IMPORTANT NOTICE

It can be frustrating having to wait on professionals to carry out easy maintenance/repair activities which could otherwise be done by you. Do It Yourself (DIY) is a term used to describe the building, modifying, maintaining or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals. It also refers to home improvement challenges that people might choose to complete independently. DIY can be both challenging and rewarding and this is why we have decided to help you out. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be providing you with DIY tips on various maintenance activities in your facility.

The articles will be specially put together with you in mind and will include basic steps to achieving positive results. Plumbing maintenance is no easy task and so this week, we have decided to provide you with some DIY tips which you can easily master and make use of in carrying out plumbing maintenance in your home. 

FIXING LEAKY SHOWER TAPS 
Shower taps can be one of these three types: a washer and seat tap, a cartridge tap or a “washerless” tap. Washer and seat taps are found in many older buildings and use a rubber or neoprene gasket to control the flow of water. Cartridge taps use a specially designed valve that is replaced as a single unit. “Washerless” taps replace the rubber gasket with a rubber cup and spring arrangement. The number of handles on your shower tap can tell you what style it is. Washer style taps have two or three handles, while the other styles typically only have one handle. Once you know what type of shower tap you have, the rest is easy. Here's how to get started:

• Step 1: First, you'll need to turn off the water supply to the shower taps. Locate the hot water heater and cut off the water from that source. Next, turn off the cold water supply to the building few shower taps have their own water cut off. Finally, open the taps at the shower to let any excess water drain out. Leaving the taps half open after they've drained will make it easier to loosen the valve.
• Step 2: To begin fixing a leaky shower tap, remove the handles and valve covers. The handles are held in place with a screw concealed behind a decorative cover on the front/top of the handle. Remove the cover with a flat-blade screwdriver, loosen and remove the handles. The valve cover may pull or twist off or may be held in place with a concealed screw. If the cover is caulked where it meets the wall, you'll have to cut away the caulk to remove the cover.
• Step 3: If you have a washer style tap, you'll need to remove the valve stem—a deep socket wrench like the ones used to remove sparkplugs makes this job easy. Once the valve stem is removed, you can remove the washer at the back of the stem by loosening the setscrew that holds it in place. Inspect the metal seat that the washer was in and clean and replace it as needed. Replace the valve stem after you've repaired it.
• Step 4:  To replace a cartridge style valve, loosen the retaining nut or clip that holds the cartridge in place. Next, remove the old cartridge and replace it with the new one. Tighten or replace the retaining hardware to complete the repair.
• Step 5: For a washerless tap, you will need to replace the springs and cups that control the water flow. Once you've opened the tap, follow the written instructions that came with the replacement parts.
• Step 6: Once you've completed your repair, have a helper turn on the water supply while you check for any leaks. If everything checks out, replace the decorative hardware and enjoy the silent operation of a functioning shower tap.

 You should get advice from an experienced plumbing salesperson on what parts are needed for your shower taps. If the project is too advanced for your skills, you must ensure that you have your shower taps fixed by a qualified plumber.