Varieties of tap washers

[Geoff Hewitt]

I've just replaced the four washers in our bathroom, and was wondering what experiences folks have had with the various fancy/fangled tap washers out there.

The ones I removed were the Flexispray ones (I think) - the ones with the rubber ball caged in the spring. They lasted nearly a year, but recently had become very hard to turn off, and caused a horrid shuddering part way through turning on or off.

The balls had distorted incredibly! They looked more like crude models of Saturn, than the spheres they were when installed.

So, I won't bother to use these again!!

I've installed Doust washers at my parents, who so far are very pleased at how easy they are to turn off. The hot water in their shower has just started to hammer about 30 seconds after turning on (washer changing size in the hot water???), but other wise the Doust ones seem OK.

I installed Hydroseal washers today, and have made a note in my diary, so that I can do a comparison on how they last.

I'd be very interested in other's experiences. Is there a "best" washer to install??

Maybe this could even lead to a poll ??

Cheers,
Andrew.

[soundman]

progress report on the hydroseal washers..... apart from 1 i havent touched any of the taps I fitted them to arround the time of the original thread.

the 1 I have a problem with.
the tap seat has a casting flaw that presents a crack in part of the seating surface..... it just happens to be the part that the hydroseal seals on.
I can put a hydroseal in and it will work for a month or two & then start to leak.
I fitted a standard poly tap washer & it sealed fine but it hammered something cronic...... this was a plastic bodied unit.
I replaced it with a brass bodied unit and its been going fine for a bit over a year.


I have to reinforce that if you are having problems with any ( more or less conventinoal) washer not lasting... look to the tap seat.

AND I repeat that the standard handyman tap seating tool with the toothy type cutter are worse than useless.... they are butchery devices.

get a hydroseal tap seater...... you will bless that day you did.

Oh make sure you clean & lubricate the threads inside the tap head and replace any o rings and stuff if needed.

Do a proper job on a tap and you should be able to walk away from it for at least 5 years.

cheers

[Barry_White]

My house is over 28 years old and I have never replaced a washer in any of the taps.

I have those red fibre washers in the taps.

I think the cause of washers having to be replaced is heavy handed people who turn taps off too hard and that begins to cut the washers up on the seats and after cutting the washers up you end up with the brass washer holder cutting into the seat and from then it is just a down hill slide hence having to reseat the tap.

[wonderplumb]

Doust washers are ok, provided that the seats etc are polished etc, they work best with the whole doust "kit" but its a hassle. The best washers in my opinion at the moment are the 'Performa' soft turn washers from Reece. Orange washer on a copper body work a treat. Ive machined myself a reseater specifically designed to put a rounded edge on tap seats to properly suit the black 'dome' washers. Installed correctly these are one of the best getting around. My 2c worth.

[dennford]

Hydra seal - everytime - NO! only once because unless there is some other problem, you wont need to do them again.

Macca, I haven't seen them with the spring but I shall look for them.

Denn

[TrevorOwen]

I've been a Hydroseal convert for over 20 years and have only replaces a couple of them in that time. Bathroom has recently been renovated and now fitted exclusively with mixer taps with ceramic seals.

Regards
Trevor

[soundman]

the beauty of the hydroseal washers is that if you trun them off too hard the brass body just bottoms out.... its pretty damn well imposible to mangle the actual seal...... unless the seat isn't flat & smooth.

cheers

[Geoff Hewitt]

I've just replaced the four washers in our bathroom, and was wondering what experiences folks have had with the various fancy/fangled tap washers out there.

The ones I removed were the Flexispray ones (I think) - the ones with the rubber ball caged in the spring. They lasted nearly a year, but recently had become very hard to turn off, and caused a horrid shuddering part way through turning on or off.

The balls had distorted incredibly! They looked more like crude models of Saturn, than the spheres they were when installed.

So, I won't bother to use these again!!

I've installed Doust washers at my parents, who so far are very pleased at how easy they are to turn off. The hot water in their shower has just started to hammer about 30 seconds after turning on (washer changing size in the hot water???), but other wise the Doust ones seem OK.

I installed Hydroseal washers today, and have made a note in my diary, so that I can do a comparison on how they last.

I'd be very interested in other's experiences. Is there a "best" washer to install??

Maybe this could even lead to a poll ??

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Geoff Hewitt]

Yes there is a "best" tap washer to install. You can view them on www.agdesigninnovations.com.au
I installed mine nine years ago and they're still as good as new. They are called Spinner Tap Valves.

Regards,
Geoff Hewitt.