Lose taps with plastic nuts!

[nonymouse]

Has anyone yet found a solution to this? I recently fitted both bath and basin taps from homebase, the Arena style ones if anyone is interested.

They both come with plastic washers and nuts, presumably to stop from overtightening and cracking the ceramic. But the basin ones will not tighten enough to stop them from rotating with the slightest force. I fear if I tighten the nut any further it will crack. This has already happened with one and I had to source a replacement nut.

I did think of using sealant around the base of the taps (although it doesn't appear necessary as there is a sealing ring in the base). But I'm sure sealant is not going to offer any additional strength. I have removed the washers from the underside of the sink where the nut attaches and gained a little more leverage, but still not enough

Please tell me there is a straight forward solution....Bear with soar head

[Cicero]

================================ Have you still got the old taps and their (brass) nuts? If so, try one for size using a plastic washer to protect the ceramic.

Cic.

[John]

This usually happens because of the length of thread, ie, the nut reaches the end of the thread before the tap is tight against the sink. Use "top hat" washers under the sink - see step No.7 at this link

(link goes to a Focus DIY "How to").

John

[Jonathan Pearson]

We had this, but our taps were connected with flexible braided tap connectors - solution: replaced the flex with proper copper pipe right through Jon

[Mathew Newton]

You may find this is sufficient - I did.

As mentioned elsewhere, fixed copper piping to the taps will definitely cure it.

Mathew

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "nonymouse" saying something like:

Decent quality plastic nuts will tighten a surprising amount, but a lot of them aren't all that good. You can source brass backnuts from a plumbing suppliers or fit the plastic ones with a liberal application of silicone mastic (so that it fills the gap between tap and bath) and allow to cure before using them.

[PeterK]

I may have imagined this but I think I've seen replacement nuts in a plumbers merchant - claim to be a new design that addresses "spinning" taps and also keeps them centered in the hole. Some Homebase taps are supplied by Jacuzzi - do you have instructions with a Bradford (01274) number if so its Jacuzzi and it would be worth ringing them.

PeterK

[nonymouse]

I no longer have the old taps or their nuts. I'm a little concerned about trying any kind of metal nut incase I crack the ceramic.

Thanks Jon for the

link; I've checked this out and it looks worth a try, although I can't understand how it would work!

Sounds like the best idea yet. A friend of mine (qualified plumber) fitted the bathroom for me and used flexible braided connectors - may ask him to replace these with proper copper pipe.

Cheers Peter, but I no longer have the instructions so am unable to check. However, I will have a search on the Internet using the term "spinning taps" and see what turns up

Thanks to all for the advice

[The Medway Handyman]

I come across the spinning tap problem quite often. Push fit plumbing or flexibles are always present. Solid copper pipes don't allow the taps to move.

Tap holding technology hasn't kept up with pipe technology!

Liberal application of exterior type gripfill or even silicone usually works.

I assume you have a decent back nut spanner/tool?

[nonymouse]

Sorry Dave, don't have such a spanner; I employed a plumber to do the work for me. I'm kinda hoping he will return and ditch the flexible hosing in favour of copper; although this is now slightly annoying as the bath panel (those taps are also of the same type and not that tight either) is fixed and sealed in place.

Where does the gripfill go? On the outside around the base of the tap? And if I go looking for it in homebase, is it actually called gripfill? Replacing the flexible pipes with copper still sounds like the more sensible option

[PeterK]

Link to "Fix a Tap" is

I don't think this was the product I saw but it meets your needs

PeterK

[nonymouse]

Cheers - will take a look

[nonymouse]

For stainless steel sinks only apparently! Mine is ceramic. Thanks anyway

[John]

Are the users a bit heavy handed with taps because the washers need replacing? Some people are have the dastardly habit of screwing them down harder than needed. I know when we have had visitors by the fact the taps in the downstairs bog are too tight and the H & C logos are no longer correctly oriented. God - what a sad life I lead.