I'M LOSING WATER PRESSURE AT MY TAP

Low water pressure in your tap is not always cause for alarm. A range of different reasons exist as to why the tap might not provide as much water anymore. The problem either could be a result of your home's plumbing and the surrounding water resources or the tap itself. 

Cartridge Blocked
Today's taps are manufactured differently than taps uk were many years ago. Back then taps had a simple valve and seat design which, though robust, was not as controlled as today's ceramic disc cartridge taps. These modern taps have two cylinder-shaped discs with smaller holes that align when the handle turns. The tap holes clog with sediments and other materials that find their way into your water supply. When blocked, the tap experiences lower water flow rate. If only the tap in question is experiencing low flow, this is probably the cause.

Supply Hose Blocked
Another possibility is a blocked supply hose leading to the tap. Sediments, materials or debris blocks supply hoses, preventing water from even getting to your tap cartridge. Though rare, check the supply hose to see if this is the issue. Turn off the water by closing the water valves underneath the tap's sink. Unscrew the supply hoses at both ends, and flush them out with clean water. Or change the supply hoses with brand new ones. This may be the problem if only one tap has low pressure.

Low-Flow Taps
A low-flow tap is one made to produce less water wall mounted taps flow for water-saving reasons. These taps have smaller inlets that restrict the output flow rates. A water conscious choice, they'll often cause people to wonder if something is wrong. These taps may also clog and experience the same problems a regular tap will, like blocked supply hoses. Review your tap manual to see if your tap is low flow. If you recently had the tap installed and just noticed the low flow rate, this could be the reason for the low-flow tap.

Plumbing Issues
The water flow rate in your home determines how much water comes through the tap. If your entire home and all the taps are experiencing lower flow rates, the issue is probably not with the tap itself. The problem is either inside or outside the home. Pipes clog when sediments or other material build up inside of them. Surrounding water levels in your town reservoir also affect the water pressure in your home. If you are concerned this is the problem, and all your taps have lower flow rates, contact your local city government to learn about issues affecting your water supply. If there is no town wide water shortage, contact a professional to inspect your plumbing for potential blockages and problems.

http://www.plumpinguk.co.uk/led-taps.html

Bathroom Taps for Elegance, Style and Functionality

People are always looking for different means and ways to modernize the interiors of their homes. Waterfall taps are a good way to implement modern design of bathroom appliances and enjoy the waterfall like trickle from those faucets. Today, it is possible to get any sustainable type of taps in your bathroom, and those taps are fast becoming a very popular choice among buyers. These styles also offer a very high level of purpose and are easy to operate. All that needs to be done is delivered water in an upwards path and move over a saucer or a plate to deliver the elegant and beautiful effect of waterfall.

It is easy to install the waterfall taps, and it is a wrong notion that those taps are tricky to place. There is no need for any sophisticated plumbing methods and one can pick from different styles, sizes, and shapes. When using those waterfall taps, one is promised an incredibly cool and trendy appearance. One can pair those elegantly fashioned taps to get a chic perspective in the bathroom as well as achieve a high functionality. It is simply hard to match the distinctive, elegant look.

Glass bathroom taps
The Glass taps are preferred over chrome and ceramic, and can boost the glory and look of an already mounted glass sink. One can pick from stunning tones of blue, lilac, pink or green. They can always match a glass bowl with a glass waterfall to create a look of luxury and magnificence. This is an effortless way to build a tasteful and elegant look in the kitchen taps or bathroom taps. One can even match steel or ceramic sinks with the glass taps. There is a wide range available in those taps in different sophisticated finishing with these types of installations.

Apart from looks, check out the durability aspect too. Those bathroom taps may not be a very good option in those home with children. Most of those taps have a single lever top to dispense the water and regular usage by children can break this single lever. Thus, the single lever handle is not going to last especially if you have children in the house. Most manufacturers do not cover the damage in their minimum five-year guarantee. Getting another waterfall tap can make a dent in your wallet for a good hundred pounds or dollars. Hence, make careful choices when looking for those taps.

http://www.plumpinguk.co.uk/bath-taps.html

DIY SHOWER TAP REPLACEMENT

If you have even a small amount of plumbing experience, it is not necessary to call in an expert for a simple job such as changing out a shower tap. Most shower taps today are designed with three knobs: a hot water knob, a cold water knob and a knob to change the water flow from the tap to the shower. Because these knobs attach directly to connections behind your shower, replacing this hardware is much easier than it was in the past. 

