Replacing bathroom basin tap with a push down thingy to lift the plug up.

DorsetDude

DorsetDude

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Anyone know if it's easy to replace a monobloc basin tap? As said my current tap has a thing at the back you push down and it lifts out the basin's 'plug' to drain water out so I would need the new tap to work the same way. Wonder if I can just go to b & q and look for another tap with a push down thing on the back and it will swap straight in?

Thanks
 
Easy to do, but I'd personally replace the plug mechanism with one of the more modern alternatives too, I never used a reliable 'push pull' type, they were always a PITA, the rotating ones and the click-clack (whatever they're called) are much better.
 
David_H said:
Something like one of these http://www.diy.com/search/bathroom/_/N-r6a?Ntt=Monobloc+Taps&cbc=r6a ?
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Yes.

Phil V said:
Easy to do, but I'd personally replace the plug mechanism with one of the more modern alternatives too, I never used a reliable 'push pull' type, they were always a PITA, the rotating ones and the click-clack (whatever they're called) are much better.
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Could be a plan, not sure if my DIY skills are up to that though. Probably end up getting a plumber in I think,
 
DorsetDude said:
Yes.


Could be a plan, not sure if my DIY skills are up to that though. Probably end up getting a plumber in I think,
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Pretty straightforward, and a good opportunity to clean out the bottle trap etc.
 
I'd replace it with a standard plug-on-a-chain system.
 
As above. Just get a mixer tap and separate springloaded pop up waste. The pushrod type are a faff to set up properly anyway, they either don't lift high enough to empty the basin or they don't seal properly and the water runs out. The locknut under the plug slips over time too, I was forever adjusting the one on ours to get it to work properly.

It's an easy enough job to replace them, just remember to put a bead of silicone round the lip of the waste so you avoid any leaks.

Btw if you're going with b&q, don't buy their own brand Cook &Lewis taps, from experience they're awful quality (same with Wickes' own brand taps too) The chrome plating is really thin and scratches easily or wears off after a while, especially if you clean it with anything mildly abrasive. The nozzle part is usually just silver coloured plastic too.
 
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Phil V said:
Easy to do, but I'd personally replace the plug mechanism with one of the more modern alternatives too, I never used a reliable 'push pull' type, they were always a PITA, the rotating ones and the click-clack (whatever they're called) are much better.
Click to expand...


We had a push/pull type at a hotel in Germany which we used for one night. The first time I tried to empty the water after a shave, it deposited water over my feet - someone hadn't plumbed it in properly. We have the "click/clack" version at home in the bathroom basin and it works fine.
 
Must admit these "click-clack" ones I have no idea what people mean.
 
Agree with Nod. We have one of those push down to seal and push again to release and it is a PITA. It gets filthy very quickly and the internal mechanism seems to reduce the flow from the basin. Much prefer a simple plug on a chain.

Dave
 
DorsetDude said:
Must admit these "click-clack" ones I have no idea what people mean.
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I think this is the type with a disc that swivels in the middle, so you push down on one edge of it to drain the water away. You push it back to the "flat" position to keep the water in. From what I've heard, they're not that great, over time they don't seal fully and the water can leak away slowly.

Or it could be the type I mentioned, where the middle bit is spring loaded: push down to seal it shut, push again to make it pop up to empty the water out.
 
boogie man said:
Btw if you're going with b&q, don't buy their own brand Cook &Lewis taps, from experience they're awful quality (same with Wickes' own brand taps too) The chrome plating is really thin and scratches easily or wears off after a while, especially if you clean it with anything mildly abrasive. The nozzle part is usually just silver coloured plastic too.
Click to expand...

Agree with not going for cheap options. We bought a cheap mixer tap a few years ago & after running the hot water for a while, it continued to drip until the tap itself had cooled down. (it was replaced under warranty, but the replacement was just the same) Too many plastic innards & cheap materials these days. :(
 
I'll steer clear of the Cook and Lewis affairs then. Probably go for Bristan of some sort. I think Ive already got flexi hose and inline stopcocks. If not a plumber will definitely be visiting.

Cheers all
 
I have had a mono bloc mixer with popup waste fitted to our basin now for around 30 years and only replaced it last year, never had a problem of any sort. The original was only replaced because it was in lustron gold and the finish had come off, so her indoors was complaining, this tap was made by Armitage Shanks. Is I had no hesitation in fitting the same again but in chrome.
I suppose being a retired Plumber made the job easy to do.
 
swiftflo said:
I have had a mono bloc mixer with popup waste fitted to our basin now for around 30 years and only replaced it last year, never had a problem of any sort. The original was only replaced because it was in lustron gold and the finish had come off, so her indoors was complaining, this tap was made by Armitage Shanks. Is I had no hesitation in fitting the same again but in chrome.
I suppose being a retired Plumber made the job easy to do.
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Where did you buy? Oh and you're not in Dorset are you? ;)
 
DorsetDude said:
I'll steer clear of the Cook and Lewis affairs then. Probably go for Bristan of some sort. I think Ive already got flexi hose and inline stopcocks. If not a plumber will definitely be visiting.

Cheers all
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I meant to say, steer clear of Grohe taps too, their connectors are oddly sized (think they're 10mm rather than the standard 15mm? You have to get an extra adaptor, whatever, which complicates things). Bristan are certainly a decent brand. Actually I got a Watersmith basin mixer from Screwfix recently, seems well made and all works great so far. The price was decent too.
 
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