Curing A Leak From A Spindle Or Spout
This sort of leak usually occurs on a kitchen cold tap with a bell-shaped cover and visible spindle.
Soapy water from wet hands may have got into the seal and washed the grease off the gland, effectively removing the water tight joint.
If a hose has been attached to this tap, the back pressure can sometimes loosen the gland.
Modern taps, equipped with a shrouded head have an O-ring seal instead of a gland.
This type of joint only needs replacing on very rare occasions but sometimes the seal may become worn.
You will require a 12mm spanner or adjustable spanner.
You may also need a 5mm spanner and a flat head screw driver.
You will also need two small wooden blocks that are roughly 10mm deep.
You will need to have gland packing string or plumber's tape), silicone grease and of course, replacement 0-rings.
The first part of resolving this issue, is to release the spindle.
A non-rising tap usually has a circle clip holding the spindle in place.
Once the headgear has been loosened, lever out the circle clip so that you can gain access to the worn 0-rings.
The next step is to adjust the gland.
To do this, you must first turn off the tap and undo the small screw that secures the capstan handle, then remove the handle.
If this is not a screw-in handle, it should just lift off.
Unscrew the cover to reveal the gland nut.
Tighten the nut about half a turn with the adjustable spanner.
Turn the tap on by gently putting the handle back on, then check if the spindle is still leaking.
If it is not leaking, turn the gland nut another half turn and then put the tap back together.
Be careful not to over tighten the gland nut.
If the spindle continues to leak, repack the gland.
To repack the gland, you must use a spanner to remove the gland nut and lift it out.
Pick out the existing packing with the flat head screwdriver.
Replace the packing with gland packing string or plumber's tape.
Use the screw driver to pack it in and then replace the gland nut.
Once this has been completed, reassemble the tap.
To renew the O-ring on the shrouded headed tap, cut off the water supply and remove the tap handle and headgear, similar to how you would remove a washer.
Hold the headgear between your fingers and unscrew the spindle clockwise to unscrew the washer unit.
Use the flat head screwdriver to remove the O-ring at the top of the washer unit.
Apply grease to the new O-ring and fit in position, before reassembling the tap If you follow the above instructions to the letter, you will be able to stop any leak without any issues.
Soapy water from wet hands may have got into the seal and washed the grease off the gland, effectively removing the water tight joint.
If a hose has been attached to this tap, the back pressure can sometimes loosen the gland.
Modern taps, equipped with a shrouded head have an O-ring seal instead of a gland.
This type of joint only needs replacing on very rare occasions but sometimes the seal may become worn.
You will require a 12mm spanner or adjustable spanner.
You may also need a 5mm spanner and a flat head screw driver.
You will also need two small wooden blocks that are roughly 10mm deep.
You will need to have gland packing string or plumber's tape), silicone grease and of course, replacement 0-rings.
The first part of resolving this issue, is to release the spindle.
A non-rising tap usually has a circle clip holding the spindle in place.
Once the headgear has been loosened, lever out the circle clip so that you can gain access to the worn 0-rings.
The next step is to adjust the gland.
To do this, you must first turn off the tap and undo the small screw that secures the capstan handle, then remove the handle.
If this is not a screw-in handle, it should just lift off.
Unscrew the cover to reveal the gland nut.
Tighten the nut about half a turn with the adjustable spanner.
Turn the tap on by gently putting the handle back on, then check if the spindle is still leaking.
If it is not leaking, turn the gland nut another half turn and then put the tap back together.
Be careful not to over tighten the gland nut.
If the spindle continues to leak, repack the gland.
To repack the gland, you must use a spanner to remove the gland nut and lift it out.
Pick out the existing packing with the flat head screwdriver.
Replace the packing with gland packing string or plumber's tape.
Use the screw driver to pack it in and then replace the gland nut.
Once this has been completed, reassemble the tap.
To renew the O-ring on the shrouded headed tap, cut off the water supply and remove the tap handle and headgear, similar to how you would remove a washer.
Hold the headgear between your fingers and unscrew the spindle clockwise to unscrew the washer unit.
Use the flat head screwdriver to remove the O-ring at the top of the washer unit.
Apply grease to the new O-ring and fit in position, before reassembling the tap If you follow the above instructions to the letter, you will be able to stop any leak without any issues.
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