Are Washers For Old Taps Still Available?

[Playbill]

My bath taps look as good as new, but one has a slight leak. Instead of taking it apart to get the washer out, I took a photograph and showed it to someone at a large plumbing supplies shop. They said that the tap must be thirty years old and nobody would have washers to fit it and I would need new taps.

It is now Saturday afternoon and all other local plumbers supply shops are closed. Rather than dismantle the tap to get to the washer, and then find on Monday the first shop was right,
should I just accept that the first shop was right and get new taps?

[gingejbee]

I'll think you'll find that half-inch and three-quarter inch "old" washers are still widely available....Robert Dyas, if all else fails. You'll need the bigger of the two, I'm sure.

[gingejbee]

....this type, at a guess....

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/select-hardware-tap-washer-assorted-16-pack

[gingejbee]

...or Wilko.....

http://www.wilko.com/search?q=tap+washers

[Playbill]

Thanks for that gingejbee. I will wait till next week and take the washer out, see what size it is and visit a few shops. No Robert Dyas near me.

[donny48]

If your washer looks good does the tap need reseating ie. the rim that the washer fits down onto when shut may be worn.

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds to me as if the shop wanted to sell you a new tap.
Might be a decent option though.

[kawakiri]

I'm sure you will be able to get a washer that will do the job. Not the same problem but I had the hot tap on the bath and cold tap on the wash basin in the bathroom that wouldn't turn on properly. Plumber wanted to replace both with new taps for around £200. Although it was a bit of a bind I with the help of my brother , well mainly him stripped the taps down replaced one headgear reseated the other. All sorted less than £10.

[woofgang]

I have just replaced a washer in my 25 yo B and Q tap. I bought a box of mixed sized and type washers on amazon, a reseater, and a Pozbite tap splitter and it was easy. Don’t mind spending out for the tools, all the taps in the house are the same age/type and what I have spent already is less than a plumber would charge for one tap.

[Playbill]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I would rather not have to replace the taps as they are situated in a very awkward place - aren't they always! - and I imagine would be a nightmare to release after all these years. Old_Geezer's idea that they might have wanted me to sell me new taps also crossed my mind. They had pairs from £140 upwards! I looked at Screwfix range just to compare - nice ones for third of that.

[malagabob]

A quick fix if you can do it to give you time to source a new, is to spin the old washer over so the worn side is uppermost. Assuming the brass seating is not worn by any leak.