One tip—when you’re taking off the old tap, put a towel in the basin to catch any dropped screws or bits. Otherwise, you’ll be fishing around the U-bend with a magnet (ask me how I know...).
That towel trick’s saved me more than once. I’d add—always shut off the water at the mains, not just the isolators under the sink. Those little valves can seize up or leak, and you don’t want a surprise flood. Also, if you’re swapping out an old tap, check for corrosion on the pipe threads before reusing them. Sometimes it’s worth replacing those flexi hoses too, especially if they look tired.
Sometimes it’s worth replacing those flexi hoses too, especially if they look tired.
Couldn’t agree more—those old flexi hoses are just waiting to burst at the worst possible time. Had one go on me mid-job once... whole cupboard soaked. You’re right about the isolators too, they’re never as reliable as you’d hope.
It’s wild how something as simple as a flexi hose can cause so much chaos. I’ve had tenants call me in a panic more than once because of a split hose—always seems to happen at 2am or when you’re out of town. Honestly, I don’t even wait for them to look tired anymore. If I’m under the sink for anything else, I just swap them out if they’re more than a few years old. The peace of mind is worth the extra tenner.
And isolators... yeah, they’re supposed to make life easier but half the time they seize up or barely slow the flow. I’ve started putting in lever valves instead of those tiny screw ones—much less hassle when you actually need to shut things off in a hurry.
Dripping taps are just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re already under there, might as well give everything a once-over. Saves you from that sinking feeling when water starts pouring where it shouldn’t.
Dripping taps are just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re already under there, might as well give everything a once-over. Saves you from that sinking feeling when water starts pouring where it shouldn’t.
Couldn’t agree more about the “sinking feeling”—had one job where I went in for a leaky tap and ended up finding a flexi hose that looked like it’d been chewed by a raccoon. Thing was ballooned out like it was about to pop. Swapped it out and the tenant acted like I’d just saved their life.
And those isolators... don’t get me started. The little slot-head ones are basically decorative after a couple years. I’ve had to use pliers just to get them to budge, and even then, half the time they just dribble instead of actually shutting off. Lever valves are the way to go—at least you know they’ll work when you need them.
Funny how a “quick fix” for a drip turns into a full-blown under-sink inspection. But hey, better to catch it before you’re ankle-deep in water at 3am, right?
Funny how a “quick fix” for a drip turns into a full-blown under-sink inspection.
I get what you mean, but I’m not always convinced every drip needs the full treatment right away. Sometimes, if the tap’s just old and the rest of the setup looks solid, I’ll swap the washer or cartridge and leave it at that—especially if the client’s on a budget. Not every flexi hose is a ticking time bomb, though I’ve seen some real horror shows too. Maybe it’s about balancing caution with practicality?