Stuck Nut on Tap Valve

[Samuel-W]

Hello,
I am a complete novice but am trying to repair a dripping tap using online instructons on replacing the valve. My kitchen mixer tap is dripping. I don't know whether it is the hot or the cold valve as I haven't managed to find a way to turn off just the hot water so have turned off the whole house water supply at the stopcock with a view to trying to replace the cartridges one by one. But... I can't get either valve out, both appear corroded/heavily calcified and completely stuck and the stupid design means they sit in recessed casings so I can't get a spanner round the nuts properly. I sprayed some WD40 in but that hasn't helped. I thought of trying to get a socket and ratchet set and see if I can turn them like that -- is that a good idea or are there better tools/strategies?

The top of the hot water valve was sitting in water and more corroded whereas the top of the cold water valve is more calcified and dry -- does that mean the drip is more likely to come from the hot water tap?

Any advice gratefully received!

 

[Deleted member 120897]

A photo would help massively here

 

[rpm]

With water turned off fit isolation valves to the pipes to the tap, one it might help you find which side is leaking and two it takes all the pressure off you to do the job quickly.
From what you have said I think I would be looking at fitting a new tap.