How to fit taps

If you've just updated your bathroom's look, maybe you could fit some new taps and fittings as a finishing touch.

Level of difficulty

Level 2: Intermediate

What you need

• Crow's foot wrench
• Sharp razor blade/Utility knife
• Gasket or sealing ring
• Cap nut
• Top-hat washer
• Sealing washer
• Large rubber washer for taps
•  Thin rubber washer for taps
• Metal washer for taps

The steps to follow

To fit a tap, you will first need to remove the old tap.

I. Remove old taps

1. Turn off the water supply first.
2. Use a crow's foot wrench to undo the tap connector beneath each tap.
3. Use the wrench again to undo the back nut on the tap tail. The back nut secures the tap to the basin. Turn the wrench anti-clockwise to undo the back nut.
4. When the nut is undone, pull out the pipe from the tap.
5. Lift the tap out from the mounting hole.
6. Scrape out any traces of sealant from around the tap mounting hole in the basin with a sharp razor blade or utility knife.

II. Fitting the new taps

1. Fit a new gasket or sealing ring to the tap tail.
2. Thread and push through a large rubber washer over the tap, then position the new tap in its mounting hole.
3. Next thread a thin rubber washer, metal washer, and top-hat washer from beneath the basin.
4. Thread on the back nut and tighten it.
5. Fit a new sealing washer to the top of each tap connector to ensure a watertight seal.
6. Align the tap connector with the tap tail.
7. Push the tap connector up and tighten the cap nut clockwise with a wrench.
8. Turn on the water supply and test for leaks. If you do find a leak, tighten up the fittings with a wrench.