the ceramic discs weren't leaking. That would have made a better fix as I probably had an o ring to fit it. Thanks for sharing that AR, hopefully it will help others out 👍👍👍

[@jeremydewolfe8026]

Im glad someone mentioned it, yes removing the red or blue gasket and the circlip allows you to press the shaft of the splines towards the ceramic disc pieces and all 3 peices will tumble out of the spanner body. Its rather fiddly and easy to mess up. Should be done with care and layed out on a cloth in orientation. Also the oring in question is very tiny and not one likely in your oring box. Might have had to purchase online anyways. Anyways great repair! Plumber from san diego here! Love the vids Vince!

[@alexsully1233]

Thanks Vince - saved ma a new tap 😊 I found that I didn’t need to turn off the taps - Which was good as I didn’t have a convenient way of cutting them off. Won’t be so cheerful if I need to change the cartridges. Until then, thanks again.

[@wobber999]

I have done this sort of repair before but firstly looking at a youtube video beforehand, great vid vince

[@janep1708]

re pulling off the handles, the lever in mine screws into that handle cap, and acts as a clamp for it. Unscrew the little lever to release the grip and the handle cap comes straight off. Top video. Thanks.

[@daranphilipson1025]

The most useful video on KZbin I’ve watched this year 👍🏻

[@nixielee]

Love the safety warning for a tap fix. You never know what can happen!

[@andreasconstantinou2593]

Thanks for the video. My tap was leaking and it was the washers. Easy to fix when you know what to look for and how!

[@sdjp19644691]

Thanks Vince, very helpful. Was able to do the job and not have to spend £100 with a plumber.

[@muhammedadnan767]

Today is a lovely day, 4 video from my favourite youtuber

[@charlesarnold4963]

‘O’ rings, whatever sort, need to be lubricated for fitting. Using WD 40 is a great idea. Alternatively Vaseline is a good choice. There are specialist lubricants or greases available but they tent to very expensive. I think the grease that you used is silicone. Whatever lubricant is used, you only need to apply the slightest smear. Apply Vaseline to the ‘O’ ring and using your fingers wipe off the excess so that the ring is shiny but no visible sign of the grease. This is based on my experience as an engineer dealing with military applications.

[@myglaren]

Washing up liquid is also a good lubricant that won't damage the 'O' ring, while many lubricants will, including the dreaded standard WD40.

[@8bitbubsy]

16:02 Your neighbors must've thought there was an earthquake outside lol

[@garyherbert8242]

Had the same issue with the FRANK taps replaced the washers then found a hole in the spout. Lucky for me someone was selling a used one for 10 Euros so I now have spare parts for this really Expensive tap!

[@rebug5614]

Very good. I'd have done the lime scale on the tap end where the water comes out as well. Think if you'd tightened the cold that little bit more it would have been straight like the hot, yes i have ocd as well lol

[@309electronics5]

I love these in house fixes something different then only repairing devices and things (i also love that but something different is also nice ) nice video vince

[@BikerBloke600]

Excellent Vince, I have a similar tap in my kitchen that's leaking that ill now try to sort out. Other half has been on my case for months about it. Mick 👍🤣🍻

[@Mymatevince]

Good luck with it Mick 👍👍

[@andylynn7884]

Job well done Vince. Forget the cillit bang though. Get silvo on the chrome and your wife will think you have a new sink!

[@DRJWHALE]

Interesting video thanks Vince! I know next to nothing about plumbing so will be handy for the future!

[@comedyhunter]

02:49 a tip worth noting is always put the plug in before undoing screws as they end up down the plughole !!! Edit 4:30 I see you just realised LOL

[@eathenalexander2836]

Lol these home fix videos are very refreshing

[@mrrob6547]

Nice one, this is the next job for me and it was nice to find a simple, no faffing about video. Cheers!

[@StezStixFix]

Great video, Vince! I've not heard of that LSX stuff before, but I feel like I need some of that in my toolbox. I have about 100 rolls of PTFE tape and seem to use that on everything 😂😂

[@Mymatevince]

I think it is around a fiver from ScrewFix, useful if you want to reuse olives (bit naughty) on compression fittings 👍👍

[@user-te1le7ck6b]

Brilliant stuff but can’t be used if surface is wet

[@annegroves2648]

Another brilliant tutorial.

[@atulstussy]

Thank you - very helpful. I have managed to fix my tap by watching this video- cheers

[@rickharriss]

You can actually dismantle the cartridge, In the stem you will find ANOTHER O ring! Mine regularly need cleaning every 2 or 3 years because of lime scale.

[@GadgetUK164]

We are totally spoilt today with all these videos in one shot!!! =D Got the same type of tap, this is something I need to do!!! This was super useful! I am thinking I need to replace the same parts you replaced there - it looks identical, but I have it dripping from the spout too. I am guessing either my hot or cold valve (internally) has limescale or bad washer - that's different to your faults I think? What do you think? It is identical to yours though!

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks Chris, if they are 1/4 turn taps like the one in the video then I am sure a new cartridge will sort the dripping, i think the ceramic discs wear and let water by. You could turn off the isolation valve for the hot and see if it still drips then you know which side is leaking 👍👍

[@PJD_55]

Also regarding the spline orientation, if you cant tighten up the valve any further you could use some PTFE tape on the valve thread, that will give you some 'thickness' to play with.

