Tap replacement

While a tap swap might seem straightforward, modern plumbing systems and high-end fixtures often require specific technical knowledge. From ensuring correct water pressure compatibility to navigating awkward access behind bath panels, getting it right the first time prevents costly water damage to your flooring and cabinetry.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Access and Preparation: Removing bath panels, kitchen kickboards, or vanity units to expose the pipework and tap tailpieces.
• Isolation: Turning off the water supply via local isolating valves or the main internal stopcock and draining the remaining water from the system.
• Removal: Disconnecting the flexible or copper tails and unscrewing the backnuts, which can often be seized or corroded in older installations.
• Cleaning and Seating: Cleaning the mounting surface to ensure a watertight seal and installing the new tap with provided washers or silicone.
• Connection: Attaching new flexible connectors or adjusting existing copper pipework to fit the new tap's configuration.
• Testing: Re-pressurising the system, checking for slow leaks under pressure, and flushing the new taps to remove any debris from the lines.

Typical Costs

The total cost of tap replacement is heavily influenced by the quality of the fixture you choose and the ease of access to the pipework. Standard basin taps are generally cheaper to install than complex bath-shower mixers or specialist kitchen boiling water taps.

Note: Prices include VAT at 20%. Regional variations apply, with London and the South East typically seeing rates 20-30% higher than the national average.

How Long Does It Take?

• Standard Kitchen or Basin Tap: 1 to 1.5 hours. This assumes the isolating valves are working and the nuts aren't seized.
• Bath Mixer Taps: 1.5 to 3 hours. Accessing the underside of a bath often requires removing panels or even tiles in restricted spaces.
• Boiling Water Taps: 2 to 4 hours. These require additional tank installation, electrical connection, and often cupboard modifications.
• Seized or Corroded Fittings: Adds 1 hour. Removing old, rusted nuts in cramped spaces can be incredibly time-consuming.

DIY or Professional?

A basic "like-for-like" tap swap is within the reach of a confident DIYer with the right tools, such as a basin wrench. However, if your home lacks individual isolating valves, you will need to drain the entire system, which carries risks of airlocks or leaks upon refilling.

Professional plumbers bring the experience to handle "stuck" fittings and can identify if your new tap is compatible with your home's water pressure (e.g., gravity-fed vs. high-pressure systems).

For kitchen boiling water taps or any installation requiring new electrical points, you must use a professional to ensure compliance with Part P building regulations and manufacturer warranties.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Qualifications: Look for plumbers registered with WaterSafe or the CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering).
• Verify Insurance: Ensure they hold public liability insurance (minimum £1m-£2m) to cover any accidental water damage.
• Ask for a Fixed Quote: Avoid "hourly rates" for simple swaps; most plumbers should offer a fixed price if you provide photos of the current setup.
• Questions to Ask:
  • Do you carry spare flexible connectors and washers, or will you need to leave the site to get them?
  • Does your quote include the disposal of the old taps and packaging?
  • Will you install isolating valves if they aren't already present?

UK Regulations

• Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999: All taps installed in the UK must not contaminate the mains water supply. Look for WRAS Approved products.
• Part G of the Building Regulations: Covers sanitation, hot water safety, and water efficiency. Professionals will ensure the hot water temperature is safe to prevent scalding.
• Accessibility: In certain renovations, taps must meet specific height and operation standards (e.g., lever handles for those with limited mobility).

Common Problems

• Incompatible Water Pressure: Buying a high-pressure tap for a low-pressure (gravity-fed) system results in a pathetic "dribble" of water.
• Seized Backnuts: On older baths, the nuts holding the tap in place can rust solid, often requiring a specialist oscillating tool to cut them off without damaging the bath.
• Leaking "Flexi" Tails: Cheap flexible hoses can kink or perish; professionals always use high-quality, WRAS-approved connectors.
• Mismatched Hole Sizes: Some modern European taps require larger mounting holes than older UK ceramic basins provide, necessitating careful drilling or a different tap choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy the taps myself or will the plumber provide them?

Most plumbers prefer you to buy the taps so you get the exact style you want. However, they can supply standard trade-quality taps if requested, often with a better internal ceramic disc than cheap DIY store versions.

Why is my new tap vibrating or making a whistling noise?

This is usually "water hammer" or a restriction in the supply. It often happens when a high-pressure tap is fitted to a system with high flow rates, or if an internal washer is loose.

Can I swap individual taps for a single mixer tap?

Yes, but only if your basin or bath has a single hole. If you have two holes, you will need a "bridge mixer" or a "mini mono" mixer with a cover plate to hide the extra hole.

What is a ceramic disc tap and is it better?

Ceramic disc taps use two sliding plates to control water flow rather than a rubber washer. They are much more durable, require only a quarter-turn to operate, and rarely drip.

My stopcock is stuck; can the plumber still change my taps?

Yes, but they may need to use a "freezing kit" to temporarily block the pipe or find the external water meter shut-off. This will usually add to the labour cost.

Will the plumber fix the tiles they remove to get to the bath taps?

Most plumbers are not tilers. If they have to remove tiles to access pipework, they will usually let you know beforehand, but you may need a separate handyman or tiler to make good the finish.