Need Advice on Upgrade/Replace Shower Knobs to Levers

gustus on 10/01/2020 - 01:22
Last edited 10/01/2020 - 21:44 by 1 other user

Bought a 10-year-old unit a year ago, and the shower & faucet are showing signs of maintenance (leaking, has to turn the handle very hard to shut off water completely). Our shower and sink have the hot & cold knob handle type (turn clockwise/anti-clockwise type). I'm thinking whether it's possible or worth it to replace them into the lever type (flip up/down type).

Would the lever handle require less maintenance?

Would it be better to just fix the leak rather than replace/upgrade them?

I'm a completely noob to everything so please give me some advice. And I definitely will call a plumber to do it. What would be the typical cost for this? I have 2 bathrooms with the exact same set up.

See link for photo of my shower and sink handles
http://imgur.com/a/PYp6mZW

Thank you everyone

Home & Garden

Comments

  • twadds on 10/01/2020 - 02:10
    +3

    The leaking taps probably just need new valves, something like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/kinetic-12mm-brass-premium-tap-v…

    They're pretty easy to replace yourself, otherwise any plumber could do it for you in half an hour or so.

    There's a good chance that the valves are the original ones, if you replace them you'll probably get another 10 years out of the new ones.

    When you say level, do you mean a mixer with a single handle? If so, that would be significantly more expensive, you'd need to remove your current taps, pull of the tiles in front, change the pipework behind, install the tap and retile.

    If I was you, I'd just fix the current taps.

  • MS Paint on 10/01/2020 - 02:35
    +2

    Turn off mains water to your unit.

    For your sink:

    Screw anticlockwise the screw labeled hot until it comes off.
    Check Ozbargain for latest deals.
    Lift off handle.
    Check ozbargain for latest deals.
    Screw chrome bell shaped cover in an anticlockwise direction by getting a good grip around it from the top until it lifts off.
    Check ozbargain for latest deals.
    With an adjustable shifter remove brass stem in an anticlockwise direction until it lifts off.
    At the base of brass stem you will see where the washers are. A plug shaped one and a flat red round one.
    Check ozbargain forums incase someone draws an ms paint diagram to assist you.
    Take removed washers to bunnings. Match them up. Purchase. Check ozbargain for latest deals. Return home. Check ozbargain for latest deals. Add new washers and reverse above process.
    Repeat for every tap in unit for years of maintenance free leaks.

    • ESEMCE on 10/01/2020 - 08:18
      +4

      While you're in there, change the O ring in the spindle too.

  • Euphemistic on 10/01/2020 - 07:38

    Replacing the washers is easy and cheap. Get onto YouTube.

    Replacing with ceramic cartridge type will be a bit harder and more expensive. Then you need to factor in that cartridge types are not standard and finding a replacement in the future may mean a new tap again, especially if you get cheap ones.

    • bargainy on 10/01/2020 - 08:17
      +1

      I’ve had a mixer tap in our kitchen that uses a ceramic cartridge which has been maintenance free for 24 years. No idea what we’ll end up doing if it starts leaking.

  • pegaxs on 10/01/2020 - 08:41
    +5

    Don’t bother with washers or mixers, just replace the taps with 1/4 or 1/2 turn ceramic units. They don’t leak and they can’t be turned off too hard.

    My wife is a habitual over tightening of taps nightmare. I was forever changing tap washers. Swapped all the taps over to 1/2 turn and never had a leak since.

    And don’t forget, if you are just going to replace the spindles or the washers, make sure the seat inside the tap is not damaged. If taps are old or have been leaking for a long time, you may need to clean the seat face before you install any new seals.

    • Densor on 10/01/2020 - 09:38
      +1

      Excellent advice. Very quick and easy. If you are changing a washer, it is just as easy to fit the new ceramic tap. No need to replace tiles or pipework. Looks really modern and stops all those over tightened taps and washer problems. I had problems with seating the new spindle, but refacing the seat cured it.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/01/2020 - 15:18
      +1

      Agree with pegaxs 100%.
      Our house is just over 20 years old, and the bathroom taps were recently upgraded to 1/4 turn ceramic. Couldn't be happier.
      Had a plumber do the ensuite and main bathroom, 2 basins, 2 showers and one bath, whilst changing some other plumbing fittings in the house. Wasn't overly expensive (did get mates' rates from a plumber friend).
      No more washers to replace! No more re-seating taps that have been left dripping a little too long.
      Bonus: easy to operate with hand injuries or arthritis.

