Plumbing is a ubiquitous thing in modern society, and these days just about every kitchen located in or near an urban area will have a kitchen mixer tap. These use lines of both hot and cold water to mix together in a basin, so water produced can range from chilly to lukewarm to steaming hot with the simple adjustment of a knob or lever.
Some of them have double handles, one for hot and one for cold, while others have special valves that vary the ratio of hot to cold when the tap itself is twisted. Whatever kind of tap one needs, it’s an easy matter for a plumber to set it up, or repair it if need be.
Installing a Kitchen Mixer Tap
In theory, it’s a simple matter. It’s often one of those things those who have skill in plumbing can do without too much difficulty. Of course, someone who isn’t can often make matters worse, so be sure you know what you’re doing before you attempt to make major changes to the household plumbing.
The first step, of course, is to remove the old tap. Or rather, the second step. In plumbing, the first step is always to shut off the water. For kitchen mixer taps, this can sometimes just mean closing the valve under the sink, so the taps can be drained of any water that’s still in them, while preventing further water from coming out of the pipe. After that, the sink should be stopped up, so nothing you’ll need later, like washers, bolts, and the like will fall down the drain.
As the process continues, all the water supply pipes to the old tap will have to be closed, as the plumber works backward to ensure no water comes spraying out during the replacement. A good plumber is very thorough, because there are too many places where water gushing everywhere would be a disaster.
Once all the water is shut off, the old tap can be removed with a wrench and a utility knife. The latter is used to cut and scrape away the epoxy or putty that seals the fixture in place. It takes some special measurements to find the exact right size of the tap to get a new one fitted. In addition to the new tap itself, adapters will be necessary to adapt the old lines for hot and cold water to the new part.
When everything is cleaned, the eshchucteon (or decorative plate) that fixes the tap to the sink is replaced with new plumber’s putty, the valves are reattached and the water is turned back on. It’s a fairly quick and simple process, yet one that still requires the skill of someone who knows at least a little plumbing.
If you are at all unsure, it may be best to seek the help of a an accredited plumber, such as one acknowledged by the Master Plumber’s Association.