Tap leaking again with new cartridge

[charlie275]

Hi,

I replaced both cartridges to fix a dripping kitchen mixer tap and it was all good, for 6 months, but then it started leaking quite badly.

I then disassembled and checked the tap, put a thin smear of grease around the bottom gasket of the cartridge and tightened it back into the tap as much as I dare. I think the first time I probably did not tighten it quite enough to make a proper seal.

That put a stop to the the leaking and all was good, for another 3 months. Now it's dripping again, like every few seconds.

It does sometimes successfully turn off.

Only the cold is leaking.

It's a hard water area.

It's been suggested (by the supplier) to dismantle the cartridge and sandwich grease between the two ceramic discs.

The tap unit is an Abode Ludlow Bridge in Brass.

Any advice gratefully received. Thanks!

 

[Johntheo5]

Its the compression of the bottom (blue) washer on the ceramic discs that stops them leaking, (between the discs), if the cartridge isn't exactly the correct length then the cartridge may be fully tightened down and a drip soon occurs, you might feel a slightly higher resistance when opening/closing the tap with a new cartridge which is good.

 

[charlie275]

Thanks, that makes sense.

There is currently little to no resistance when opening/closing the tap.

I wonder if the O-ring is perhaps a little too big (thick), or at least was when new.

I could try it without the black O-ring.

Any thoughts on adding grease between the ceramic discs?

Unfortunately I no longer have the original cartridges to compare but I'm pretty sure (like 100%) that I would have checked the new and old side by side. The cartridges were bought from The Tap Magician based upon their suggestion for that tap model.

Edit: I should mention also the hot tap works fine (albeit not mains pressure) and the valves were bought as a pair and replaced together.

 

[Johntheo5]

I think the O ring just distorts until metal to metal contact between the cartridge top and the tap, just tighten it down gently without the O ring, if this increases the resistance then maybe some PTFE tape might prevent leakage from the cartridge top. The bottom washer should be a little proud of the cartridge base before tightening down but you can't do much about this.

 

[Elkato531]

You can get different thicknesses of the bottom blue seal.
Contact Tap Magician and explain the problem and they should be able to send you thicker seals. They are just round the corner from me and always really helpful.

 

[Alec_t]

You can get different thicknesses of the bottom blue seal.

If you can't source the right seal and are desperate, it's also possible to DIY your own, by cutting it from neoprene rubber sheet (available online in small sheets in various thicknesses). Been there, done that.

 

[Johntheo5]

Here's one, doesn't look that simple, it has a steel ring inside?.

I presume the red only shows it opens clockwise (for hot) and the blue only shows the one for the cold, opens anticlockwise?.

 

[charlie275]

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I'll get to try this next week.

I have a roll of neoprene sheet, only 1mm though maybe enough to prove a point.

Still a bit unsure about putting grease between the ceramic parts.

I presume the red only shows it opens clockwise (for hot) and the blue only shows the one for the cold, opens anticlockwise?.

They are from identical components with one of the parts rotated according to the desired direction of operation, and the red vs blue is cosmetic to indicate how the valve has been assembled. At least that's what I garnered from the video: