How to Change Bath Taps

Bath Tap Fitting Tools

• Adjustable spanner
• Plumbers grips (water pump pliers)
• Monoblock Tap Spanner
• Flathead screwdriver (for any isolation valves there might be)
• Towel

These are the tools you will need when replacing bath taps. A tap spanner is 27mm at one end and 32mm at the other.

The 32mm end will be suitable for changing almost all bath taps, and the 27mm end will be suitable for changing basin taps.

If there are no flexible tap connectors on the old bath taps, then you will need to cut the pipes and fit isolation valves for the new flexible tap connectors to connect to.

How to remove a bath tap

• Isolate the water supply to the bath taps using isolating valves on the bath tap pipes or the main stopcock.
• Open the bath taps and the other taps in the property to get rid of the water from the pipes
• Put a towel down under the bath taps to catch any water.
• Cut the copper pipes if there aren’t any flexible tap connectors on the old taps.
• Turn the nut on the bottom of the tap threads anti-clockwise with an adjustable spanner and pull the pipes to the side.
• Remove the tap connectors and any pipes you might have cut.
• Put a back-nut tap spanner over the tap threads and over the back-nut securing them to the bath and turn them anti-clockwise to unscrew and remove both back-nuts.

How to Fit a Bath Tap

• Fit the new bath into the holes in the bath with any foam or rubber seals supplied and screw the back-nut.
• Tighten with the back-nut tap spanner.
• Screw the flexible tap connectors to the tap threads and tighten them with an adjustable spanner.
• If you had to cut the pipes, then you should fit some new flexible tap connectors.
• Close all the taps in the property and turn the water supply back on and check for leaks.

How to Change a Bath Tap Head

To change a bath tap head, you need to find the screw keeping it fixed to the bath tap. This is normally covered with a plastic cap which can be screwed off or pulled off with a small flathead screwdriver

Once this is removed, you can loosen the screw holding the head on the tap. This is normally a grub screw that takes a 2.5mm Allen key. Once this is loose, the head or handle should just pull off the bath tap. Then fit the new bath tap head.

We would recommend purchasing the replacement head before beginning the job these can often be purchased directly from the manufacturer or your local plumber's merchant should be able to order them providing you know who manufactured the tap.

How to Change a Bath Tap Cartridge

To change a bath tap cartridge, you need to remove the head or handle as above, and then you will need to unscrew the cartridge anti-clockwise using an adjustable spanner.

You might need to hold the tap still with another adjustable spanner, whilst you take the cartridge out. These can be very stiff on old taps. Once out, just screw the new cartridges in and tighten them with the adjustable spanner.

How to Change a Bath Tap Washer

If you need to fix a dripping tap, then changing the tap washer might be a solution. You can only change a bath tap washer on full-turn taps. That means taps that you have to turn a few times for them to let the water out as fast as it will come.

If you have a quarter-turn or half-turn taps, you will not be able to replace the washer as they don’t have washers, they have ceramic discs.