Which tap you have decides the fix. Identify a traditional washer tap, a ceramic disc cartridge or a worn valve seat before you buy a single part.
How to Fix a Dripping Tap: Work Out Which Fault You Have First
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Our latest Plumbing articles
General plumbing products for UK homes and trade: water softeners and filtration, pipe and fittings, pumps, tools, isolation and control valves, leak and blockage kit.
Everything here is written by Nick Jolliffe, who spent 16 years running plumbers merchants across the south of the UK and a couple more with an independent merchant. Standing behind a trade counter shows you the part of a product’s life that reviews never cover: what comes back and how quickly, what the fitters ask for by name, what they will not touch at any price, and what the trade price actually is, so you can tell a real deal from a marked-up one.
One person writes this site, not a team, and I am not a plumber. Nothing is paid for by a manufacturer. Where a cheaper product does the same job, the cheaper one gets the recommendation. If something here is out of date or no longer available, tell me and I will fix it.
How to Change a Tap Washer, and the Four Places People Get Stuck
The full procedure for replacing the washer in a traditional compression tap, including the isolating valve that can snap if you force it, the two spanner rule that stops you twisting the tap off its seal, and which washer size you actually need.
How to Descale a Kettle: Every Method, Priced Per Use
White vinegar, citric acid, lemon or a branded sachet: every kettle descaling method compared with the cost per descale, the one thing you must never mix it with, and how often yours needs doing for your water hardness.
Best Limescale Remover: Which Acid, and What It Will Damage
Every limescale remover is an acid, and the safety data sheets say which one. The verified chemistry, a surface-by-surface damage table, and the real cost per litre.
Water Softener Salt: Which Type, How Much, and Where It Is Cheapest
Salt is the part of owning a water softener that nobody thinks about before they buy, and it is...
Everything You Need to Know About Sump Pumps
You might think that a sump pump isn't necessary if you've never had water issues before, but...
Best Drain Unblocker UK: Match the Product to the Blockage
Which drain unblocker clears which blockage, how many treatments you get from a pack, and the free trap check to do before you buy anything.
Plumbshark 10-in-1 Multitool Review: Essential Plumbing Tools
Find out if the Plumbshark 10-in-1 Multitool lives up to the hype and why it could potentially revolutionise your plumbing experience.
What are Monobloc Mixer Taps?
As you ponder over the perfect tap for your sink, you've likely come across the term 'monobloc...
What Is a Bib Tap?
Welcome to our blog post exploring the world of bib taps! In this post, we will delve into the...