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Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

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Wd40
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Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by Wd40 » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 9:52 am

So, our kitchen tap started leaking from the top. I looked at a few videos online which explained that you can replace the ceramic cartridge inside. However that is not practical in SG. You will not be able to find the spare. It is much cheaper to replace the whole tap, which costs like $20-30.

I called up a few plumbers and asked them for quotes and they ranged from $90-$220, including the tap. Main reason I called the plumbers is because I didnt have the tools and I thought acquiring the tools would be expensive.

But some google search and you tube videos and I found what tools are needed and they are pretty cheap to buy.

You need the tubular wrench of the correct size. It looks like this:
Image

The reason you need this and not a normal spanner is because the nut securing the tap at the bottom is in a very narrow space.

Next thing I needed is a adjustable wrench that looks like this

Image

This was needed to open the connectors.

One challenge for me was that the existing tap was a mixer tap, which is more expensive that costs like $50 and not very easily found in SG or online. The owner installed a mixer tap in my house, even though there is no hot water, basically he used the same pipe supply to both inputs.

I decided to change to a normal tap as it was easier to find and was cheaper. But this meant that I needed a new steel braided hose as the existing tap had 2 thin hoses and wouldnt fit the normal tap.

So I got the tools I needed from a HDB DIY shop. I have ordered a new kitchen tap+hose from Shopee which cost me $18 with shipping and it will hope fully arrive by tomorrow/day after. Until then I need to live with the steady dripping of water from the current tap.

Picture of current tap
Image

How it looks underneath after I have unscrewed the tap nut

Image

It this thing becomes successful, I would have saved about $50, including the price of the tools I have acquired. The tools cost me like $15 and the tap itself cost me $18.

But more importantly I have learnt a life skill :)

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martincymru
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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by martincymru » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 4:13 pm

+ time? 6 hours @ 50 sgd = 300 sgd he...he...

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Wd40
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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by Wd40 » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 4:59 pm

martincymru wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 4:13 pm
+ time? 6 hours @ 50 sgd = 300 sgd he...he...
This would be true if I used my time more productively. I waste away my time on forums and new sites following markets. This was a good change from it.

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sundaymorningstaple
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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 6:01 pm

Ironically, I did the exact same thing about 4 weeks ago with my own kitchen sink, and yes, mine was also a mixer tap originally (reno contractors did the same thing, hooked up two cold water lines to the two inlets). Replaced it with a single waterline tap, took about an hour and a half. But then it wasn't a learning issue as I'd already replaced both bathroom taps a number of years ago to replace the normal type taps to those single button pressure/spring shutoff types due to my Mother in Law's constant leaving the tap on (while the wife & I were working).

martincymru wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 4:13 pm
+ time? 6 hours @ 50 sgd = 300 sgd he...he...
Martin, you forgot to factor in the most important thing. Satisfaction. ;-)
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by Wd40 » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 8:38 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 6:01 pm
Ironically, I did the exact same thing about 4 weeks ago with my own kitchen sink, and yes, mine was also a mixer tap originally (reno contractors did the same thing, hooked up two cold water lines to the two inlets). Replaced it with a single waterline tap, took about an hour and a half. But then it wasn't a learning issue as I'd already replaced both bathroom taps a number of years ago to replace the normal type tape to those single button pressure/spring shutoff types due to my Mother in Law's constant leaving the tap on (while the wife & I were working).

martincymru wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 4:13 pm
+ time? 6 hours @ 50 sgd = 300 sgd he...he...
Martin, you forgot to factor in the most important thing. Satisfaction. ;-)
Thats nice :) Any tips for me? Other than using the white tape on the threads to prevent leaks.

I will be connecting the steel braided hose inlet to one of the T connector outlet and the I will use a plug(female) to close the other outlet of the T, I realized need to use a rubber washer, inside the plug.

Image

This is how the new tap and the new hose look:

Image

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martincymru
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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by martincymru » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 9:51 pm

Wd40 wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 8:38 pm

Thats nice :) Any tips for me? Other than using the white tape on the threads to prevent leaks.
cannot see an inline isolating valve

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Wd40
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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by Wd40 » Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:19 pm

martincymru wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 9:51 pm
Wd40 wrote:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 8:38 pm

Thats nice :) Any tips for me? Other than using the white tape on the threads to prevent leaks.
cannot see an inline isolating valve
Thanks, If I owned the place, I would have definitely added it. The owner of the place didnt bother to add it, why should I?

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PNGMK
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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by PNGMK » Wed, 02 Dec 2020 2:56 pm

You need friends with tools WD40. Saves a lot of money. The smarter folk in my building have worked out that I have a lot of tools.... and I've worked out they have booze.
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
You ran away without doing NS? Shame on you!

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Re: Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

Post by Wd40 » Thu, 03 Dec 2020 3:36 pm

The new tap arrived an hour ago, and I have managed to fix it, successfully so far, no leaks, touch wood :) Even though I closed the main valve, there is flow of water at low pressure, so I didnt get much time to use the white seal tape. There is the rubber washer that does the job of stopping leaks, hopefully this works. The tap quality isnt great. Feels very very light compared to the old one, which was really heavy.

This is how it looks now:

Image

Image

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