Instructions

1、Turn off all of the main water supply lines to the bathroom where you are replacing the tap.

2、Open the access panel to your shower (usually located in the side of your linen or water heater closet, whichever is closest to the tub/shower). Clamp one adjustable pipe wrench onto the main pipeline and tighten it. Hold this wrench in one hand while you loosen the tap hardware from behind using the second wrench. Carefully pry and lift away the old hardware and dispose of it. A small torch may be required to melt the old putty around the main faucet if it is very old and/or shower taps hard.

3、Use a measuring tape to measure the openings left once you've removed the knobs and main tap. Write these measurements down. Visit a hardware store and pick out a new assembly that is constructed similarly to the old one and has components that match your measurements.

4、Install the knobs from behind by pushing them through the opening. Use one pipe wrench or your hand to hold them firmly in place while you use the second pipe wrench to screw the threaded pieces of the knobs and the threaded pieces of the main pipeline together securely. Wiggle the knobs with your hand to make sure kitchen taps they are attached well.

5、Apply a small amount of plumber's putty around the opening for the main tap. Slide the tap into place through the front and press it into the putty securely. Apply more putty around the tap if needed to seal it completely. Move behind the tap, to the access panel, and use a pipe wrench to tighten any remaining connections.

6、Allow the putty to dry completely (overnight is best) before using your new shower tap.

http://www.plumpinguk.co.uk/blog

HOW TO EXTEND THE TAP HANDLES FOR KIDS

Getting kids to wash their hands can be a task in itself, but it can be even more difficult if they can't reach or turn the tap handles on the sink. By using some everyday tools and items, you can make this process much easier for your child, without sacrificing the decor in the room.

Instructions

1、Measure the diameter of the TWIN LEVER TAPS handle. If you have the lever type of handles, measure the diameter of the thickest part of the tap handle. If you have standard knob handles, measure the entire diameter of each knob.

2、Find two pieces of plastic tubing in the diameter of each tap handle. You can typically find various diameters of plastic tubing at a local hardware store, often in white, black, gray or even clear.

3、Cut the plastic tubing with a hand saw so each piece is about 2 to 3 inches longer or higher than the current handles.

4、Slide each piece of plastic tubing over the SINGLE LEVER TAPS handle. The fit should be snug and allow the knob to be turned easily. If it is too loose, it may easily fall off.

5、Clean the extension regularly. Soap and water can often get stuck in the tubing when children wash their hands, which can lead to a buildup of mold or mildew. Be sure to slide them off when you clean your bathroom regularly to clean the area.

http://www.plumpinguk.co.uk/kitchen-taps.html

HOW TO GET A STUCK SHOWER WATER DIVERTER OUT

Your bathtub’s tap may have a diverter in the spout or, in three-handle tap setups, behind the center control handle on the tap. If the diverter is stuck in a three-handle setup, the removal process is similar to that if the hot or cold water valve stem became stuck. If the stuck diverter is in the spout, you must remove the entire spout and install a replacement that has the diverter in the same part of the spout and attaches to the water pipe in the same way as the old spout.

Valve Stem Diverters

1、Turn off the water for the entire house by closing the main water valve. Release the water pressure left in the supply pipes by turning on another tap all the way.

2、Pry off the cap in the center of the diverter control handle, exposing the screw in the middle of the handle. Turn the screw counterclockwise with a Phillips screwdriver and pull the handle toward you to remove it from the waterfall taps.

3、Spray penetrating lubricant around the edges of the diverter stem where it threads into the tap. After waiting five minutes or more, slide a bath socket wrench over the diverter stem and turn the stem counterclockwise until it comes out of the tap.

4、Insert a seat wrench into the spot where the diverter valve stem sat and turn it counterclockwise to remove the old seat as well. Coat the threads on the new seat with pipe dope before threading it back into the tap with the seat wrench.

5、Coat the outside of the new diverter valve with plumber’s grease before threading it into the tap with the bath socket wrench. Insert the control handle over the diverter valve stem and tighten the screw in the middle. Press the plastic cap back into place. Turn the main water valve for the house slowly to the open position.

Spout-Integrated Diverters
1、Look at the underside of the bathtub spout for the presence of a retaining screw, which may sit in a notched-out section of the spout or a small hole. If you see a screw, remove it with an Allen wrench and pull on the spout as you twist it back and forth to wiggle the spout off the water pipe.

