STEP 5.
Once the taps are off, if there were no isolation valves present, fit the new ones onto the tail pipes where you have cut off and cleaned them. First slide the nut over the pipe, followed by the copper or brass olive and then finally the fitting itself, ensuring that the engraved arrow is pointing up. Using your water pump pliers, hold the valve in place with the slotted screw facing towards you, and tighten the nut onto the fitting using you adjustable spanner, this will compress the brass or copper olive between the nut and fitting, ensuring a water tight seal. At this point, you may turn the stop cock and gate valves back on, this will enable you to check that the isolation valves are water tight, and also to take a break and put the kettle on.
STEP 6.
Next, unpack the new taps and remove the back nuts from the tails. There should be rubber washers already on the underside of the taps. Slide the threaded tail of one tap through one of the basin holes, ensuring that the rubber washer stays in place, then, whilst holding the tap in place, use your other hand to hand tighten the back nut onto the threaded tail on the underside of the basin. When you can’t tighten it with your hand anymore, use your tap spanner to tighten it fully, ensuring that the tap is facing the right way but DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. As soon as the nut goes tight, stop turning. Repeat this process for the other tap.
STEP 7.
Now unpack the pair of flexible connectors. Ensure that the black rubber washers are inside the chrome connection heads and simply hand tighten them onto the tap tails, and then slightly them using your tap spanner.
STEP 8.
The next step is to complete the connection from the isolation valves to the push fit end of the flexible tap connectors. Simply measure the distance between the top of the isolators and the bottom of the flexible connectors, and, using your pipe slice, cut two lengths of new copper pipe, adding on about three inches. Slide the new copper tails into the isolation valves and tighten them with your spanner and water pump pliers as before. Finally, push the push fit connectors over the top of the new copper tails until they stop.
STEP 9.
At this point, turn off the new taps and any other taps in the your home that you have opened up and use your slotted screwdriver to move open up the isolation valves to the vertical (open) position. Your new taps should now be functioning, if you notice any minor leaks, simply turn off the isolators, dry the joints with some tissue, and use your tools to ensure that all nuts are tight.
Side notes: As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, these instructions are tailored for the novice and therefore not all guides will be the same. For example, fitting isolation valves and flexible connectors are not a NECESSITY, but they make the process far easier for beginners. Also, in instances where you have had to isolate the hot water from a gate valve, the hot water will not have completely shut off, therefore you should keep the other taps in your home running throughout the entire process so as to keep the pressure as low as possible. It would also be beneficial to fit the isolation valve to the hot pipe as soon as you have cut it off.
Written By James Hopkins