How to install a bath mixer tap

Bathtubs are versatile in that they work just as well for a quick shower as they do a relaxing bath. With this in mind, your water supply must be set up to both fill up a tub and provide water to a shower head.

Once your hot and cold water feeds are in place, installing your bath mixer tap should be a quick and easy process. Most of the time, your plumbing system will only need to be adjusted slightly or perhaps not at all.

Steps

1. Preparing to install

2. Preparing the tap fittings

3. Installing the bath mixer tap

4. Connecting the shower hose and head

5. Turning on the water and testing the tap

Required skills

Most bath tap fittings are standard in size (1/2 or 3/4 BSP), but you may have to adjust your installation if things don't match up. If your pipes are soldered, you may have to use a saw to cut them down in order to replace an old tap. You may also have to install some compression fittings to adapt the system to the new tap. Otherwise, you will only have to unscrew the old fittings and screw on the new ones, applying some PTFE tape or plumbers putty and oakum. Installing your shower hose and head is very straightforward. Most of the time, you will simply have to screw the connections into place by hand to make the system watertight and functional.

Completion time

Approx. 30 mins

Number of people required

1 person

Tools and equipment

• A dual or single tap mixer with fittings and sealing washers

• A shower head and hose (with seals)

• A pair of escutcheons (optional)

• Two compression fittings and/or reducers (if required)

• Silicone sealant (and skeleton gun)

• A roll of PTFE tape or oakum and plumbers putty

• A set of open-ended spanners

• A spirit level

• A straight edge

• An adjustable spanner (or a pair of adjustable pliers)

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Work clothes

• Protective goggles

• Protective gloves

Please note: this is a non-exhaustive list; be sure to match your personal protective equipment to the job at hand.

Before you do anything else, be sure to isolate your water supply and turn on a tap to drain the pipes.

Identify the hot water feed (this will usually be on the left).

Replacing an old mixer tap

Start by unscrewing the shower hose from the tap. You should be able to do this by hand, but if it is stuck you can use an open-ended spanner or an adjustable spanner.

Next, unscrew the back nuts. These are usually 32 mm nuts located between the water supply and the escutcheons or cover plate. Once you have removed everything, you should see the threaded tap fittings.

If your old system was soldered and you had to cut the copper pipes to remove the old tap fittings, you will have to install compression fittings. These fittings allow you to connect a smooth pipe to a threaded fitting. For this you will have to:

• measure and cut your copper pipes down to the right size;

• work out the diameter of the copper pipe using callipers;

• clean the end of the pipe using sandpaper and deburr it;

• insert the compression fitting, starting with the nut and the olive then the threaded part;

• screw and tighten the assembly using the appropriate spanner.

All types of installation (new and replacement)

Read the instructions carefully to find out the specific requirements of your mixer tap model.

Next, check that the fittings in place are compatible with your new mixer tap. If everything screws together properly, great! If the female fittings are not the right size, you will have to fit some reducer fittings. These threaded fittings are used to connect old systems to new tap fittings.

Before making your assembly watertight and functional, you will need to carry out a quick test run. This pre-assembly will allow you to check that everything is assembled correctly, fine-tune your tap fittings, and get an idea of what the new bath tap is going to look like.

Start by screwing in the z connectors checking the following:

• the distance between the connectors to ensure they are properly aligned. Measure this using a straight edge (refer to the instructions for the exact distance required between the centre of each connector);

• the horizontal position of the connectors to ensure your tap will be perfectly level. Check this by placing a spirit level on the connectors.

Once everything is in place, screw on the escutcheons (if required). Then fit the bath mixer tap by screwing the backnuts onto the connectors. Ensure that the nuts do not touch the escutcheons. Adjust the z connectors if necessary (by screwing or loosening).

Check that everything is level using a spirit level.

If everything is in the right place, remove the mixer tap followed by the escutcheons and measure the length by which the z connectors protrude from the wall using a straight edge.

Now, proceed to assembling your bath mixer tap for the final time.

• Firstly, seal your z connectors using PTFE tape (making sure to always follow the thread). Put the connectors back into place using your measurements from the previous step.

• Check that they are level and correctly aligned. If everything is positioned according to your measurements, lay a silicone seal around the connectors.

• Next, screw on the escutcheons and the tap, making sure that all washers are in place. Do not apply any PTFE tape between the tap body and z connectors.

• Tighten everything using the appropriate open-ended spanner, being sure to check for one final time that the assembly is level.

Before assembly, always make sure to check that the washers are in place inside the shower hose.

Screw the shower hose onto the tap body. You will usually be able to achieve a watertight connection simply by screwing by hand. If not, you can use a pair of adjustable pliers but be sure to protect the ends of the shower hose with a cloth.

Repeat the procedure to attach the shower head to the other end of the hose.

Once your mixer tap is in place, all your connections are firmly tightened and your shower hose and head are connected, turn your water back on making sure to check that your new tap is not on.

At this stage, if no leaks appear, then your assembly is officially watertight.

Finish by turning on your tap and testing out the features of the mixer: flow rate temperature settings and performance of shower head.