Are your bath taps old and rusty or persistently leaking? Maybe you want to refresh your bathroom design by upgrading the fixtures? Changing bath taps yourself is simple and easy when you follow our step-by-step guide.
Replacing bath taps yourself is an affordable way to give your bathroom a style overhaul and improve your bathroom’s functionality. Whether you’d prefer a single-spout mixer tap or separate pillar taps, discover our range of bath taps to suit all budgets and bathroom designs.
The Mira Evolve Bath Filler mixer tap allows you to run your bath at the perfect temperature and adds a modern touch to any bathroom. The Mira Comfort is the ideal bath and shower mixer tap, allowing you to divert the water flow between the bath tap and shower head as required. Mira Honesty bath pillar taps have a contemporary design and are easy to use, making them an excellent choice for a family bathroom.
Still unsure which taps are best for your bathroom? Read our taps buying guide to find out more.
How to remove bath taps
Most bath taps should be easy enough to remove and replace yourself. However, if your bathroom is old or the plumbing is in a hard-to-reach area, it’s best to call out a plumber.
The tools and fixtures you’ll need to change your bath taps safely and efficiently are:
- Tube spanner
- Basin wrench
- Adjustable spanner
- Nuts and washers
- Compression fittings
- Flexible tap connectors
We’d also recommend having an old towel on hand in case of any unexpected leaks. Once you have everything you need, follow these three simple steps for removing bath taps:
- Isolate the water supply: Before removing bath taps, you must isolate the water supply. Compression fittings allow you to turn off the supply to each tap using a screwdriver. If you don’t have compression fittings installed on your taps, turn off your mains water supply.
- Remove the flexible pipe connectors: If your bath has a panel, you might need to remove this to access the flexible pipe connectors joining your bath taps to the internal plumbing. Otherwise, you should see the flexible pipe connectors underneath the bathtub. Disconnect these with an adjustable wrench.
- Remove the tap: Undo the nut and washers underneath the tap using an adjustable wrench. The old tap should then lift out of the hole easily. You might want to clean around the tap hole before installing your new taps, as it’s common for dirt and grime to build up there.
How to change bath taps
Once you’ve removed the old taps from your bathtub, replacing them is straightforward. Follow these steps to ensure your new taps are installed correctly:
- Replacing bath taps: The new tap should fit into the existing tap hole, so once it’s in place, secure it with a nut and washer.
- Attach flexible tap connectors: You can change your flexible tap connectors at this point too, or simply re-attach the existing parts to the new tap body.
- Test for leaks: Once everything is secure, turn your water supply back on. Run the tap to check for any leaks. If everything is working correctly, it’s time to enjoy a relaxing bath!
For more tips on taps, visit our blog, or read our guide to buying the best tap for your bathroom.
