dripping taps

[norfolkgal]

I have three dripping taps , but the problem is they are old and I dont think I can undo them to try and change the washer.
One Is an old pilliar bath tap.

is there any way I can get these old taps undone.

One guy looked and said I would have to have new taps as they cannot be undone as been there too long. But even this would cost too much as the bath is against a wall and hard to get a wrench round the nuts. The next thing i know I will be told to get a new bath !!!!!!

any suggestion

[dtgblue]

move house

[dtgblue]

move house

[Davethedog]

Although they are expensive a pro plumber would be able to do it. I always hate to call them but they are amazing.

[DrFilth]

doc the last person to say that to me ( It will undo, they always will.) was itchy who said he would fix mine. He gave up after 3/4 of an hour and i ended up cutting the pipe off. :)

[DrFilth]

he said the exact words till he came to sort mine out :)

[paddywak]

As doc says these things always undo eventually, In similar situations I've always given the item a couple of good doses of WD 40 and left it to stand for a while before trying to undo it.

[annie0000]

In our house (2 or 3 houses ago? - losing track!) we wanted the taps changed when we were selling it and the guy cracked the sink when he tried to take them off - then we needed to get a new sink - and because it was oldish, we needed a new pedestal and therefore ended up having to replace the flooring - we wished we hadn't bothered!!!

[The Builder]

Heed the wisdom of The Doc, Norfolkgal ................. he knoweth a thing or two about plumbing. :o)

Just remember to take off the handwheel and the shroud first....... then you can get your spanners on easily

[Davethedog]

I have a slow running tap - I think due to lime scale - In the past I have replaced the barrel but what is the best and quickest way to remove this?

All ideas appreciated.

[McMouse]

call salla......she knows a thing or two about wrenching nuts.

[norfolkgal]

Thanks for your replies,
I am going to have a go at the easiest ( newest tap) later...
The two oldest are pillar taps...I know i have to take a screw out of the side holding the tap top on. Just worried yhat even using two spanners it may crack the tap casing.

[alavahalf]

Unless you have looked inside the tap, you cant know if the need replacing ... they may well just need a re-face, lubricate and washer.
I do loads of taps and the vast majority of older taps usually get a new lease of life with just a service... also the older taps are usually British and better made than the modern equivalent.
But if you want British ... you have to pay.

As Doc says ... they all come undone. My favourite tools are 2 pairs of 13'' pipe grips.
If you intend replacing the taps it does'nt matter if you damage or mark them.

Yesterday I had an old pair of pillar taps I could'nt get undone ... so I just got a hacksaw blade and cut through the base of the tap, where the rubber sealing washer goes between the sink and the tap ... it's only brass and I was through it in a couple of minutes.

[norfolkgal]

ohh heck I dare not have a go at changing the taps, and wary at trying to changer the washers because of the age of the taps.. would hate to take apart and then not get back together and create a iger problem..
i know I can get a plumber in but after the last little job I had done, I would like to at least try before having to part with megga bucks for a small,easy job.