How To Replace Bathroom Taps?

A Guide To Replacing Bath Taps

Looking for a fast & easy way to replace your bathroom taps?…

Every now and again refreshing your bathroom taps is a brilliant way to change up the look of your space.

Perhaps you’re thinking about swapping your traditional pillar taps for a modern mono basin? Or, your existing taps are heavily scratched and looking a bit worn?

It’s super Big Bathroom Shop to the rescue with our easy squeezy step by step guide on how to replace bathroom taps without having to call in a plumber.

So, let’s get to it and discover how to replace an old basin tap!

The steps to replacing your bath taps –

1. Shut off water supply before replacing taps
2. Remove the old bathroom tap
3. Give the tap hole area a clean down
4. Slot & adjust new basin tap
5. Remove the nut from new tap
6. Screw the Tap in place
7. Connect the supply pipes to the new bathroom tap
8. Turn back on water supply & check for leaks.

Step 1 – Shut off water supply before replacing taps:

Before you do anything, it’s important to make sure you switch off the water supply. this is usually found under the basin, in the kitchen tap cupboard or airing cupboard.

This should be a brass valve, that looks similar to the image shown below.

Once you have located the isolation valve, you should be able to operate it yourself and turn the valve clockwise with a slotted screwdriver. This will stop water passing through the copper pipes to your taps.

Please bear in mind, it can take a minute or two for the water supply to completely stop.

Step 2 – Remove the old bathroom tap:

Now, it’s time to get down and dirty. You need to get under your basin and look for the nut that holds the tap to the basin.

*side note* in the middle of the nut and basin there should be a washer. The washer is there to help protect the ceramic disc and makes a watertight seal.

Once the nut has been located, take your basin wrench/ basin spanner and begin to untighten the nut.

This can be a rather tricky task and you may need to add a little elbow grease to get the nut loose. However, once you have used your super big muscles and unscrewed the nut, it should easily slide off.

Now the nut has been removed, lift away the existing tap away from the basin and domestic pipe work.

Step 3 – Give the Tap hole Area a Quick Clean Down:

Once you have removed the old taps, it’s always a good idea to give the area a thorough clean, wiping away any dirt or old adhesive.

Step 5 – Remove the nut from new tap

Remove the nut of the new tap and slide it into the whole washer first. Making sure the tap is in line with the sink.

Step 6 – Screw the tap in place

Go back under the basin and screw on the nut, to keep your tap in place. You may need some assistance with this if you cannot see the tap whilst screwing on the new nut. Try not to over tighten the nut, as this can crack the fittings.

Step 7 – Connect the supply pipes to the new bathroom tap

Now the glorious new taps have been attached, it’s time to connect back up the supply pipes. Start by connecting the pipe to the end of the flexible tails with a 15mm compression fitting.

We would advise always using PTFE tape around the seal to make it watertight. Tighten the nut until your happy with how it feels.

Step 8 – Turn back on water supply & check for leaks:

Turn the water supply back on and do a leak check. If the water flow looks fine and there are no leaks, you’ve made it until the end! Well done!

What to do if your new tap does not fit straight onto your existing pipe?

Check the Tap connector before fitting the new tap.

More often than not, your new basin and bath tap will come with flexible braided pipe extensions. This is typically seen with basin mixer taps.

What are Flexible Pipes?

The flexible pipe tails have two pipe feeds called male and female tails. One tail will feed hot water and the other cold to your monobloc or mixer tap. This makes it easier to find the perfect washing temperature.

If your new tap the braided pipe extensions, this means that it will not fit straight onto the current pipe.

If this is the case, you will need to use a tap connector to install your brand-new beautiful bathroom tap. Usually, the new pipe comes with a tap connector at one end and a compression fitting valve at the opposite side.

Fit the new bathroom tap pipework

Now that is all done, it’s time to fit the pipework. Before connecting the flexible tap tails, be sure to have a flexi tail adapter.

Nifty flexible connectors will make installation much easier and ensure you have a solid seal without damaging the washer and pipe. This is because of its flat head.

If your new tap the braided pipe extensions, this means that it will not fit straight onto the current pipe.

If this is the case, you will need to use a tap connector to install your brand-new beautiful bathroom tap. Usually, the new pipe comes with a tap connector at one end and a compression fitting valve at the opposite side.

Flexi adapters fit nicely into the isolation valve, followed by the flexible tails. Connect the pipe to the flexible pipe tails with a compression fitting. Grab the 15mm olive and slide that onto the pipe.

Now push the flexi tail into the pipe and begin to tighten the nut with a spanner.

Do you need a plumber to replace bathroom taps?

No, usually changing bathroom taps, basin or bath, should be a simple, straight forward job.

Replacing the bathroom taps for new ones requires you to follow a few steps, like stated above.

You do not need a plumber for this work to be carried out.