• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DIY Doctor

Main navigation

      • Project Type A - E
      • All Projects
      • Brick, Block, Masonry and Concrete
      • Damp, Condensation, Rot and Woodworm
      • Doors, Windows and Conservatories
      • Electrical
      • Project Type F - G
      • Fencing, Decking, Paving and Patios
      • Floors, Walls, Ceilings and Lofts
      • Garages, Sheds and Outbuildings
      • Gardening and Landscaping
      • General Building, Self Build and Renovation
      • Project Type G - J
      • General Repairs and Cleaning
      • Green Living and Eco DIY
      • Ground, Foundations and Drainage
      • Heating, Central Heating and Boilers
      • Joinery and Carpentry
      • Project Type M - P
      • Materials, Fixings and Fixing
      • Painting, Decorating and Finishing
      • Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety
      • Plastering, Plasterboard and Rendering
      • Plumbing
      • Project Type R - T
      • Roofing and Gutters
      • Tiling and Tiles
      • Tools, Appliances and Access
      • Useful Tips
      • DIY Tips
      • Find a Tradesman
      • Contract Download
      • Working With Tradesmen - Ultimate Guide
      • Home Improver Protection
      • Price Doctor
      • About DIY Doctor
      • What we do
      • Trade Shows and Exhibitions
      • Master Classes
      • Book Store
      • Contact Us
      • Feedback
      • DIY Competitions

Home > DIY How To Projects and Tutorial Guides > Fitting a Ceramic Tap Washer Valve or Cartridge

Fitting a Ceramic Tap Washer Valve or Cartridge

A step-by-step guide to changing, servicing and fitting ceramic disc taps. How to repair a ceramic tap, with advice on tap valve fitting, ceramic tap washer repair and ceramic tap cartridge replacement. Find ceramic disc tap spares, and ceramic tap valves. Our DIY guide with tutorial video means you can easily Do it Yourself.

TwitterFacebookPin ItBuffer

Don't want to do this job yourself? Let us help you find a tradesman local to you

Project Page Menu
  • How to Tutorial
  • Video
  • Find Tradesmen
  • Help

Ceramic disc taps are designed to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, in hard water areas they do not and it is as well to know how they operate and how to service them.

It is very rare for the ceramic discs to wear out and the need to replace them is even rarer. It is, most often, just a case of dismantling the moving parts and servicing them. Should you be unlucky enough to have a tap wherein the parts do actually "wear out" then it is unlikely you will be able to replace the discs and will probably need to replace the whole cartridge within the unit.

The disc tap should be virtually indestructible because a) the ceramics do not wear out, and b) The distance moved by any part of the tap in any one go, is only a quarter of a turn.

Ceramic Tap Components

Ceramic Tap Components

At this point little difference can be seen between this tap and a conventional tap (see repairing a dripping tap). A = Spout, B= Tap cartridge O ring etc, C= Handle, D= Retaining screw, E= Screw cover/Hot-Cold indicator.

Ceramic Tap Inner Components

Ceramic Tap Inner Components

In photo 2 we can see the parts we are concerned with. A = Disc retaining washer, B = Ceramic discs, C = O ring which stops any water seepage up to the head of the tap, D = Valve retaining nut, E = Spindle on which the handle sits. The handle, when turned, moves one disc over the other to open the two triangular holes seen in the photo. This allows the water to pass through.

Labeled retaining washer components

Labeled retaining washer components

Photo 3 shows A = Valve body, B = Ceramic discs, C = Retaining washer. It must be said at this point that the retaining washer acts almost like a normal tap washer. It provides a seal between the metal of the tap and the ceramic disc. while the tap is in use. It is the water pressure against the underside of the discs which keeps them in place. There is always the possibility of the water being turned off and the tap being dismantled which makes it necessary. The disc is open in this photo as you can see by the two triangular holes. This obviously means the tap would be on.

Ceramic Tap Valve with disc closed

Ceramic Tap Valve with disc closed

Photo 4 shows the same tap valve with the discs closed, meaning the tap would be off. The ceramic discs are in two parts and it is the top part which moves over the bottom part. Two locating lugs fit into the top part of the top disc and turn with the spindle.

Ceramic Tap with locating lugs in place

Ceramic Tap with locating lugs in place

Photo 5 shows how the locating lugs fit into the top disc. The handle sits on the spindle which is between finger and thumb in the photo. When the handle/spindle is turned, the top disc rotates, opening the apertures through which the water flows. These apertures are shown clearly in photos 3 & 4. The bottom disc is held in place and will not move because is sits in between two different locating lugs.

