Turn the Water Off First!
The mixers are relatively simple to install although we do recommend you get a qualified person to do the installation. 2 flexi pipes connect your hot and cold water into the bottom of the unit. Prefferably hand tighten the pipes, do not use tools that will damage the connection. The unit is attached to the counter or to the sink using a threaded rod and nut. A Rubber O-ring is placed on the top of and a rubber then a brass gasket is placed under the sink.
The type of connection required from the flexi hoses to the water supply depends on the size and type of pipework or couplings that are already in place in your kitchen.
You may need to connect using a brass male coupling (pictured here)
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if there are no existing connectors on the pipes or you may need to fit a reducer if the existing connectors are larger than required.
If you are lucky the existing connectors will be a perfect match.
Use PTFE tape on all connections to ensure a good watertight seal.
PTFE tape
All these items can be bought from your local plumbers merchant.
Here is the layout of a basic kitchen mixer tap installation:
Ok I want to buy a kitchen mixer tap and I was advised to get 1 thats a1/2 inch tap as my water pressure is low. What does 0.5 barand 1 bar mean on sales decscription of taps??? v 1/2 inch
Dear Audrey
Thanks for your message.
All our basin taps fit the UK standard of 15mm pipes (often referred to as 1/2 inch). We also supply the relevant flexi pipes with mixer taps included in the price.
If you have low pressure like in a gravity fed system you should go for mixers/taps that specify 0.5 BAR pressure.
Kind Regards,
Mark.
Don’t forget to turn your water off before you change the tap. Usually under the sink.
I love the square brushed steel tap. Modern and stylish.
http://www.grandtaps.co.uk/products/prod_243938-Kitchen-mixer-tap-square-brushed-steel-2931BS.html
Also nice site!
Dear DIY Dave
Thanks for visiting our site and we really appreciate your valuable input.
Kind Regards,
Mark
Hi just wondered if you could tell me if the water comes out of the tap through lots of small holes which would create a spray or just as a stream like a traditional tap?
Are these taps easy to fit?
Thanks julie
Dear Julie
Most of our taps are fitted with diffusers or aerators in the spouts. This is responsible for the soft feel water flow from the spout. Some of our kitchen mixers do have a shower head that creates a spray effect. Which item are you interested in (let me know the full title) and I will let you know what spray it delivers.
The taps are very easy to fit for a plumber and a good DIY-er, you do need to know what you are doing otherwise you could end up with leaks.
Kind Regards,
Mark
Dear mark
Thanks for the reply the tap we were looking at is ‘kitchen mixer’ WT3002 £23.99 + P+P
We are looking for the soft flow feel.
Thanks
Julie
Dear Julie
Yes the mixer tap WT3002 is fitted with a gause diffuser which softens the water flow nicely.
Kind Regards,
Mark
Managed to work that out on my own. How the hell do the flexi pipes fit into my copper system.
Rubbish advice, poor customer support
We have included detail on some of the most common ways to connect the flexi hoses to the water supply. We do however recommend you use a qualified plumber for the job if you are not familiar with the various tools and connectors available on the market.
I have taps on the wall below the window in the kitchen. I would like to replace the old taps with the mixer tap to go through the sink. How will I connect the mixer hoses to the pipes which are too high up
Really like this post, thanks for writing.
I’ve been reading a few posts and really and enjoy your writing. I’m thinking of linking to your posts from my site , just let me know if it’s feasible , thanks !
Glad you enjoy our posts. No problem to link our posts from your site. Thank You
hI Mark
My mixer has come loose on the bench top.
Can you please suggest how to tighten it.
Thank you.
Rick
Hi Rick
The tap should be held in place by a nut and threaded shaft underneath the counter. Try tightening the nut?
With kind regards,
Mark
Thanks, thats quite useful to know! I admit I’m a bit of a failure in the kitchen, but I’m trying my best to learn. Admitting is the first step to recovery right!!? I promised to cook something for my wife this weekend for the first time – very exciting! I found some simple recipes at this website, seems to be designed exactly for me, which is fantastic! Anyway, thanks, I’ll be sure to subscribe to your site to read more.
my bf spray some WD40 on the edge of the body set and it becames hard rock now( very hard to move up and down for the mixer tap) we thinking about getting new one now. I have 70% idea of how to change it, but the nut that link directly below the counter, i am not sure what tool to use to un- screw that as seems half of the screw is stuck in the hole and hard to stick a tool in there?
You get a tool called a basin wrench which gets to hard to reach nuts. Here is an article on different plumbing tools: http://blog.grandtaps.co.uk/use-the-correct-plumbing-tools/
I have just bought a new sink mixer. I took all existing taps and spout off. when looking at the flexi pipe connections I notice they will not fit my existing pipe.
I looked under the sink and found there are 3 outlets connected to a solid copper pipe tubing. I can push this out and under the sink. If I buy the male connector you have pictured above. I will be able to fix the flexi hose to these outlets, but wont water still flow out the middle spout hole? As im typing this out I may have answer my question. Can a purchase a stopper plug for this.
Or do I get a plumber to cut the long peice out and add 2 male connectors for me?
It sounds like you do need to remove that connecting piece in order to identify the 2 main water supply pipes (hot and cold).
It is very easy to cut the copper pipe (be careful not too short) and add threaded connectors for your flexi pipes so long as you have the correct tools. Try to connect isolator valves into the 2 water supplies if you dont already have them.
A plumber can help with this task but even better if you have a good DIY friend that you can ask to help. This is cheaper, more fun and a better way for you to learn.
Good luck
Mark
Thanks for the information Mark much appreciated. Can the copper pipe be cut with a hand saw? Will I need to heat the pipes to add the threaded connectors? I am from Perth Western Australia and our copper pipe is approx 12mm diametre (1/2 inch) on the hot and cold water supplies. Will I still need to connect isolator valves?
Yes, the copper pipe can easily be cut using a small hacksaw somthing like this one: http://www.wickes.co.uk/Junior-Hacksaw/invt/500562
and this little tool looks great although I have never used one:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Auto-Pipe-Cutter-15mm/invt/210394
You dont need to heat the pipes, the threaded connectors come with a brass ring which holds the connectors in place and help create the seal when they are tightened. You will also need to use plumbers thread tape on all the connections.
Installing isolator valves is always a good idea for future planning, so if you need to work on the tap at some point you dont need to turn the house mains off, just the isolator valves, and they are cheap.
Mark
Just fitted flexy connectors to mixer tap but the hot tap keeps leaking no matter how tight it is any suggestions?
Try using vaseline or silicone sealant on the o-ring seal and plumbers thread tape on the thread.
Regards,
Mark