Damn, if only the Oyster Lights were smart like the downlights they offered a month ago.
They have been rock solid and I want some smart oyster lights.
Kitchen Taps any good, need one.
Yeah, I’d be interested to hear anyone’s experience with the taps also
Amazing! Appreciate the feedback.
Don't get the arched kitchen mixer, my parents one broke and leaked. Only within a year and we cannot find the receipt. The solid one or the one with the horizontal bar is going good
@Butterfly Gocha: I am after the solid one the image in this post but I think it is not chrome finish, I prefer chrome finish.
@pinkyfinkle 1 year so far and going strong, no leaks, but a bit of discolouration from wear and tear near the taphead holder
Kitchen tap has been great last few years, no discolouration from mine
need a tap - i'd grab one of these off ebay for $52 delivered
or if you want a tap that includes a water filter option then grab one of these for $64 delivered - i ordered one of them last week. I had the same in my old house and it good (it's a tap - it does what it is supposed, it's not something you describe as "awesome" - it functions as it should)
it's not something you describe as "awesome" - it functions as it should)
Mostly worry is leaking.
I am after the Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap not the soft touch one.
Grabbed one 5ish years ago, still going strong.
I bought the black one a year or two ago (looks to still be the same model in this ad).
The head is removable. It slots back into place, and holds in place as it is a tight fit. After about 6 months it would no longer hold in place by itself after being put back in place, as the rubber had worn down a bit so was no longer a tight fit. I was able to wrap some thin black electrical tape around the head (not noticeable to the eye), to "fatten it up" and make it a tight fit again. Been fine since.
Hopefully that description makes sense.
Other than that, it's excellent value and i'd buy again.
Same here, I use duct tape.
The new ALDI ones have magnets and shouldn't have the same issue.
Same experience with the black soft touch tap after about six months. It's a good tap but I would not recommend it due to this issue.
Hmm have had our soft touch tap (arched metal holder, not horizontal) for almost a year and don't have this problem, but maybe we simply don't remove it from the holder often enough.
Am cautious pulling and pushing it into the holder, often using 1 hand on the tap and 1 on the holder, as I don't think its designed well for the force, and has started to loosen a tad over time.
The little flimsy plastic aerator removal tool broke, they sent another, and it broke again, crap design.
Otherwise great tap, very happy with it.
You might just be super lucky. This one was also hardly ever removed before it started failing!
Installed one 3-4 years ago. Can't recall. No issues thus far. Looks good for the money.
Presumably zinc plated rather than stainless steel.
Any reviews on Enduro shield?
Yeah it’s good stuff. Works really well if you follow the instructions
Did it once and wasn't impressed. Not worth it.
I think they’re good if applied as instructed. I did that for my shower screens and the car windshield (a different product) and was impressed.
It's really important to apply it according to the instructions. I found it useful, but not miraculous. After about 18 months the effect on the shower screen has diminished despite regular gentle cleaning. I will probably do a new coat.
I also used the glass product on tiles (cos I didn't want to buy two different bottles). In theory the different products are designed to bond better to different surfaces, but it was ok for me using the glass one on my shower tiles.
Yes, it's great. But if your shower screens already have quite a bit of soap/calcium buildup then it's best to clean that off first. I used Bar Keeper's Friend.
Enduroshield's kit also comes with a basic cleaning kit for this but it won't be enough to clean up the pr-existing buildup.
If your glass is not super spotless clean then the enduroshield coating won't adhere and do the job as well as should be.
Squeegee inbetween showers to keep it super squeaky clean (which will be much easier to do once the glass has been treatd. Literally a 2 second job).
Shower heads have different flow rates/WELS rating, make sure to check the specs.
How is the 2m LED Strip Light with Remote?
I don't recall them selling this model before. I will be checking it out in store.
i think ripper price and hard to beat assuming you can get usb close enough to power it and dont mind it being 'dotty' - would drive me crazy if it was up next to a glossy surface like a kitchen splash back
For $1 more there is this Kmart one I’ve been looking to get for a while now
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/3m-led-strip-light-43242863…
No wifi though
Ah yes I missed that feature, good pickup
Will it be easy DIY changing the kitchen tap and show head? Tempting to give them a try.
If the kitchen tap is like the one we have (also from Aldi) it's tightened by hand - no tools required. We've had it a few years now - no leaks. 3 year warranty is a bit meagre though (ours was 5). Just seen the soft touch kitchen mixers (ours is the one in the middle of the photos). They have a better WELS rating - 5 vs 4 - and a better warranty - 5 vs 3.
Changing shower head is as easy as changing your garden head fittings.
Mixer tap is harder and is dependent on your DIY skills.
I’ve probably changed/installed around 20 in my lifetime.
Quickest has been around 10min to uninstall and reinstall.
Longest has been half a day. Running to Bunnings to get extension hoses and sockets for non standard nut sizes.
My tip is to make sure you don’t kink the hoses when tightening them up.
