Leaking kitchen sink tap

[Shelagh1]

We have a 2003 Swift Celeste (which is a dealer special based on the Charisma) - we have just returned from holiday and for the first time have had trouble with a leaking kitchen sink tap. It is a slim cylindrical type that swivels down into a recess in the sink top so that you can lower the glass top over the whole sink and draining board. The tap is operated by a separate 'paddle' type lever set slightly behind the tap.
The leak - which happens whether the tap is actually in use or not - seems to come from the join in the tap that enables the swivel action ie it is about 1 inch from the base of the tap.
Does anyone know if this is a DIY job? Might it just be a washer, and if so, is it possible to dismantle the tap to replace it?
If we need a whole new tap unit, how would you take the old one out? It seems to be completely sealed around the base to the actual sink unit and we wouldn't want to scratch the sink by trying to prize it out.
Thanks for any advice anyone can give.

 

[ValA.]

The problem might be due to ice during the last winter, as it's caused lots of problems with taps/shower valves, according to our dealer - even when the caravan has been fully drained. Apparently small residues of water can remain in some parts of the 'plumbing' and expand into ice, fracturing the plastic components inside the tap, resulting in either immediate problems, or problems once the tap has been used a few times and the fractures open up.
I would think, personally, that it's likely that you'll have to replace the whole tap - but I might be wrong. We certainly replaced ours a few years ago, when an early frost caught us unawares and we hadn't drained the system. This winter similar thing happened, we've also had to remove the shower valve as that too started to leak after the recent hard winter.

 

[xtrailman]

On the swivel you will probably find a screw collar, if you remove this and pull it spout out, inside you may find a couple of "o" rings.

This is the case with the unicorn tap, so it might be applicable.

But 9 times out of 10 a "o" ring will need replacing.

 

[RayS]

It may be that the nut which holds the tap in place has become loose and is not holding the component parts of the tap sufficiently clamped together. You may solve the problem simply by tightening this nut, but to do so you will have to be able to access it. Where taps are in the worktop rather than the sink, the first step is usually to remove the sink, but with you arrangement this may be different. If the lever operating the tap is in the worktop and not an integral part of the tap, then there will probably be flexible tues connecting the two. If you can see obvious means of removing or lifting the sink - i.e. a scew in each corner, then I suggest you undo and remove thse and lift the sink up as far as it will come - there may be enough slack in these tubes to enable you to tighten the nut. You wil have to do something like this anyway to replace the tap.
I'm afraid it's yet another example of designers having little regards for the ease of repair or replacement - all too common.

 

[Shelagh1]

Thanks for all your suggestions - we will investigate further.
You are right Ray S - there never seems to be anything that is an easy job in a caravan!

 

[Gafferbill]

….having just replaced the kitchen mixer tap on my 16 year old Swift Challenger, I can confirm that there are no easy repair jobs on caravans!

The job involved laying on my back, working at the back of the under sink cupboard and blind up behind the sink bowl…..not a pretty sight

The job cost £35, some swearing and bruises to my arms!

 

[Gafferbill]

Double post deleted.

 

[ValA.]

When we repaired our shower valve (by removing it and capping the ends of the water pipes) it involved OH lying on his back in the bit at the side of the fixed bed, whilst I straddled him, standing up, holding the very short ends of the pipes which were within reach (his fingers were too big). It's a good job no-one could see us - they would have wondered what on earth we were doing, and for so long too!!

 

[Shelagh1]

Yeah, it does help if you are a contortionist with 6 foot long arms!!
In a previous (older) van, we had a blockage in the bathroom sink. The sink was a fold up one and the whole of the wall unit - sink, vanity unit type thing with sliding mirror doors was all one complete unit. You would empty the sink by folding it back flush into the unit and the water would magically disappear done the drainage pipes behind the unit.
We only realised there was a problem with the drainage when we could see the water slopping around behind the sink!
No way we could see to just take the actual sink off, and we tried various utensils to try and prod down behind the sink (working just through the 1 inch gap available) to try and dislodge whatever was causing the blockage but in the end we had to carefully cut round the mastic holding the whole caboodle in place and pull it all out. Problem was it was quite brittle plastic and wouldn't come all the way out of the small bathroom...so I had to support the thing by leaning through from the main van (trying not to let it bend too much and break) whilst OH lent in through the small bathroom window trying to reach the offending item.
Took flipping ages to do, and yes, I do believe that we used some choice words as well.......

 

[kennygee]

I replaced the tap in my Swift Challenger 480 SE. I did this by taking off the top griill of the Fridge vents on the outside wall. It is then a simple job of undoing the large nut holding the tap onto the sink. You also have to find where the hot and cold water pipes are fed from and release them. My pipes are in the narrow cupboard next to the fridge.

 

[pmb]

I've changed both taps this year as it didn't get drained properly last winter. The washroom was a simple unscrew and replace. The kitchen one was bottle green (Whale elegance) and you just can't get new ones (unless anyone knows different). To change the entire tap I think it would need the sink out so it now has green taps and a white spout. I tried a new o ring but it turned out to be a small split in the body of the spout , barely visible with the naked eye but the water seepage showed where it was. Won't be making that mistake this winter.