Tap washers from the pound shop

[Peter L]

A few years ago I was keen on the bargains to be had in the pound shops but some of their goods are rarely good value: for example, anything with an abrasive in it, like glasspaper, usually wears out or crumbles extremely fast.

Anyway, I'm now beginning to wonder about some rubber tap washers I got.

I bought mixed tap washers to add to some I already had. I also got rubber or fibre versions of those usual flat-ring washers and added those to my collection.

I can't get rid of just the pound shop rubber washers because they are all mixed together with good rubber washers!

Is the rubber used in cheap tap washers usually naff and perishes quickly. Or do they actually hold out well?

[The Medway Handyman]

I've bought kits of 'bargain' tap washers from Silverline & found them next to useless. Far too hard to get onto the jumper assembly.

[nightjar]

They are unlikely to be made from a WRAS approved material. That means you have no idea what they may be leaching into your drinking water.

Colin Bignell

[Peter L]

So I guess those tap washers of mine, both good and bad, have to go in the dustbin. :-(

But wait a minute. How much of a difference does the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) make to what tap washers are used? I mean to say, were we at risk from dodgy drinking water before WRAS came into force?

[Derek]

How's your maths try this for a teaser- a tap washer weighing 5 grams which may contain 5% of a plastisiser of which 10% may leach out over time is used for twelve months during which 30 litres per day passed the washer how concentrated would the solution be ? How much more would you consume if you nibble your pen top while working this out?

Acceptable levels of pollutant in drinking water include 0.5 mg/l nitrites : 50 mg/l nitrates 0.50 mg/l ammonium: 250 mg/l Chlorides all hugely more and lets not get started on the pipes in houses built pre

1970. lead anybody? Derek and no the washers behave no differently than those from the hardware shop and are just as easy to fit to penny on a stick type valves.

[Andy Champ]

nightjar

OK, so I don't use them on the single direct-from-the-mains tap in the house that I use for drinking water.

Next?

Andy

[Matty F]

I had problems with all types of tap washers for years. The fibre ones worked well but wore out quickly. The rubber and plastic ones made a dreadful noise when the tap was turned on. I solved the problem by fitting a pressure reducing valve in the main pipe to the house. I've not had to replace a washer since.

[Appelation Controlee]

There's also a tendency, on the part of some, to screw down a tap so hard that it takes two hands to turn it on again. This will shorten the life of any washer.

[johannes]

Yes agreed, it is typical FUD: Fear, uncertainty and doubt.

[John]

I always ensure that the "H" & "C" markings are correctly oriented when the tap is turned off enough. - Then lecture anyone who turns one too far.

[Kevin]

that's fine until they twist it past and try and go round again :-) Kevin R Reply address works

[Peter L]

On Fri 03 Oct08 19:36, Derek wrote in :

Hello Derek. Phew that makes for a worry! I was looking for inf on the probability of that sort of level of dangerous pollution occurring in any tap washer.

I hope what you describe was not typical of washers sold in the UK in conventional plumbing shops until the Water Regs were introduced. I also HOPE that the level of danger you describe is not likely in ultra-cheap imported washers. If you see what I mean.

It is that sort of thing I would like to know more about. Could you help with that? Thank you.

[Peter L]

On Sat 04 Oct08 06:18, Appelation Controlee wrote in :

Some people in my household have also been seen using that sort of force when closing our taps too!

I was wondering if the rubber used in the cheapo washers is made of a coumpound so crap that they broke down readily (like the cheap abrasive products in pound shops).

Alternatively, maybe it is now so cheap and easy to use a DECENT ENOUGH material that the old days of quick-failng washers is no longer with us. (Just as disposable cigarette lighters and ball point pens have become.)

[The Medway Handyman]

I think its too hard, which encourages people to use more force to turn the tap off. The ones I buy at my local 'proper' plumbing shop are much softer.

[whisky-dave]

It varies, there have been incidences of accidental pollution.

Wouldn't know myself, but UK used to install lead pipes for water.

I'm not sure just how well such things are tested, but as with anything cheap from the pound shops from sandpaper (50 sheets of stuff as useful for sanding as toilet paper) to tumblers and plastic tupperwear you assume it's safe. For that reason I've never brought food from poundshops.

I've never thought of tape washers or even tumblers/glasses being safe from contaminants, but if a reputable company in china can put dodgy chemicals in baby milk, I won't be wiping my arse on toilet paper from china, you never know what might be in the paper and destroying more than just your klingons. :)