      • pegaxs on 10/01/2020 - 15:20

        Sooooo much easier to operate. And I love the positive stop when turning them off. Impossible to over tighten.

        • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/01/2020 - 15:25

          No more bl**dy washers to replace because "someone" has to turn off the tap as if shutting down the city's water supply !

  • Melb69 on 10/01/2020 - 09:34

    Changing to levers will mean you have to replace the basin as well to a single hole outlet or blank out where the taps were which isn't a good look. If you want to refresh the look jus get a new tap and spout set from Bunnings. You can do it yourself with a bit of work and you'll get a whole new look and the taps wont leak.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/01/2020 - 15:22

      Changing to lever based ceramic taps won't require a new basin or blanking out where the taps where. It it simply changing out the tap body and handle.
      If you have sound seats of the taps and the correct tools, it's basically a DIY job.

  • Ocker on 10/01/2020 - 09:49

    Just have a plumber change the washers. Probable cost is around $150-$200

    • pegaxs on 10/01/2020 - 10:16

      Christ. I need the phone number of your plumber. Last time I got 4 tap washers changed out, it cost me close to $500 about 8 years ago. All of them needed to have the seat refaced. (Have since bought the correct tool and learned how to do it myself.)

      If you were going to get a plumber to do every tap in your house, you could safely add a "0" to the end of those numbers and get closer to what it would actually cost.

      • Melb69 on 10/01/2020 - 10:39

        I'd try doing it yourself first. May take longer, but cheaper. I'm sure YouTube has tutorials.

        • pegaxs on 10/01/2020 - 10:58

          (Have since bought the correct tool and learned how to do it myself.)

      • pyramid on 10/01/2020 - 10:43

        Do you know correct tool to replace ceramic units that you mentioned couple of comments up? My taps are also leaking and will try DIY.

        • pegaxs on 10/01/2020 - 10:58
          +1

          The ceramic units are near identical to normal taps to install. Just screw out the old spindles and screw in the ceramic ones. They are a direct replacement for standard spindles.

          I also linked to the tool above you will need to reface the tap seats. (Get this tool and NOT the cheaper T handle types.)

          Get on YouTube and watch a few videos on how to reface the seat and the rest is just reassembly.

          Side note: Of all the people I have heard complain about their ceramic taps leaking, it's because they replaced them and didn't reface the seats. It wasn't the washers that were failing, it was the washer seating face that had a crack/groove in it that was causing the leak.)

          • Euphemistic on 10/01/2020 - 13:22

            @pegaxs:

            The ceramic units are near identical to normal taps to install. Just screw out the old spindles and screw in the ceramic ones. They are a direct replacement for standard spindles.

            Near identical and supposed to be a direct replacement, but don’t always direct fit. I’ve switched some that were problematic, but it was years ago and I can’t remember what the issue was.

  • gustus on 10/01/2020 - 12:14

    Thanks everyone. From everyone responses, I just need to replace the washers. I have other big problems with my toilets that I didnt mention on here, so I still need to call the plumber anyways. Fixing the problematic taps is just an extra small thing for them to do while they are there. Leaking taps have always been the #1 problem in my old rental places. I'll be watching them how to replace the washers so I can do it myself in the future :)

    • twadds on 10/01/2020 - 12:17

      What's wrong with the toilets? We can probably tell you how to fix that too.

      • Euphemistic on 10/01/2020 - 13:20

        A replacement cistern valve isn’t expensive or difficult to fit.

        • MS Paint on 10/01/2020 - 13:35

          If it's got a continuous slow bowl leak then just a few washers to replace again. Too easy.

      • gustus on 10/01/2020 - 15:36

        The water keeps leaking in the toilet bowl a lot when its not in use, so we have to shut off the toilet water valve :( the second one only leaks a little but has a very weak flush that we sometimes have to flush twice. Honestly, we tried to DIY a different simple toilet problem before but almost made it worse so gotta rely on a plumber this time 😅

        • twadds on 11/01/2020 - 15:35

          Sounds like you need a new seating washer, they're usually fairly easy to replace, though different brands need different washers so check what you need before buying.

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