Best Way to Change the Taps on a Bath

If you want to smarten up an old bath or sink, a good way to do this is to change the taps to a new set. The effect of the transformation can be amazing, especially if you redecorate the bathroom at the same time. If the enamelling on the bath is sound, a good clean will bring back the sparkle. Limescale and chemical cleaners are available for stubborn stain removal. If that doesn’t work, specialist companies can re-enamel your existing bath. This is definitely not a DIY job, but if you want a tip as to how to complete the job really effectively, replace the waste and overflow on the bath, or have the existing one re-coated.

If you have an old pair of taps or mixer unit, consider restoration as an option, particularly with period properties and vintage sanitary ware, which is often worth keeping.

Think carefully about what you are going to buy as replacement bath fittings, because the choice available is absolutely vast. Personally, I have always steered clear of colored sanitary ware. It can date very quickly and if you want to change the bathroom decor it can be restrictive. I believe you can’t beat a white bathroom suite, whether modern or period style, with chrome fittings for easy cleaning and non-tarnishing.

Butler kitchen sinks have enjoyed a renaissance in recent times and look superb with a great set of mixer taps, regardless of whether the sink and taps are renovated originals or reproductions. Even the bog-standard stainless steel sink will benefit from a change of taps.

Changing a Tap

Turn off the isolator valve (if you have one) with a slotted screwdriver ; otherwise, turn off your mains stopcock and drain down the system by opening the taps.

Undo the pipe work and waste connections beneath the bath or sink’s taps. Unscrew the back nut using a wrenchand lift out the old taps. This is a good opportunity to clean the area thoroughly around the taps before refitting the new taps or mixer unit.

Insert the new taps or mixer into position onto plastic or rubber washers to protect the sink and seal from leaks, press the unit firmly home, and then connect the pipes to the base of the taps beneath the bath. The distance between the centers of tap holes on sinks and baths is generally between 175-180mm. There are swivel union attachments that can be added to allow a lot more tolerance.

Make sure you fit the flat rubber washer and hand-tighten the shower hose, if there is one. If you want to give the hose a half turn with the wrench, use a cloth to avoid any scratching.

Take this opportunity to fit some flexible copper pipe to the tap tails to enable easier fitting and maintenance – this will mean some small adjustments to the pipe work. The procedure for a sink mixer is as above, but you might be able to remove the sink for ease of fitting as you change the taps.