Replacing Kitchen Sink Taps

Can anyone offer advice on how to go about replacing the taps in my year 2000 Symbol. H&C both drip annoyingly unless fully tightened. The knobs are big and close to the trim making it difficult to grip them firmly. It's impossible for my wife so each time she uses the sink I end up doing it.

Replacing the tap washers would be favourite but the hot valve is mangled from where someone tried to remove it before. The cold one I could get a firm grip on with a 17mm spanner and, with an upwards tap with a lump hammer, I managed to loosen it. The washers look unusual - would I have to contact Autosleepers for replacements do you think?

Any ideas on how I can loosen the mangled one? I've tried with a pair of mole grips but they slide off.

Replacing the taps themselves looks nigh on impossible from the inside without removing oven/fridge/sink cabinet. I haven't had the fridge vent off yet but it does look as though that is a possibility.

Remove sink and fit a new swivel tap assembly would be the best plan perhaps?
frederic

I just had my hot tap fixed a couple weeks ago.  Your tap looks just like mine.  My plumber couldn't get it unscrewed, so he had to use a blow torch to heat it up a bit.  It finally unscrewed.  Once he unscrewed it, a button came out (still with some thread on it).  Apparently, a previous owner fixed the dripping with a button.

The only other issue that I had was that the new part (the bit that the tap heads go on) has 20 teeth and the old tap heads have 24 teeth.  Bought a new set of tap heads on Amazon for just over £8.  At least now I also have spares for the cold tap.  Both parts came in as hot/cold pair.

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Thanks guys

Just an update for anyone who may be interested. I tried some heat on the gland but still couldn't shift it. I fashioned some heat shielding around the surrounding area but even so didn't leave the blowtorch on for too long because I didn't want to damage the rubber seals in the gland either.

I did remove a fridge vent from the outside of the van and the taps are accessible (see photo). However, I'm not sure how to remove them.

Can anyone advise?

There's a nut underneath which when you unscrew it the tap can be removed from above, if you go for a new tap I would suggest a ceramic disc type, no washers and a light action to turn on and off, most are a 1/4 turn from off to on.
Graham

Those tails look to be copper, newer ones come to be fitted with removable flexible tails with a choice of various fittings to the vans pipework so be aware
frederic

Thank you both. I'll keep fitting a new tap in reserve for now as, funny thing, the heat from the blowtorch seems to have given the rubber seals in both hot and cold taps a new lease of life as they both turn off easily now without dripping!

P.S. I finally managed to buy an empty 3.9kg Calor propane bottle for a sensible price today and it fits in snugly behind my 6kg cylinder so I can dispense with carrying my camping gas for when the 6kg runs out. A great relief, and thanks to Paul M for the helpful suggestion.