The bathroom sink hot and cold taps could do with having new washers fitted. After staring at them for a few days I finally figured out how to get the little darlings apart.
First you have to undo the very top portion as if it were a nut, to get the little plastic ‘H’ (or ‘C’) filling out. Then there’s a Phillips screw recessed inside that needs to be undone. It took two days to get that far because things just weren’t cooperating.
I thought achieving these milestones would allow me to get the tap (paddles) lifted up off the body of the tap. Think again, young fool. There’s no amount of cussing, cajoling, WD40, tapping with a rubber mallet, gently persuading with a hammer that will get the bloody thing to ease upwards. So there’s something else that needs to happen. But if that’s the case, why did I have to go through all that previous rigmarole to get just a plastic cap off and a Phillips screw out?
I don’t know.
But one thing I have learnt over the years, is that when it comes to doing DIY plumbing jobs in the house, never, ever do them in the evening. Or late on a Sunday afternoon, for that matter.
Because when it goes wrong – and it invariably does – you might need access to a decent plumbing store… sharpish.
Kind regards
The Voice Of Experience
My cut-off point for starting plumbing jobs is 10am because I too have learned the hard way that things may sometimes not be as smooth as they should be.