2、Turn the spout counterclockwise if you do not see a screw, since this indicates the spout threads onto the led taps pipe. If the spout is hard to turn by hand, slide a strap wrench around it and use the wrench to turn it counterclockwise.

3、Slide the new spout onto the water pipe and tighten the retaining screw, if the old spout had a retaining screw. Otherwise, thread the spout clockwise onto the water pipe, using the strap wrench to turn the spout until it touches the bathtub surround.

HOW TO GET A STUCK SHOWER WATER DIVERTER OUT

Your bathtub’s tap may have a diverter in the spout or, in three-handle tap setups, behind the center control handle on the tap. If the diverter is stuck in a three-handle setup, the removal process is similar to that if the hot or cold water valve stem became stuck. If the stuck diverter is in the spout, you must remove the entire spout and install a replacement that has the diverter in the same part of the spout and attaches to the water pipe in the same way as the old spout.

Valve Stem Diverters

1、Turn off the water for the entire house by closing the main water valve. Release the water pressure left in the supply pipes by turning on another tap all the way.

2、Pry off the cap in the center of the diverter control handle, exposing the screw in the middle of the handle. Turn the screw counterclockwise with a Phillips screwdriver and pull the handle toward you to remove it from the waterfall taps.

3、Spray penetrating lubricant around the edges of the diverter stem where it threads into the tap. After waiting five minutes or more, slide a bath socket wrench over the diverter stem and turn the stem counterclockwise until it comes out of the tap.

4、Insert a seat wrench into the spot where the diverter valve stem sat and turn it counterclockwise to remove the old seat as well. Coat the threads on the new seat with pipe dope before threading it back into the tap with the seat wrench.

5、Coat the outside of the new diverter valve with plumber’s grease before threading it into the tap with the bath socket wrench. Insert the control handle over the diverter valve stem and tighten the screw in the middle. Press the plastic cap back into place. Turn the main water valve for the house slowly to the open position.

Spout-Integrated Diverters
1、Look at the underside of the bathtub spout for the presence of a retaining screw, which may sit in a notched-out section of the spout or a small hole. If you see a screw, remove it with an Allen wrench and pull on the spout as you twist it back and forth to wiggle the spout off the water pipe.

2、Turn the spout counterclockwise if you do not see a screw, since this indicates the spout threads onto the led taps pipe. If the spout is hard to turn by hand, slide a strap wrench around it and use the wrench to turn it counterclockwise.

3、Slide the new spout onto the water pipe and tighten the retaining screw, if the old spout had a retaining screw. Otherwise, thread the spout clockwise onto the water pipe, using the strap wrench to turn the spout until it touches the bathtub surround.

HOW TO GET A STUCK SHOWER WATER DIVERTER OUT

Valve Stem Diverters

1、Turn off the water for the entire house by closing the main water valve. Release the water pressure left in the supply pipes by turning on another tap all the way.

2、Pry off the cap in the center of the diverter control handle, exposing the screw in the middle of the handle. Turn the screw counterclockwise with a Phillips screwdriver and pull the handle toward you to remove it from the waterfall taps.

3、Spray penetrating lubricant around the edges of the diverter stem where it threads into the tap. After waiting five minutes or more, slide a bath socket wrench over the diverter stem and turn the stem counterclockwise until it comes out of the tap.

4、Insert a seat wrench into the spot where the diverter valve stem sat and turn it counterclockwise to remove the old seat as well. Coat the threads on the new seat with pipe dope before threading it back into the tap with the seat wrench.

5、Coat the outside of the new diverter valve with plumber’s grease before threading it into the tap with the bath socket wrench. Insert the control handle over the diverter valve stem and tighten the screw in the middle. Press the plastic cap back into place. Turn the main water valve for the house slowly to the open position.

Spout-Integrated Diverters
1、Look at the underside of the bathtub spout for the presence of a retaining screw, which may sit in a notched-out section of the spout or a small hole. If you see a screw, remove it with an Allen wrench and pull on the spout as you twist it back and forth to wiggle the spout off the water pipe.

2、Turn the spout counterclockwise if you do not see a screw, since this indicates the spout threads onto the led taps pipe. If the spout is hard to turn by hand, slide a strap wrench around it and use the wrench to turn it counterclockwise.

3、Slide the new spout onto the water pipe and tighten the retaining screw, if the old spout had a retaining screw. Otherwise, thread the spout clockwise onto the water pipe, using the strap wrench to turn the spout until it touches the bathtub surround.