[@CoolSharpHarp]

Great video. Wish I could have watched it a few months ago before I paid for a new tap and plumber to fit it.

[@555geoneo555]

Hi vince brilliant job 👏 👍 Ps if you take the right hand tap back off and turn the brass nut up a couple of mm the taps should line up on the off position again 😉

[@harrylights]

Clever geezer I must say Vince you do not give up easy LOL

[@RussellFulmer]

Inside those handles there may be a plastic incert that may can be removed and rotated. Try different positions to get the handles lined up correctly.

[@cadmcspeed1418]

Well I simply can’t believe it. My daughter has a shower that doesn’t get hot, I have a window that doesn’t open and a kitchen sink tap that leaks from the top! It’s almost like this is made for me! You couldn’t pop over here and sort them out, there’ll be a beer or 2 in it for you😀

[@Mymatevince]

Hahah, are you sure!!!!! after the ceiling incident 😂😂👍

[@cw2126]

Man of many talents

[@MrStereoify]

Enjoyed the vid as always. Thanks Vince. 👍

[@backtothebrickstudios5320]

My Mate Vince here be fixing an entire house to sell on Ebay

[@lordjaashin]

can vince fix your grammar?

[@backtothebrickstudios5320]

@@lordjaashin Can Vince fix the broken marriage of your parents?

[@Podunk82]

The honey do list is getting knocked out :P excellent vids!

[@andersmmvfc.8376]

As soon as you lover the pressure in the pipes around a tap, you should always dipp the end of that tap in some cleaning fluid, it screws out and i think that was one of you problem, i do not think that oring on the swan neck was a problem because that hold sutch a low pressure if you have a clean Perlator. At least, that's the name in Swedish. Many watersaving parlators make the old taps leak because it wasn't made to hold a huge amount of pressure, but you have an ardinary strainer that is probably worn and dirty. Thank you for the entertaining video and helping people to realise you can and should fix stuff like this!

[@andersmmvfc.8376]

Way, you should clean it because when you lower the pressure in the pipes going to the tap. The scale up in that pape collapse, and when the water and air rapidly go, throw it washing that scale up, and it ends up in that strainer in the end of the tap.

[@Mymatevince]

Cheers Anders 👍

[@RickyTan10111]

For lubricating anything plumbing; invest in some marine grease. It lasts way longer and will ensure your taps or moving parts don't cease. Also it will make moving parts smoother to move, preventing wearing of o rings. But good luck on getting it off your hands.

[@peepiepo]

I would have thought you need to use something that is potable in house plumbing

[@WasLostButNowAmFound]

@@peepiepo yes, food grade silicone grease.

[@TheSkaldenmettrunk]

Nice. Saved you a plumber and a new tab and you fixed it yourself.

[@connectwithjohn]

Helpful information. I have a similar tap and situation but the control doesn’t pull out as yours. Still don’t know what to so

[@A7mag3ddon]

Not sure if same with ceramic cartridges but the older taps would allow you to remove the spline shaft after removing the circlip and winding counter clockwise, found this out by accident on my old bathroom taps one day that had ceased up, removed, some grease and put back together. But i suppose for £4.50 for new ones not worth the hassle.

[@lildoc]

Hi Vince Thank you for the great video. Quick question- I had a look under my sink and looks like I don't seem to have the stop valve that you gave a 1/4 turn to stop the water supply at the start? Any tips?

[@JackSparrow-ej4fl]

When I do these it is always seized up , good video, . In your switch bits would you have a switch game card reader/ headphone jack board that you could spare , it doesn’t have to work. Keep the videos coming, all the best

[@MrTheBigNoze]

Brit households are always so interesting. The sink is so different than what is typical in the states

[@CooChewGames]

If you need to tighten the base, I would get a long tube-like wrench as it makes it sooo much easier. I spent ages faffing about with different types of wrenches before getting one.

[@fastview79]

actually you can remove the red/blue silicone ring at the bottom of SOME inserts and turn the ceramic part around to change open/close direction.

[@VashStarwind]

Dude you should get a whole new sink, you totally deserve to have a nice sink haha

[@ScarbadosSlim]

If you want a good laugh price up those cartridges from the company I used to work for, Lefroy Brooks. Admittedly, the ones we put in our units were the best of the best and not from screwfix, but Jesus they are eye wateringly expensive... Your lever alignment problem was a common one. On some of our units we had a short adapter shaft with a different number of splines on each end. This allowed for fine tuning of the lever position. In your case we would adjust the shoulder of the cartridge to allow it to be screwed in just that little bit more and bring the levers into alignment. When customers are paying more than £450 for a kitchen mixer like yours with a posh name they get really shirty if everything isn't absolutely spot on.

[@MarianA-vu8tb]

Next "upgrade" is changing the aerator, good aerator makes tap to have one neat stream of water not several streams, also unscrew the aerator and check for debris and give it a clean

[@alexbartles]

Great video!