Also install mini cock stops if you already don’t have them.
Kitchen tap - yeah, it's easy. i've done it twice (in 2 houses).
turn off water at mains
run the tap to get rid of extra water in pipes.
clear area below tap.
have a bucket or towel ready.
disconnect flex pipes at the pipe end (not the tap end - because you want to replace the flex pipes - the new tap comes with them)
undo/remove the bolt holding the existing tap on.
remove tap from housing/sink/hole.
insert new tap in to hole and put on the bolt and tighten until secure.
attach new flexipipes to new tap.
teflon tap on the water pipes (at least 10 turns of teflon tape)
attach flexpipes to water pipes and tighten.
turn on tap slightly and go an turn water on at the mains (for beginners it's better to have 2 people at this stage - one to turn on the mains water and one to watch for leaks under the sink - use mobile phones) - if all good then have a beer(or celebratory beverage of choice) you champion (after you clean up).
if there is leak (hence having 2 people when turning on mains water ) add more teflon tap (if pipe to pipe connection is leaking) or if leaking where flex pipe connects to the tap then make sure the O rings are still on the tap end of the flex pipe.
Great instructions mate, good on you for taking time to hammer them out.
Another I got from a plumbing tips video previously;
Apply the tape clockwise as this stops the tape bunching up when tightening if you wrap it anti-clockwise.
To clarify, "turn off water at mains", likely refers to the little taps at the end of the flexi hose (so that water doesn't come through once you disconnect them!).
Versus turning off mains water to the whole house, usually done out towards the street/border, which is unnecessary.
older houses may not have individual little taps, so mains is the only option. but yeah little taps off if you have them.
current house is old. so it's mains for me.
@altomic: If you’re going through the hassles of changing mixer taps, you may as well add some mini cock stops
https://www.bunnings.com.au/brasshards-15mm-chrome-loose-nut…
Only if the connections already have mini cock stops.
Wouldn't teflon tape only be required if the flexi hoses didn't have washers already?
Adding Teflon isn’t required, I’ve never seen Flexi hoses without rubber washers.
@JimB: Agreed. I've only used teflon tape where there is no black washer.
For example - fitting off shower head, fitting the stop cock taps initially under the sink.
correct…don't use teflon tape on threads that you will connect a flexi hose too. Also don't overtighten, as this can wear out the rubber washers quicker. Just hand tighten, and then an extra 1/4 to 1/2 turn with a spanner
quick review
enduroshield glass - i feel rainx is a more cost effective solution
enduroshield grout and tile - i applied it in one bathroom. The other bathroom that doesn't have it, has experienced grout mould. so i guess it works!
Adding a word of Caution to what everyone says about "DIY" the tap. If you do not know what you are doing it can be a disaster As By regulation only a plumber should do this. I am not a plumber and this advise is only for Someone who do not know the regulation and mistook it as DIY job.
And yes the quality of tap Is good as using it from Last 4 years in my kitchen.
For people in WA (not sure about other states), by regulation, you can do this.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-04/law-changes-allow-sma…
*advice
Anyone with basic skills can swap a tap over. If it leaks you know you did something wrong, not as bad as DIY electrical.
Not legal in Australia to DIY this.
so as changing lights. We assume everyone is electrician or is going to use electrician.
Can you use Enduroshield on the outside of new double glazed windows?
I remember when Bunnings sold this kitchen sink mixer for like $50. I bought 2 of them. 1 still going strong but the other one, the button to change from spray to stream doesn't work great anymore (you have to hold it to for the stream, which is okay since I prefer the spray anyway).
The oysters look good with the flat profile and not the old fashioned dome profile. It would be good if they said what is the watts, lumens and colour temp
VIC Government has a $70 discount on shower head installations as part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU). Accredited providers are giving providing new shower heads installed for free pretty much.
https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/households/victorian-energy-up…
Does anyone know where can i find oyster lights that actually use replaceble bulbs? They seem to be OOS everywhere i see. I refuse to buy LED integrated ones and needing an electrician every time they break down, that's certainly not the ozbargain way.
I had a tap split down the neck and send water flying everywhere when I wasn't home for days to fix it. Sick of poorly made products that don't last and make a mess, I ended up spending more for peace of mind and bought a locally made (Aus) Sussex tap - best thing I've done in the kitchen. They're expensive if you get the fancy colours and finishes, but the basic chrome finish is great and best $550 I've spent. I know not everyone would agree - but I just want stuff that will last and work, particularly with plumbing.
I guess it would help others if you mentioned where you bought the dodgy tap so we can avoid it?
Anyone bought Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap today?
Finally found one Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap from a store, those ALDI in big shopping malls all sold out.
Still a few kitchen taps (both types) at Fairfield Gardens (Qld). Our 12 year old Abbey is leaking, the spout won't fully retract (even with petroleum grease), and I'm not sure of the ceramic disk size - so for $80 might as well get a new tap!
Interesting offering