Ceramic tap has become very hard to turn

[Chris]

We have two ceramic taps on the washbasin.
The hot tap turns easily - but the cold tap has become almost impossible
to turn - very stiff.
Advice please!

[Peter Parry]

Post by Chris
We have two ceramic taps on the washbasin.
The hot tap turns easily - but the cold tap has become almost impossible
to turn - very stiff.
Advice please!

Quite often caused by bits of grit or stone in the water. The cure
is to remove and clean the capsule. If you persist with forcing it
the disc fractures and life becomes interesting - and wet.

[Peter Parry]

Post by Chris
but the cold tap has become almost impossible
to turn

Should have said it's usually the cold tap because bits of stone
settle to the bottom of the hot tank and don't make it to the taps.
Often happens when work has been done on the mains.

[r***@invalid.invalid]

Post by Peter Parry

Post by Chris
but the cold tap has become almost impossible
to turn

Should have said it's usually the cold tap because bits of stone
settle to the bottom of the hot tank and don't make it to the taps.
Often happens when work has been done on the mains.

The instructions with Ceramic disc taps I have recently bought mention
the need for strainers/filters in the water supply .
Robert

[Chris]

Post by r***@invalid.invalid

Post by Peter Parry

Post by Chris
but the cold tap has become almost impossible
to turn

Should have said it's usually the cold tap because bits of stone
settle to the bottom of the hot tank and don't make it to the taps.
Often happens when work has been done on the mains.

The instructions with Ceramic disc taps I have recently bought mention
the need for strainers/filters in the water supply .

That sounds a bit over the top.
Is it better to avoid ceramics and use conventional taps?

[Andy Champ]

Post by Chris
We have two ceramic taps on the washbasin.
The hot tap turns easily - but the cold tap has become almost impossible
to turn - very stiff.
Advice please!

I had this on one, I stripped it and soaked in vinegar - it was just
scaled up, and has been fine since.

Andy

[Chris]

In article <cBtxbrKgGOLHFwcx@[127.0.0.1]>, Chris <nospam@[127.0.0.1]>
writes

Post by Chris
We have two ceramic taps on the washbasin.
The hot tap turns easily - but the cold tap has become almost
impossible to turn - very stiff.
Advice please!

Thanks for your replies.
I asked a retired plumber and he advised squirting with WD40.
That worked perfectly.
What an amazingly simple solution!