Mixer tap. in The AnswerBank: How it Works

Mixer tap.

Does anyone know how a mixer tap works?
It works on shower and when water is turned off should return to tap, but often remains on shower. To replace this unit would mean removing tiles on bath/shower so would prefer not to have to do this, is there another way to solve this problem.

22:07 Fri 27th Jul 2012

HowardKennitby

Do you mean something like this?

http://www.screwfix.c...rs-4.1/&company=ae235

tonywiltshire

Question Author

Thanks Howard, it is similar to the screwfix tap and I imagine when the shower is stopped it should always return to the default position which is water from the tap, I think it must be the return to default which occasionally goes wrong.

HowardKennitby

I haven't had much to do with this sort of tap but the ones I have seen all had a manual diversion system. Perhaps The Builder will catch on to this thread.

tonywiltshire

Question Author

Thanks again Howard, I do not know how these things work but I am sure there are many people who do.

Old_Geezer

As it gets old it tends to stick in the up position. It's only gravity, as far as I can tell. that pulls it down when the water is off, when new. If anything like mine it has a knob one may pull up or push down. I think you solve the problem by pushing the knob down by hand once finished showering.

tonywiltshire

Question Author

Thanks OG my tap has a plunger which one pushes down for shower and when water turned off shower should return to tap, but often does not, age may be the problem as you say it often is.

Old_Geezer

Mine works the other way about. Maybe yours has a spring ? If you were able to open it up then possibly a clean/grease might solve the problem, but given the circumstances I'm unsure there is a lot you can do. Could always try squirting oil into where the lever enters at the top I suppose.