Easiest Way To Remove Your Tapware Without Damage

There are many reasons why you might decide to remove and replace your tapware. Whatever your reason is, you shouldn’t hold off the job because you are nervous you might damage something, or it will be too hard. 

I have a secret for you, changing your tapware and tap sets ain’t that hard. Well, that is if you know what you’re doing. 

For sure, with improper preparation and planning, it could be as hard as climbing Mount Olympus on one leg. But don’t you worry, this guide on how to change taps in the bathroom that I have prepared for you will get you able bodied enough to sprint vertically up the mighty Mount Olympus, and even further beyond! Continue reading below: 

Why Replace Your Taps? 

The bottom line is there are probably only ever two reasons you would need to change your bathroom taps; you either want to update your bathroom aesthetic, or they are faulty. 

Updating Your Bathroom Aesthetic: When renovating your bathroom, updating your tapware is a powerful way to really make your bathroom sparkle. The taps will be used several times a day, and are used in your direct line of sight when washing your hands. Having nice taps will complement your bathroom. 

The Taps are Faulty: No doubt if your tap is clear as day not working, you’re gonna need a new one. But sometimes it isn’t as simple as that. Sometimes, the only diagnostic you have is a slight, but constant, drip from the spout. Maybe this tap is in a faraway bathroom and the drip doesn’t bother you. 

WRONG! The drip coming from the tap will absolutely bother you because that sneaky little drip is draining your wallet by wasting water. As such, you should be doing constant and regular checks on your tapware, even checking under sinks, to make sure nothing is leaking!

Signs Your Tap is; Broken, Wasting Water, or Leaking 

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No!… It’s that %#!@!ng drip again! This isn’t A Clockwork Orange, you aren’t being forced to ordeal this aggressively annoying stimulus. So let’s do something about it, no? 

A dripping tap and the harrowing noise it makes are tell-tale signs that the tap is faulty, it is leaking, you are wasting water, and you should replace it. 

You should also check under your sink for moisture, especially if it is a tap you don’t use very often. If it is always wet, you should get to the bottom of it because something is probably leaking, and it’s probably your tap. 

There are other problems to troubleshoot a broken or faulty tap that is ready for replacement. These problems include: 

• Damaged components, like the handle or knobs won’t work or are slow to work.
• The tap isn’t providing a nice flow of water, the tap may be clogged. 
• The tap is making strange noises and high pitch screeching (parts can be replaced but it is usually easier to replace the entire thing).
•  If there is visible rust or the water is coming out discoloured, you should replace the tap immediately.
• Lucky last, the biggest way to tell if you are leaking water is if your water meter is reading a higher number than expected.

How To Read Your Water Meter 

It might be obvious that checking your water meter is the best way to find out if you are leaking/wasting water, but it isn’t obvious how you check it. Here is a bit of a guide and idea how you can check yours: 

1. Find your water meter. It’s going to be hard to read if you don’t know where it is. 
2. Almost all water meters are different, but you will more than likely have two sets of numbers. A black set, and a red set.
3. The black numbers (usually four numbers) represent kilolitres. 
4. The red numbers (usually three numbers) represent individual litres. Sometimes there are four numbers, the fourth number represents a tenth of a litre. 
5. Jot down these numbers and intermittently check the meter without using your water.  

Why is Saving Water Important?  

If you live in Australia, the reason why it is important to save water should be pretty obvious. Just in case it isn’t, let me spell it out; “land hot so me use big water but big sky not give me much water, ANGRY.” 

Aside from Antartica, Australia is the driest continent on earth. Australia is also a continent filled with fairly affluent people, that all like their pools, lawns and long showers. It’s a simple equation of output and input. In terms of our water use, the output margin isn’t much smaller than the input of water we get.

What is the solution to this? The solution is Australians are among the highest paying water users in the world, paying on average $272 per quarter. Additionally, some predict water bills to be doubled by 2040! Trust me when I say it’s a very good idea to try and save water.  

Kitchen vs Bathroom vs Laundry Taps 

What’s the difference between changing taps in all these rooms, and is one more important than the other? Not much at all! They’re all taps afterall. For this article we are simply using the example of how to replace basin taps in the bathroom because people usually have more bathroom taps than they do kitchen or laundry taps.

How to Replace Your Bathroom Taps

Alright, it’s time to get into how to replace bathroom basin taps. Dare I say, it’s time to get stuck into the juicy bits?! Here’s what you need: 

Tools and Materials 

• Wrench or shifter 
• Screwdriver set 
• Multigrips 
• Bucket 
• Towel 
• Hammer 
• Sharp knife or scraper 

Process

1. First turn the water mains off. You don’t want a catastrophe where you start disconnecting taps and accidentally localise a flood in your bathroom by exposing live water pipes.
2.  Next, run the taps to clear any water out of them, this will minimise mess. At the same time, place your bucket and towel under the sink ready to catch any water that might drip into your vanity.
3. Then, start to disconnect the taps by taking the caps off and unscrewing the spindle. Or if it’s a single lever tap, unscrew it from underneath the sink.  
4. Disconnect the pipes from below and remove the taps and spouts.
5. If you still aren’t sure, you should consult a professional. 

Using a Professional Plumber

Plumbing work, or building work in general in Australia, needs to be carried out by a registered builder if its value is worth more than $20k. There are also plumber specific regulations in Australia. Changing taps certainly won’t cost anywhere near $20k, and you’re legally allowed to do it, but it may be worth hiring a plumber if you aren’t feeling confident about doing the process yourself.

Things to Think About When Buying Your New Taps

When buying new taps to replace the old ones, there are a few things you should think about. They include: 

• How many holes does your basin have? If it only has one, you will need a single lever, if it has three, you will need a traditional tap set.
• What is your aesthetic? There’s a heap of different materials and styles on the market, pick one that suits your aesthetic. Check out this guide if you need a hand choosing your style. 
• Do you need ease-of-use? Single lever taps are easier to use for kids and the elderly.

Where to Get Your New Bathroom Taps 

So, are bathroom taps easy to replace? Is it hard to change a tap? Personally, I think not only is it pretty easy, it can be a pretty fun little DIY project! The only question now is, where do you get the new taps from? 

When it comes to plumbing needs, The Plumbing Store ranks among the top companies for the best bathroom taps in Australia. The Plumbing Store has local customer service in Perth, so we will understand your needs. Our range is large and we are competitively priced. For your tap needs, browse our website now, or contact us today!