Nothing’s more annoying in a kitchen or bathroom than a dripping tap. When fixing the taps is not an option you will need a new set of taps. Whether it’s because the taps have become old and worn or because it is part of the installation of a new bath/basin, or simply for cosmetic reasons it doesn’t matter. Installing new taps is a simple DIY job that will save you a hefty plumber’s call out charge and only takes 15 minutes to do.

You may wonder why plumbers are always in demand. Well one thing is for sure, taps will always drip, toilets and drains will always block, and people will always need pipes fixed. But you don’t always have to call a plumber because installing a set of taps is easy.

First, turn off the water supply, either at the main water service valve to the house or the shut offs under the sink.

Removing the old taps:

Sinks & toilets are attached to the water supply by connectors, sometimes called supply tubs or just supplies. They are used from the taps down to a compression fitting at the top of the shutoff or the copper supply pipe and this allows the connections to be made where it can be easily reached.

Undo the nut at the top of this fitting and the supplies will be free.

Now you need the undo the nut at the bottom of the taps that holds them to the counter or sink. When these nuts are undone you will be able to remove the old set of taps.

The supply tubes

The supply tubes come in two types, flexible and rigid. There is a difference between a toilet supply tube and a sink supply tube but typically any sink supply tube will fit any set of taps. Both types join directly to normal ½” copper pipe at a shut off of a supply tube adaptor.

Which kind is most suitable for you depends on where the taps are being installed and who is doing the installation.

Flexible Connectors

These are best for DIY Installers: You don’t require any plumbing skills, the bendable hose will simply transform into whatever shape is necessary and the connection is made easily by tightening the compression nut with a wrench.

The two most common types are hand bendable ‘ribbed’ copper pipe and stainless steel braided hoses available in different lengths. The ‘ribbed’ copper pipe type usually has a plain section at one end that can be joined to the rest of your plumbing using either a solder or compression type fitting. The stainless steel braided hoses usually have a screw connector for the tap end and a compression fitting at the other end which fits to the end of the shutoff or adapter.

Though these are great for small spaces with difficult access the stainless steel braided hoses have become the standard for most instillations today. The flexible hose allows connections in places that would be almost impossible to get into with rigid pipe work.

Rigid Connectors

Some professional installers still use rigid supplies to connect between the copper pipe and the taps. Connections made this way look neater, last longer and are much less prone to leaks.

But doing it this way is not recommended for the DIY’er and is best for more open spaces with simple access. Even the most professional installer will want a large enough space to bend and fit the copper pipe run to the taps. If the space is too compact then flexible connectors may be the only viable option.

Posted by Dave McIntosh on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 at 7:30 pm.