Oh Jeez...

jmurray01 · Jan 6, 2012

OK, problem - Maybe you guys can help ?

The hot water tap in our kitchen won't turn off.

It was dripping for a while, then 10 minutes ago my mother turned it on and it wouldn't go off.

It stops turning and you can feel it tightening, but the water keeps pouring out.

I've had to turn it off at the stopcock, but what is the problem with the tap ?

KTurner · Jan 6, 2012

jmurray01 said:
It stops turning and you can feel it tightening, but the water keeps pouring out.

I've had to turn it off at the stopcock, but what is the problem with the tap ?

Open'er up. That's the only way you'll find out. Could be a few different things, most of which will be obvious once you open it up.

Keith

JDgreen227 · Jan 6, 2012

jmurray01 said:
OK, problem - Maybe you guys can help ?

The hot water tap in our kitchen won't turn off.

It was dripping for a while, then 10 minutes ago my mother turned it on and it wouldn't go off.

It stops turning and you can feel it tightening, but the water keeps pouring out.

I've had to turn it off at the stopcock, but what is the problem with the tap ?

The valve seat on the handle is worn out...I assume it's the old type of faucet that you turn by hand...there is a rubber seat at the bottom of the hand wheel that is replacable, just remove the handle part and then unscrew the valve seat and replace it. I don't have a faucet here but my pics show a stop valve and then the top unscrewed and the rubber seat at the bottom.

jmurray01 · Jan 8, 2012

Just to update you guys - It was a bad washer, so I replaced it and the tap is back to working again. Phew!

JDgreen227 · Jan 8, 2012

jmurray01 said:
Just to update you guys - It was a bad washer, so I replaced it and the tap is back to working again. Phew!

Had you called a plumber, he would have replaced the 29 cent washer and given you a bill for $75. My step mom had a 7 year old, single handle Kohler faucet that began leaking, they told her a service call would be $75 minimum charge. I took the handleset off after removing one setscrew and replaced the two O-rings on the cartridge and greased them with silicone lube. Total cost for materials and time: $2 and a half hour.