How hard is it to change a bath tap washer?

[naswm]

Got back from a weekend away to find my bath tap not just dripping but running. And a little bit of washer in the bath tub.

I know it sounds easy to change, but I dont really know where to start. My bath taps are the telephone style mixer taps, and I dont even know which bit the washer is under.

I am frightened to start unscrewing bits in case I cant turn it off. It is the hot tap which is running and I dont to risk it running at speed.

I need to fix it though as it was quite dangeroous when the DSs had their bath.

Can anyone talk me through it??

It's quite easy but you have to turn off the supply to the tap. If you're lucky there might be a valve underneath the bath - take the panel off and have a look where the pipe joins underneath the tap. If not, you'll have to turn it off at the mains. As it's the hot tap this may mean turning off your boiler. Turn the supply off at the mains and fully open the tap until no more water comes out. Then use a spanner to undo the tap and change the washer. Then turn the water back on at the mains, allow any air to work its way through until the tap is running again, and turn the tap off.

If that doesn't explain it then just borrow a diy book from the library.

thanks fortyplus. That is v helpful

All I need to do now is work ouot a) how to remove the side to my bath and b) how and where to turn my water supply off

Don't worry - you'll get there. Knowing where to turn the water off can be pretty useful! Do you live in a house or a flat?

A good point to start is in the kitchen as the cold tap will come off the mains supply. Do you have a water meter? The stop cock will be somewhere between the meter and the kitchen tap. Failing that, you might be able to turn off the water in the street outside ( those little round metal flaps about 6" in diameter with 'water' on them) But if you're in a block of flats that wouldn't be a good idea.

And you don't need to remove the bath panel - it's just that if there's a valve in there it makes the job easier

fortyplus you are being v helpful. Tanks. I live in a house, I am guessing my stop cock thing is under teh stairs... There is nothing outside the hosue, that I can easily see.

Oh why am I such a damn ignorant person when it comes to things like this? grrrrrrrrrr

Our stop tap used to be under the sink but is now next to the front door - it's a Victorian terrace and we changed from a common supply pipe for the whole row at the back, to our own individual one at the front. HTH

Look under your sink first, naswm.

It might not be an actual tap-type handle, it might be a lever, or a small screwhead thing which you turn 45 degrees so the line in the screwhead is across the pipe rather than along it.

Could you ask one of the neighbours where theirs is if you can't find it?

I'm in a 1920s semi. I have a feeling it is under the stairs. No idea why! I am tto embarrased to ask teh neighbours janh

It might be under the stairs - no reason why not! Old houses are funny - mine comes up in the utility room - via next door's house! Mine was built in 1910.
And don't think you're being dim - us mums just have more important things on our minds!

Def look under kitchen sink first. If no joy there or under stairs then when it's light take a look outside on the pavement - I'll bet there's an outside stopcock somewhere.

naswm, we live in a 1920s semi and it didn't have a stopcock until we had one put in.

And we call plumbers over tap washers. Yes, I know all the very capable people on here are going to accuse me of being a complete weed, but some of our taps were in such a state that they required complete replacement rather than just a new washer.

I have to confess that - now we can afford to - I'd much rather pay someone else to do jobs around the house. Even decorating - paid a man for 5 weeks earlier this year and it was GREAT. I draw the line at getting as cleaner, though - I'd be too embarrassed!