Fixing an Ikea Lagan Single-lever mixer tap
My kitchen tap took a turn for the worse at the weekend and completely jammed up. With a lot of force I could get it on and then panic that I couldn't turn it off.
A rummage under the sink put removing the tap out of the question. The thing was impossible to reach to unbolt.
This time YouTube came up trumps with a guide on how to replace cartridges in taps. Apparently most mixer taps have cartridges, generally made out of ceramic (to withstand the forces or something). And these are standard parts, you just unscrew the top, slot in a new one, and screw it back up.
Super, so Sunday I took it apart and went to B&Q, Wickes and Homebase. All looked blankly at the cartridge and had no idea what I was talking about.
Monday I trekked round three trade plumbing outlets. Only one knew what it was - but told me they're not standard and I'd have to get the manufacturer details and contact them.
Being an Ikea tap this is easier said than done, especially as I can't find a tap that looks exactly the same in the catalogue any more. I believe it's a previous incarnation of the Lagan tap, which is very close, but a few subtle differences.
Still, I was recommended Lunns as a web-site to try for spare parts if I could match it up. Five minutes with a ruler I found the part I needed Aqafix Dual-T47/190B 47mm Single Lever Cassette.
At twenty quid more expensive than the current Ikea tap I was a bit reluctant to cough up the money, but there was no way I was getting that tap off without tools or a plumber, so figured I'd cough up the extra. It arrived today and it was just a case of slotting it in and putting the tap back together.
Hope this helps somebody one day, but more likely it'll help me in five years when it breaks again.