Vanity unit built in sink mixer tap leaking at the swivel. Is it repairable?

gm0123 · Jan 15, 2021

Hi, The mixing tap swivel in my bathroom sink has began to leak. Can anyone tell me if it's repairable or if it needs replaced. I attached a few photos. Is it possible to remove it from the top and add a new seal.

Gasmk1 · Jan 15, 2021

possibly there should be a grub screw behind on the flat probably Allen key you will have to remove it and it should lift out it will be an orange that's either cracked or just worn out

steadyon · Jan 15, 2021

1. If it is only leaking when one or both taps are running, then it will be the seal for the spout.
2. If it leaks with both taps off, then it will be the spout seal and one or both taps.
3. To do anything to it will require the whole tap to be removed. This will require the hot and cold to be isolated, the flexi pipes disconnected and (probably) the central nut underneath undone. Looks like very poor access.
4. If you don't know the make and model, then getting spares won't be easy, unless you are lucky.
5. I'd suggest if you only need the seal for the spout, it might be worth repairing. If you need new cartridges for the taps then probably not worth it.
6. It may be difficult to find a new tap with the exact dimensions to math the holes in your vanity unit. If you can't find one, consider a three hole tap set, but this would almost certainly require the top part of the vanity unit to be repainted.
7. I'm afraid what you have got is a triumph of form over function.

gm0123 · Jan 15, 2021

Gasmk1 said:
possibly there should be a grub screw behind on the flat probably Allen key you will have to remove it and it should lift out it will be an orange that's either cracked or just worn out

Theres no grub screw. I tried pulling it up but no luck.

gm0123 · Jan 15, 2021

steadyon said:
1. If it is only leaking when one or both taps are running, then it will be the seal for the spout.
2. If it leaks with both taps off, then it will be the spout seal and one or both taps.
3. To do anything to it will require the whole tap to be removed. This will require the hot and cold to be isolated, the flexi pipes disconnected and (probably) the central nut underneath undone. Looks like very poor access.
4. If you don't know the make and model, then getting spares won't be easy, unless you are lucky.
5. I'd suggest if you only need the seal for the spout, it might be worth repairing. If you need new cartridges for the taps then probably not worth it.
6. It may be difficult to find a new tap with the exact dimensions to math the holes in your vanity unit. If you can't find one, consider a three hole tap set, but this would almost certainly require the top part of the vanity unit to be repainted.
7. I'm afraid what you have got is a triumph of form over function.

It leaks worse with a tap on but still leaks to a lesser extent with the taps off.
Yes access is a real bugger. I was hoping it was an easy fix to just pull up the mixer tap followed by a simple o-ring replacement

gm0123 · Jan 15, 2021

steadyon said:
1. If it is only leaking when one or both taps are running, then it will be the seal for the spout.
2. If it leaks with both taps off, then it will be the spout seal and one or both taps.
3. To do anything to it will require the whole tap to be removed. This will require the hot and cold to be isolated, the flexi pipes disconnected and (probably) the central nut underneath undone. Looks like very poor access.
4. If you don't know the make and model, then getting spares won't be easy, unless you are lucky.
5. I'd suggest if you only need the seal for the spout, it might be worth repairing. If you need new cartridges for the taps then probably not worth it.
6. It may be difficult to find a new tap with the exact dimensions to math the holes in your vanity unit. If you can't find one, consider a three hole tap set, but this would almost certainly require the top part of the vanity unit to be repainted.
7. I'm afraid what you have got is a triumph of form over function.

gm0123 said:
It leaks worse with a tap on but still leaks to a lesser extent with the taps off.
Yes access is a real bugger. I was hoping it was an easy fix to just pull up the mixer tap followed by a simple o-ring replacement

I thinks its only leaking from the spout swivel when the taps are on. The leaking when the taps are turned off I think is just caused by the remaining pressure. After 10 minutes or so it stops leaking.

snowhead · Jan 15, 2021

There should be a Hex grub screw, probably 2mm or 2.5mm on the back face centre of the spout.
Remove screw, pull spout, measure the sizes of O rings, usually 2 different sizes.
ALDI middle aisle sometimes have selection boxes.

gm0123 · Jan 15, 2021

snowhead said:
There should be a Hex grub screw, probably 2mm or 2.5mm on the back face centre of the spout.
Remove screw, pull spout, measure the sizes of O rings, usually 2 different sizes.
ALDI middle aisle sometimes have selection boxes.

View attachment 47189

Thanks for the tip but unfortunately no grub screw. The hot and cold taps both have grub screws but none on the spout or base plate.

Ben-gee · Jan 16, 2021

It is entirely possible that the spout simply pulls out. I know this is a bad design feature but I have come across it several times.
They are usually pretty stiff.

snowhead · Jan 16, 2021

Just found a picture of one with it's name and a drawing showing what looks like the screw holding the spout in.
Came from a U.S Site but similar tap.

Looks like it's a tap out job, it's within the worktop.

snowhead · Jan 16, 2021

Re above, maybe just loosen the 2 nuts under the tap on the hot and cold to get enough lift up on the body to remove the screw.
Doesn't look like the centre nut under the spout was ever fitted.

gm0123 · Jan 16, 2021

snowhead said:
Just found a picture of one with it's name and a drawing showing what looks like the screw holding the spout in.
Came from a U.S Site but similar tap.

Looks like it's a tap out job, it's within the worktop.

View attachment 47208

View attachment 47201 View attachment 47206

That looks pretty much identical. Thanks very much for your help.
Yes, there doesn't appear to be a nut on the centre spout. It'd be great if it would tap out as the other 2 nuts are near impossible to get at without cutting the sealant and lifting the whole top platform of the unit up. I did try pulling it up pretty violently though yesterday and it didn't move at all.

gm0123 · Jan 16, 2021

snowhead said:
Re above, maybe just loosen the 2 nuts under the tap on the hot and cold to get enough lift up on the body to remove the screw.
Doesn't look like the centre nut under the spout was ever fitted.

As you say, going by the second diagram, It definitely looks like the 2 nuts will have to be loosened a fraction to lift the base plate up for access to the grub screw.

Vanity unit built in sink mixer tap leaking at the swivel. Is it repairable?

gm0123

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