Home Renovation & Building Forum
https://forum.homeone.com.au/

Changing taps - Noob Question
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=20071		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  panthus [ Jun 30, 2009 10:51 am ]
Post subject:  Changing taps - Noob Question
I want to change the taps in my shower as the washers are shot so thought perfect opportunity.

My question is, is it a BIG job to change over the taps? I have to get a plumber in anyway as i can't even change a washer :oops: :lol: but if it's a massive job i may reconsider. I should note i have instantaneous hot water if that makes a difference (I know it does for the shower head)

This is the style i currently have
   ⋅  Add a comment  ⋅  Pin to Ideaboard  ⋅  

This is the style i want to go to
   ⋅  Add a comment  ⋅  Pin to Ideaboard  ⋅  

Thanks in advance
Author:  Terrian [ Jul 01, 2009 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
Na, not a big job at all, the taps are a straight change over as long as the breech is in good condition.
It shouldn't take the plumber more than 1/2hr or so to change that old for the new (ceramic, 1/4 turn) taps

The new taps need to be pulled apart to be install, make sure the plumber knows this !

Quote:
I should note i have instantaneous hot water if that makes a difference (I know it does for the shower head)


Why do you think this ?
Author:  vvs mand [ Jul 01, 2009 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
Its not that difficult to change over to the taps you illustrated, but if you've never rewashered a tap before it might not be a good idea to try changing from jumper valves to quarter turn spindles.
You need to remove the old tapware and the jumper valves. You then....and this is quiet important, need to remachine the seats of the inwall breech. Make sure the remnants of the reseating process (brass shavings) are gone (making sure they are not trapped in the shower rose)and then fit the quarter turn spindles. Its quite simple. There are two parts to the spindles. You unscrew the two parts of the spindle, screw the long shaft type part into place and then the locking nut into position.
the two spindles are contra, (one clockwise the other anti clockwise) so that they turn away from each other to open.
Its right that a plumber will take less than half an hour, but noone charges less than an hour.

Make sure that the taps you buy are not some cheap chinese import that you wont be able to get parts for in a few years time when the ceramic discs need replacing. Otherwise youll be changing the entire set again. And be aware that the discs and the spindles will wear. and when they do the repair kit will cost you about $30 as compared to a few dollars for a jumper valve.
Author:  Terrian [ Jul 02, 2009 7:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
vvs mand vvs mand
Make sure that the taps you buy are not some cheap chinese import that you wont be able to get parts for in a few years time when the ceramic discs need replacing. Otherwise youll be changing the entire set again. And be aware that the discs and the spindles will wear. and when they do the repair kit will cost you about $30 as compared to a few dollars for a jumper valve.


but hopefully in a few years time when the discs need replacing they will have come way down in costs :)
Author:  vvs mand [ Jul 02, 2009 4:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
Yes. theyve been saying that for about 15 years now and most of those taps from 15 years ago dont have repair kits for them, so you have to buy new spindles which are about four times the price of ordinary spindles.
Author:  panthus [ Jul 03, 2009 11:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
Terrian Terrian
Quote:
I should note i have instantaneous hot water if that makes a difference (I know it does for the shower head)


Why do you think this ?



thanks everyone for your response. I think i might just leave it in the capable hands of the plumber. Doesn't sound like too much of a job for him but for me is a different question.

To answer the above quote, the shower head has some sort of plastic thing inside (technical term!) that when it gets to hot stops the hot water flow coming through. Sydney water wouldn't come out either because of the instantaneous saying that there equipment was not compatible. Hence why i threw the question out there.

I really have no clue but wanted to ask the main question basically to see if a plumber would charge me an arm and a leg. I feel more at ease about getting them to do it so thanks.

However, buying the taps off ebay may not be such a good idea from what you have suggested so thanks again. You may have saved me a buck or two in the long run.
Author:  Terrian [ Jul 04, 2009 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
vvs mand vvs mand
Yes. theyve been saying that for about 15 years now and most of those taps from 15 years ago dont have repair kits for them, so you have to buy new spindles which are about four times the price of ordinary spindles.


this is true, but they are becoming more popular today, so we can live in hope :)
Author:  Terrian [ Jul 04, 2009 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
panthus panthus
Terrian Terrian
Quote:
I should note i have instantaneous hot water if that makes a difference (I know it does for the shower head)


Why do you think this ?


To answer the above quote, the shower head has some sort of plastic thing inside (technical term!) that when it gets to hot stops the hot water flow coming through.

Fair enough, haven't seen this before.

Quote:
However, buying the taps off ebay may not be such a good idea from what you have suggested so thanks again. You may have saved me a buck or two in the long run.


We bought ours from a plumbing supplies, but Bunnings, Reece etc have them, and no, I wouldn't buy them off ebay.
Author:  sco77k [ May 01, 2011 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
Sorry about pulling up an old thread but I just got a call from my plumber telling me he is having trouble installing our new taps in our shower and bath. We have the old style as in the picture in the first post and we have bought modern 1/4 turn taps. Apparently the new 1/4 taps don't sit flush with the wall and will stick out by 10mm or so?? He said the only way to fix this is to rip up the tiles we've just had resprayed and re-do the piping but we don't want this done. He said there is another option of getting a little cover plate thing specially made up for behind each tap to make it look flush with the wall tiles.

Has anyone had any issues with replacing old taps with new 1/4 turn ones? and what was the solution??
Author:  sarahlou2 [ May 09, 2011 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Changing taps - Noob Question
We replaced our kitchen taps with quarter turn lever taps and didn't have any issues.

If I were you, I would go to bunnings and see what they have in the way of cover plates for the base of the tap. We purchased the Rhapsody taps from Bunnings and the base plate that came with them sticks out about 2 cm from the wall so the base plate solution could fix your problem.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC + 10 hours
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/