Dismantling taps

[Parky]

When dismantling basin taps for cleaning out gunk or replacing washers etc I always have trouble holding the tap steady to avoid movement of the tap body which could cause damage to the piping or basin. What tool or method is best to hold the tap steady while loosening the thread to dismantle the tap while avoiding damage to the chrome plating?

[swill453]

A partner?

Scott.

[DrFfybes]

Wrap the spout in a dish cloth and hold it with pipe grips.

Paul

[staffordian]

Does this help or give you any ideas?

One key principle seems to be to have a tool to hold the tap and another on the part you are freeing and try to squeeze them together rather than simply trying to turn the part you are trying to loosen.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGF39ReBrj0&t=29s

[bungeejumper]

I'm impressed by your use of the word "always". Our taps can go a decade or two without needing to be unscrewed for internal cleaning.

Apart from corrosion, the most likely cause of stiff threads is a build-up of cleaning liquids like Viakal, which it seems can get everywhere. Try jetting the unscrewy bits with hot water before you reach for the spanners. (ISTR hearing olive oil also being recommended?)

Beyond that, I suspect the technique would depend on the shape of your taps and how the tops are fitted. Sometimes there's a nut you can lock onto, and sometimes there isn't. Agree with Scott, though, that an extra pair of hands is easier than faffing about with a wooden sandwich (two protective strips of wood strapped around the tap body), which was how I shifted an awkward domed-head tap the last time around.

BJ

[Mike4]

Never mind all of the above.

The correct answer is not to do them up so tight last time you dismantled and reassembled them, so next time you can just undo them holding the tap body still with your other hand.

This is the plumbing version of course, of "I wouldn't be starting from here if I were you..."

[jfgw]

One comment regarding the video, an open-ended spanner might not work if the headwork is tight; it will round off the corners of the brass hexagon. A ring spanner is much better. Failing that, fit a box spanner and use an open-ended spanner on that.

Julian F. G. W.

[doolally]

The correct answer is not to do them up so tight last time you dismantled and reassembled them, so next time you can just undo them holding the tap body still with your other hand.

Alternatively, tighten until the thread strips, then back off a quarter turn

doolally

[88V8]

Usually the problem is with the easy-clean cover. As Mike says, best to keep that routinely loose. In our downstairs bathroom, when we had one, I used to twiddle the covers every morning as part of my routine.
Mind you, in 30 years, I never actually needed to dismantle those taps.

When it come to removing the tap body, I use a short spanner on the hex, and a long stllson with good padding on the spout. This ensures that the tap won't try to rotate in the basin when one applies force to it.

There used to be tools for easy tap splitting that avoided the risk of cracking the basin.... ahh, here we are https://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Tapsplitt ... B00B6P77LS. Other retailers are definitely available.

And other tools if you search on Tap Splitting.

V8