Screwfix 'review' rejected, taps not what they seem.

[frank999]

I recently discovered my Screwfix tap is not what I thought it would be, so I wrote a review, which was then rejected ... what is in that review that makes it unprintable ??

Dear,

Our staff has read your review and values your contribution even though it did not meet all our website guidelines. Thanks for sharing, and we hope to publish next time!

Thanks again,
Screwfix

Swirl Kitchen Tap (82576) Rust and Corrosion

Purchased one of these in September 2020. BEWARE, you are not buying a normal tap, a proper tap is a BRASS chromed tap, brass does not corrode, it is expensive, hence you pay 3x times the price for a genuine British made tap. These are not Brass ! Almost exactly 4 years later (September 2024) we noticed small jets if water coming from the centre top of the long spout, these increased over the next week - with fine water jets throwing water all over the sink and work top. Upon removal, inside the spout was observed 'rust' and corrosion can be seen.. I am sure WRAS have something to say about a tap of this low quality being connected to a UK potable water supply, drinking water contamination has occured, I note others complaining about this same problem. You get what you pay for ...all that glitters (in chrome) is not brass !

 

[blup]

In your case its possible that the law says that brass chromed fittings can legally be called brass, even though not solid. In the same way that sausages used to be called meat when they were mostly wheat/rusk filled. If so SF can remove what would be deemed an inaccurate review even though it is helpful.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

£32 for a kitchen tap - you get what you pay for ....

Anyway, try resubmitting it without the WRAS reference, that's probably it.

 

[Madrab]

Was the metal tested to confirm it was ferrous, just because it pinholed doesn't make it so. Magnet test would have identified it as such. I have seen a rust like coating similar to that before in brass fittings, taps etc. After testing it was found the fitting was chromed brass and it wasn't the fitting that was rusting rather another component in the system and the rust fragments collected in the rough internal brass surfaces.

I'm not suggesting that it isn't steel but it seems to be a real stupid mistake for a shed like SF to make saying its chromed brass when it wasn't. I would have cut the tap open to confirm and if it was steel then it would have been taken in and dropped onto SF's service desk.

 

[Stivino]

If it says brass, I would have expected it to be brass.
It sounds like it's not fit for purpose.

 

[frank999]

Thanks for your comments, I need to hack open the old tap, see what it is, one should see if its brass or not, also do the magnet test, I will post up some pics of the hacked tap.

Could the arm be made of something different to the body, it feels like it is quite a thin 'light' metal component, can Brass be cast to such a thin thickness.

One would assume that a tap is a tap is a tap, made of Brass, and made to last, not corrode in just 4 years, as others have found, not just me.

Are their any instances where brass can corrode ?? yes i have seen 'rust' inside copper fittings that were from other something other than the fitting.

Heres the description, it does describe it as Brass:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-tirso-single-lever-mono-mixer-kitchen-tap-chrome/82576

 

[MickyP10]

Does it matter and have you the time? I mean, you'll need an 'any old tap' to use while warring with the Screwfix legal bods, which can take light years.
Good luck though!

 

[frank999]

I'm hoping to find out a little about whats happened here, so I can avoid making the same mistake next time, caveat emptor, buyer beware !

I would hope someone like Screwfix to supply a trust worthy product ... but I guess they are simply pedling others wares ...

 

[sjmac]

**** tap is 80 plus vat and any form of reasonable double that !

A tap for the price of <10 Costa Coffee?

 

[frank999]

**** tap is 80 plus vat and any form of reasonable double that !

A tap for the price of <10 Costa Coffee?

Fair comment, still feel though they should not dress it up as something its not, tap is in my workshop still waiting for Angle Grinder treatment, will report back the contents of said tap as and when ...

 

[ChrisJP]

Was the metal tested to confirm it was ferrous, just because it pinholed doesn't make it so. Magnet test would have identified it as such. I have seen a rust like coating similar to that before in brass fittings, taps etc.

Yes you may get a coating of what looks like corrosion on brass or chromed brass.
However, there is a phenomenum called "de-zincification" which certain water supplies have caused on brass fittings containing more than about 15% zinc, where the zinc preferentially leaches out of the brass, leaving the copper behind, which becomes porous.
This is well known and is prevented by keeping the zinc content of the brass below 15%. Perhaps this particulalar tap unit had more than 15% zinc in its brass.

 

[oldbuffer]

1. A lot of (mostly, but not exclusively) cheap taps have certain parts, e.g. handles, made of "pot metal". Pot metals is a bit of a generic term for generally zinc based alloys which can be pressure die cast to an excellent finish which requires much less polishing before chroming.
2. I have found these susceptible to corrosion. I have a water softener which is nearly 40 years old. I suspect this leaves more salt in the water than a more modern one, and that it is this salt which attacks pot metal parts. My theory - I have no proof.

 

[fixitflav]

Does it matter and have you the time? I mean, you'll need an 'any old tap' to use while warring with the Screwfix legal bods, which can take light years.
Good luck though!

Light year is a measure of distance, not time