Plumbing ............ clutching at straws

[Phil Pascoe]

The bath hot tap is leaking badly. I've changed the ¼ turn insert, but the leak is still there. I suspect the taps were fitted with flexible hoses before the bath was in situ, so even if possible it's going to be an absolute pig to change the tap. A single tap, not a mixer. Any ideas?

 

[Amplidyne]

You sure it's the right cartridge? A new unit? It has to be exactly the right one. Have a look to see how the seat is where the bottom of the cartridge seats on the tap as well.
That's about the end of my knowledge about ceramic cartridges though!
Otherwise just isolate the water and disconnect the flex. Crow's foot spanner / wrench to undo the tap nut. Make sure that when you replace the flex, you don't twist it. If it's a compression type fitting, use a bit of PTFE tape, just round the olive if you're reusing it. Thread tape on any threaded connections, to seal the thread, but not on the threads of compression fittings.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It's the correct cartridge. Everything is clean. The problem being the access to the underside of the tap is virtually non existent - I might be able to get a crow's foot on it but I doubt I can get my hand there as well - the taps were undoubtedly put in place before the bath was installed. My wife says just get someone in to do it, but I have long arms - if I can't reach it it's unlikely anyone else will be able to. I really don't want the bath coming out. I'll try to get my hand in there tomorrow.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

I suspect a plumber will have the right tools to do the job - for instance you can get a crows foot spanner with a 1/2" drive specifically intended (I assume) for accessing tap back nuts with limited clearance.

 

[Spectric]

I suspect a plumber will have the right tools to do the job

That is the secret to most jobs, having the right tools is essential and a plumber will have something like this

if you have a socket set then you could buy the sockets & crows feet on there own.

 

[gregmcateer]

Wot spectric said - if you were closer, I'd lend you our set - game changer, but big investment for one tap

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It's not so much the limited access that's the problem, it's the actual reach. The crow's foot for a socket set is a good idea, though.
I'll take the bath panel off later and see how far in I can reach.

 

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