[@ktaragorn]

Would have been interesting to see if you can break apart (disassemble and try to fix) the cartridge.. "Not meant to be taken apart" hasn't stopped us before :D

[@GadgetUK164]

Back for my 2nd watch (as mine isn't going according to plan lol)...

[@Mymatevince]

Haha, hopefully you have it fixed now Chris😎

[@GadgetUK164]

@@Mymatevince Waiting on another adjustable spanner lol

[@ijabbott63]

Of course there is a bottle of IPA in the video!

[@marcobruno7030]

You forgot to clean out the filtre in the front from scale and calc thats why the flow of water is not straight

[@PracticalDadd]

Once removed, you can soak that filter in vinegar for at least 24 hours and then brush it. The filter will be good as new!

[@danashcroft961]

A great way to remove limescale on chrome fixtures is to get steradent denture cleaner tablets crush them to a powder and then a little water in that to a paste and then splat it on...give it a few minutes and voila, gone...

[@richardpalmer4936]

My two doesn’t even leak… but here I am watching how to fix a leaky tap 😂

[@trevorpritchard9715]

Brilliant! Helped me out big time! 😊😊😊😊

[@heatedgamer2931]

More interesting then i thought it was going to be.

[@pf316984]

Thank you so much. An absolute massive help.

[@kennethbarker852]

1st class video to watch thank you take care kind regards from me kenneth

[@tonywatson1911]

Superb, no leaks here either, thanks mate

[@mandragor85]

plz exchange the Jet Concentrator too while your at it and by doing that the splashing will become less too :)

[@Sam_Holt]

9:49 "Let me get some spanners" *Pulls out a monkey wrench* Me: 🙄

[@davehud2831]

Watched your vids for a while mate.. As a plumber surprised at this vid. Not bad job lad 👍. The way ur tap is moving is the rigid washer been fitted under sink?

[@Mymatevince]

Cheers Dave. I can't really see under it very well unless I empty out the shelves because the half sink is blocking the view. I think the flexing is coming from the sink itself...seems quite thin and the tap is quite heavy. I have just felt it now and it feels like a big 'C' shape washer is there underneath the sink but it is very thin 👍👍👍

[@davehud2831]

@@Mymatevince u can pick them up from screwfix. Plastic triangle thing.. That's the prob with these taps and such thin sinks. Need any help drop me a line mate

[@Mymatevince]

@@davehud2831 Cheers Dave👍

[@lazytv4318]

I do not think that the WD-40 lubricant he is using on the o-ring is food grade. At least the Fernox LS-X is listed to be used around potable water.

[@TheJensenInterceptor]

Thank you, one of my next tasks too. cheers

[@andrasszabo7386]

Once I had to use my pneumatic tyre bolt removing tool to get that cartridge out. Even though the whole sink and tap was brand new and started leaking after 3 weeks but I could not get it out with a spanner.

[@bigbark4627]

I was NOT looking 4 this but U have the same tap as me & mine is leaking from the neck! How random UR vid came up! 🤯👍

[@jasonkirkham7243]

Next vince has a go fixing his boiler lol

[@ezibricks2424]

Vince is your hot water system gravity fed? The hot water pressure looks pretty rubbish to be fair. Good fixed though very impressed.

[@Mymatevince]

Yes it is (as far as I know)👍 Big water tank in the attic that pushes into a hot water cylinder on 1st floor...But for the shower and the bath it is pumped so that flows pretty good 👍👍

[@P5ychoFox]

I have this exact fix on my to do list.

[@paulsweeney5642]

Helped a lot. Thanks

[@raebirch]

Thank you for this video :-)) I can fix our kitchen tap with a bit more confidence :-))

[@truewordz777]

Top video mate.

[@chronicgaming3280]

How long before he realises all he needed to fix the alignment was to adjust the valve?...

[@onetech3984]

You need to unscrew the cap on the end of the end of the nozzle as it looks like it has calcium build up!

[@noshedihint3509]

That would be the aerator

[@nickolaswilcox425]

those kinds of cartridges arent really fixable, particularly not that specific leak, scale build up can stop them fully closing but if water is slipping past the shaft then something internal has worn down which you cant really do a whole lot about. some models you can disassemble and find an o ring to replace but these ones dont look to be that kind

[@nscmodz5938]

Hey my mate vince you're a beast

[@tangothecat237]

The reason the taps is not aligned is one of the valves is tighter than the other

[@reshamgill9947]

Good video ,thanks

[@sajidmah62]

Thanks very helpful video 👍

[@N1tr0_fox]

this is verry difernt keep up the work

[@rfr653]

good job mate.

[@travellingslim]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle In that order for most effect!

[@daz41262010]

great fix :)

[@bempomaa489]

Hi, could you fixed my iPhone due to water damage please? thanks

[@emanuelmifsud6754]

The cold handle not being upright simply needed a minor tightening of the gland. If he moved it say 1/64 of a turn he would have got it in the precise upright position.

[@VashStarwind]

Could prolly just tighten the crooked cartridge a tiny bit more to get it to line up perfectly

[@noshedihint3509]

The aetator screen needs to be cleaned or replaced but with these taps you might need a special tool to remove it