leaking tap

[lostatplumbing]

Hi,

We bought a whole new kitchen including sink and mixer taps. It all has been fitted by a professional person. The taps are leaking when we run the water. We asked the fitter to come and have a look, and he applied some silicon, but this did not work. He said that the sink holes are too big and the mixer seal is not covering the holes and both the taps and mixer are standard from wickes. He said that you need a little bigger seal for two holes, so they cover the holes properly. We tried at Wickes, and they dont want to know, no 1 over there could advise us. What can we do? Where can we get a little bigger seal for the holes? I could not understand why the sink holes are so big, i thought they were only meant to be 22mm.

Please help, thanks in advance for any posts.

 

[migoplumber]

if the tap holein the sink is too big, as your installer says then take the issue up with wickes ( i assume you chose and supplied the materials )

take pictures. go to wickes ( ?? ) speak to manager, kick up a fuss, make lots of noise if need be.

it might be you have chosen a cheap small tap, you may have to chose a more expensive decent larger tap - probably an easier solution than removing sink and tap returning it to shed.

 

[johnmcginty]

I know this sounds simple but are you sure the washers are present and he has tightened the backnut tightly? A photo would do wonders guys.

 

[lostatplumbing]

Hi guys

Thanks for the posts. John the washers are present! He has definantely tightened the back nut.

At a loss of what else I can do...

 

[dontknowitall]

I feel the leak won't be from the tightened back nut as all this does is secure the tap to the sink. I agree a photo would help loads!

The leak is either at the end of the pipe (in which case was a fibre washer put in?) or where the connector joins the tap at its base.

Are they copper connectors or flexible connectors?

If flexible usually the best way to sort it out is to remove the tap (I know it's a pain and not easy) then remove the connectors. If you can remove them by hand without using a spanner then they weren't tightened in properly. Normally they have a small O ring (or two or three O rings). If you don't feel the O rings are in good condition they'll need replacing. If there's loads of PTFE tape in then the threads might have been damaged which would explain your leak. Lots of ifs, but until you can tighten them in properly with decent O rings then I think you'll continue to have problems.

If they're copper connectors a little PTFE tape at the tail end of the thread (not the open end) might help.

Alternatively, it could be a faulty tap hence why you're mentioning the sink holes as a well connected and functioning tap doesn't drip water through the sink holes - only through its spout!

But if you could post a pic you'll get a quick answer.

 

[Puddle]

I have had this problem before with some sinks were the tap base just covers the hole/holes in the sink,so the 'o' ring under base of tap or if two tap hole ,the rubber sealing pad does not seal against sink all round or not at all and lets water leak through
You will have to take sink out and return as no taps will fit correctly
Or you have to seal tap from under sink instead of on top,I have done this by cutting out a washer from some rubber that fits around tap inlets and so it over laps under sink holes,then you will have to get a metal full round washer to fit under rubber,covering same area,then tighten up
The other point of course is that if it is a one tap hole mono block,check that it was not ment to come with a larger chrome washer,that fits between the sink and tap,could have been missing out of box
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