Ceramic Tap - Removing the circlip

Ceramic Tap – Removing the circlip

To service the tap fully, we recommend that the circlip is pulled (A) and the spindle is pushed down. This will release all the valve mechanism from its housing and allow all parts to be cleaned with descaler. Do not place the rubber washer or any O rings in the descaler, just wash them with warm soapy water to remove any limescale. The rest of the mechanism can be immersed as you would a shower head.

Ceramic Tap - Retaining Washer

Ceramic Tap – Retaining Washer

With the retaining washer (B) simply pulled out from the valve, a tap on a hard surface will see the ceramic discs (A) slip out of the valve body, These are the parts that matter and if you are lucky enough to live near a good plumbers merchants and you know the make and model of your taps, you may get a replacement disc. In reality few of us know the make of our taps etc, so it would be necessary, if cleaning does not work, to change the entire cartridge or valve body. These are pretty much universal and not too expensive either.

Ceramic Tap - Disc Section

Ceramic Tap – Retaining Washer

Disc section B sits on top of disc section A. A very thin film of Vaseline can be smeared between them. The shape of B obviously covers the openings in A and closes down the water. Two lugs at the end of the spindle fit into the slots at the top and bottom of B, opening and closing the tap.

Ceramic Tap - Discs placed together in open position

Ceramic Tap – Discs placed together in open position

In photo 9 the discs have been placed together in the open position. The slots into which the spindle lugs fit can be clearly seen. The bottom section of the disc is held in place and the top section rotates across it. The thin film of Vaseline, while not essential, does make the operation a little easier. Too much Vaseline however may keep both sections of the disc a little too far apart and allow water to seep through any gap

Ceramic Tap - Locating lugs in both valve body and ceramic discs

Ceramic Tap – Locating lugs in both valve body and ceramic discs

The last photo shows the locating lugs in both the valve body and on the ceramic discs. The slots (A1) can be seen more clearly in photo 8 and the area marked B1 has a tiny sliver of disc removed in order for it to slide over lug B in the valve body. This secures the bottom half of the disc ( A in photo 8) in the valve body and allows the top half (B in photo 8) to slide over it when turned by the lugs (A) attached to the spindle. It must be noted here that disc taps can be "handed" that is they can be bought to open by turning clockwise and to close by turning anticlockwise. You need to check which hand you are buying and the availability of the spares for your particular tap. The hands can be reversed by registering the lugs differently

All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology.

TwitterFacebookPin ItBuffer

Video

Back to the Top

Find a Reliable Local Tradesman

Back to the Top
Don't fancy doing this project yourself? We work with the industries best to ensure that we recommend only reliable and trustworthy tradesmen.
Let DIY Doctor help you find a tradesman

Find a tradesman now!


More Help

Back to the Top
Related Projects That May Help You:
  • A Guide to Different Types of Tap Connector
  • Instant Boiling Water Tap Installation
  • How to Fit a Monoblock Mixer tap
  • Fitting an Outside Tap or Garden Tap
  • How to Change a Tap
Give us Some Feedback!

We love feedback on our DIY tutorials it helps us to make them the best they possibly can be so if you have any comments you would like to share with us, click the button below and let us know.

Primary Sidebar

Master Basic DIY - By DIY Doctor

Our Book - Master Basic DIY

Grab your copy now for all the DIY help you need right at your finger tips!

Buy it Here!

Signup for our Newsletter

Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals

Sign Me Up!

Our Sponsors

Find out about advertising on DIY Doctor

Advertisments

Other Similar Projects
  • Various Tap Connectors And How To Use Them
  • Different Types Of Taps Available And How To Install Them
  • How To Install A Monoblock Tap To Your Sink Or Bath
  • How To Install An Outside Tap
  • How To Install An Instant Boiling Water Tap

Footer

DIY Doctor company logo

Here at DIY Doctor, we offer completely free DIY and construction help and advice to any and all, from professional tradesmen, exactly as they would do it.

We have hundreds of DIY project tutorials covering all aspects of building and DIY that provide step by step instructions on how to complete your given task.

If you need a little help then we also have an active question and answer forum and a find a trademan service and much more.

Site Menu

  • DIY Doctor Ltd,
    The Workshop,
    Newbury Works, Somerset,
    BA3 5RX

  • 0845 6342 179

  • Contact Us

  • Company Number: 05863375
  • VAT Number: 811134774

Other Stuff

  • About DIY Doctor
  • Contact DIY Doctor
  • Media and Press
  • DIY Projects
  • UK DIY Forum
  • DIY Doctor Suppliers
  • DIY Webinars

DIY Doctor Social Channels

  • Advertise
  • Competitions
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Information
  • NHIC
  • Sitemap

DIY Doctor are members of:

© DIY Doctor Ltd 2025 All Rights Reserved