Mystery Tap Won't Stop Dripping

[mattcharlton]

Hi everyone, and apologies for such a basic question, but my bathroom hot tap is dripping and what is obviously a fairly easy fix (change of washers) has become a complete nightmare because I cannot find any of the washers I need to match to the existing in any shop - nor a single image of my type of tap online.

It's not a mixer, and says Berkeley on the top (Silverdale tap?) but basically there are two washers, one is barely 11mm and the other much larger, please see the attached photos.

I'm at a total loss here! The tap type is what I would describe as 'traditional' but surely no more that 10 or so years old.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

 

[stani]

The small washer should be the same diameter as the metal disc, it simply worn away

 

[mattcharlton]

Hi Stani thanks for such a quick reply.

I bought some standard tap washers, which as you say were similar diameter to the metal disk that the other washer is around, but I was then unable to replace the body of the tap into the piece still fixed to the sink. It's almost like the smaller washer fits down into the bit of tap still attached to sink.

Please excuse my lack of technical terms here!

Matt

 

[stani]

We're the washers as big as the disc or slightly smaller?

 

[stani]

There's every chance it could have been a domed washer, try taking the other tap off and see what that looks like.

 

[mattcharlton]

The washers were slightly smaller, but I wasn't able to fit the piece shown back into the threads to then tighten it back up.

 

[stani]

Try looking at the other tap then

 

[mattcharlton]

God, I hadn't even thought too. I'll do that now.

 

[mattcharlton]

OK I think it's fixed now, so with full disclosure to save the next person the embarassment of the next person this happens to..

I took out the body of the cold tap, and low and behold there was a single washer there (slightly smaller than the disc)..

So it turns out what I was thinking was two washers (one around the disk and a smaller one around the'peg' bit) was actually only one washer that through I imagine years of overtightening had actually had it's middle split out giving the appearance of two washers!

Anyway, seems to be fixed now, shouts to stani for making me look like a right plum.

Matt

 

[stani]

Every day's a learning day, well done

 

[rpm]

The only dumb question here is the one you don`t ask Matt.