Water Tap Parts

There may come a time when one of your taps at home stops working as it should. You will be glad to know that there is a great selection of water tap parts available at your local hardware store; the problem comes when you are trying to find one specific piece to make your water taps complete again. Replacing water tap parts is actually a fairly simple job for you to do at home, but before you begin let us look at which parts do what, and how to make them all work together.

The Makings of a Water Tap

You will be glad to know that when it comes to water tap parts there are actually only a few pieces for you to worry about. It will obviously depend on which make and model of tap you have but in general most taps are made up of the following:

  • The tap handle
  • The tap cartridge
  • The spout
  • Mains water attachment

There are of course the smaller parts that go into making a tap such as the o rings, fastening screws and certain aesthetic additions. In general you will find that dismantling a tap works from top to bottom.

Identifying the Problem

If you find that a tap is faulty you will want to find the problem as soon as possible. Certain water tap parts will deteriorate over time and with heavy use so may need replacing sooner than others. The most common fault, the leaky tap, is often caused by a worn down tap cartridge. It should be noted that there are two main types of tap cartridge, the ceramic disk cartridge and the spindle and washer cartridge. It should be noted that one will not substitute for the other so you may need to take apart your tap to identify the cartridge before going shopping.

Quick Cartridge Removal

Of all the water tap parts the cartridge is probably one of the easier ones to get at. Remember before you start to turn of the mains water, the last thing you want is a flood on your hands as well. The majority of cartridges are accessible under the tap candle. To get to them simply remove any retaining screws, these may be hidden under caps, and lever the handle off of the tap. From here simply remove the cartridge and you are set to go! Remember it may be stuck in there pretty good so make sure to take your time working it out.

Buying the Right Parts

The best you can do is to always take the old parts with you when you buy new, this way you can ensure you have the same cartridge as you need. Remember that with some older taps you may need to use a newer replacement part that has a different name or product code. In general, a hardware store should be able to help you decide which water tap parts you need and prices start from around $8, so what are you waiting for?

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