Replacing Kitchen sink Tap

[revhappy]

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:

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

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

How it looks underneath after I have unscrewed the tap nut

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

 

[shadow84]

Dun forget about white tape. Wrap around the male threads a few times to prevent leaking.

 

[GBC]

The 2 elbow joints looks like compression fittings. Make sure you have some spare olives to reuse the fitting.

 

[winningeleven]

Really informative. Especially the tools u mentioned. I have a hard time unscrewed due to the narrow place

 

[revhappy]

The 2 elbow joints looks like compression fittings. Make sure you have some spare olives to reuse the fitting.

I wont need the elbow joints. I will connecting the steel braided hose inlet to one of the T connector outlet and the I will use a plug to close the other outlet of the T

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

 

[blackestvoid]

probably having this is good between the hose and the pipe

 

[revhappy]

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:

 

[Goodshot]

If not success will lose how much ??

 

[winningeleven]

I wont need the elbow joints. I will connecting the steel braided hose inlet to one of the T connector outlet and the I will use a plug to close the other outlet of the T

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

I bought this type of small level handle before as it is cheap (less than $35) and ended up I changed 3 times within 5 to 6 years. Same problem. The water would just flow from the nozzle and no matter how I closed ot. Then I realised why my basin tap mixer at the toilet never leak after 13 years and I went back to the shop this time and I told them and they suggested me to get those mixer tap like my toilet basin. Just hope it will last