Kitchen tap replacement in Exeter
Professional kitchen tap replacement services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£110
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Kitchen taps replaced with new modern mixers or traditional pillar taps. I remove your old taps, fit new ones with proper seals, connect to your water supply, and test everything leak-free.
Give Your Kitchen A Fresh Feel
Tired old kitchen tap with worn chrome and a constant drip? New tap changes the whole feel of your kitchen sink area. Modern mixer taps give you temperature control with one hand, and pull-out spray heads make washing up and filling pots so much easier.
💡 Pro tip: Pull-out spray taps are brilliant for double sinks - the hose reaches both bowls easily. But check the hose doesn't restrict flow too much - cheaper ones dribble pathetically. Quality matters.
Proper Installation vs Rushed Job
Kitchen taps get heavy use, so installation needs to be solid:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Quick Bodge |
|---|---|
| Tap sits level and secure | Wonky, wobbles when you use it |
| Isolation valves fitted | Direct connection (nightmare to service) |
| Flexible tails or proper connectors | Old rigid pipes reused (will leak) |
| Sealant under tap base | Water creeps under, creates gunk |
| Tested thoroughly | Hope it doesn't leak |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Remove | Old taps disconnected and taken out |
| Clean | Sink holes cleaned, old sealant removed |
| Fit | New tap(s) fitted with proper seals |
| Connect | Hot and cold supplies connected (with isolation valves) |
| Test | Multiple tests for leaks, flow, temperature |
📦 You're Left With
- New kitchen tap working perfectly
- Isolation valves for easy future servicing
- All connections leak-free
- Old tap removed and binned
- Sink area cleaned up
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tap swap (like-for-like) | 1 hr | £60-£85 |
| Mixer tap replacing two separate taps | 1-1.5 hrs | £85-£110 |
| With isolation valve fitting | Add 30 mins | Add £25 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Doesn't include the tap itself.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Old worn taps - dripping, stiff, chrome peeling
✅ Kitchen upgrade - modernize without full renovation
✅ Mixer tap wanted - easier than separate hot/cold taps
✅ Pull-out spray - makes washing up and rinsing easier
Why Choose Us for Kitchen tap replacement in Exeter?
Old taps removed, new ones fitted properly
Works with your existing water supply
Isolation valves fitted if needed
Tested leak-free before completion
What to Expect
Step 1: Turn Off Water
I shut off isolation valves under the sink (or main stopcock if there aren't any). No water flowing while I work.
Step 2: Disconnect Old Tap
Undo connections underneath - usually flexible tails attached to isolationvalves. Remove the backnut holding the tap to the sink, lift old tap out.
Step 3: Clean Sink Holes
Remove old putty, silicone, or gunk from around the sink holes. Clean surface means proper seal for the new tap.
Step 4: Fit New Tap
Put sealant or gasket under the tap base, position it through the sink holes, tighten the fixing kit from underneath. Tap sits level and secure.
Step 5: Connect Supplies
Attach flexi-tails or connectors to hot and cold supplies. If you haven't got isolation valves, now's the time to fit them (highly recommended).
Step 6: Test Everything
Water on, run hot and cold, check every connection for leaks. Check the tap operates smoothly, spray head works (if it has one), no drips from the spout.
🔧 DIY Tips
Kitchen tap replacement is one of the most common DIY plumbing jobs:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Basin wrench (essential for tight spaces under sink)
- Adjustable spanners
- PTFE tape
- Silicone sealant
- Bucket and cloths
💧 The process
- Turn off water - isolation valves or stopcock
- Open taps - drain remaining water
- Disconnect old tap - flexi-tails under sink
- Remove fixing - backnut or fixing kit holding tap down
- Clean sink - remove old sealant and gunk
- Position new tap - with gasket or sealant under base
- Tighten fixing - from underneath, get it secure
- Connect supplies - hot and cold flexi-tails
- Test - water on, check for leaks, test operation
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Overtightening backnut (cracks composite sinks)
- Not using sealant under tap base (water creeps under)
- Forgetting to fit isolation valves (regret it next time)
- Crossed hot/cold connections (tap runs backwards!)
- Not testing spray hose connections (drips into cupboard)
💡 Pro trick: Put a blob of silicone under the tap base before tightening it down. Stops water creeping underneath and creating that black gunk that's impossible to clean. Also helps seal slightly uneven sink surfaces.
Basin wrench is essential - trying to tighten tap backnuts in the cramped space under a kitchen sink with normal spanners is horrible. Basin wrench (about £10) makes it easy.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🚰 Low water pressure? Check tap specs before buying. Some modern mixers need decent pressure to work properly. If you've got low pressure (tank-fed system), look for taps rated "suitable for all systems" or "low pressure compatible".
Granite/composite sinks - some have very thick walls. Standard tap fixing kits might not reach through. Check the tap comes with long enough fixing bolts, or buy extended versions.
Pull-out spray hoses - brilliant feature but they do restrict water flow slightly (water has to go through a narrower hose). Quality ones minimize this, cheap ones dribble. You get what you pay for.
Filtered water taps - some mixers have a separate outlet for filtered water (need a filter unit under sink). Others are just standard mixers. Don't mix them up when buying.
Swivel radius - if you've got a double sink, check the tap swivels far enough to reach both bowls. Some cheaper taps have limited swivel or the spout's too short to be useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from two taps to a mixer tap?
Usually yes - most kitchen sinks have holes that'll take either setup. Mixer taps need one or three holes depending on type. If your sink has two holes and you want a single-hole mixer, I can use a blanking plate. Or if it's got three holes and you want a two-tap setup, same thing - I'll work with what you've got.
My new tap won't reach both sinks in my double bowl - is that normal?
Depends on the tap's reach and your sink size. Some mixers have pull-out hoses that reach anywhere. Fixed spout mixers need to be roughly central between bowls. Check the tap specs before buying - swivel radius and spout reach matter for double sinks.
Do I need to buy anything besides the tap?
The tap should come with flexi-tails or connectors. Check it's got everything before I arrive. If you haven't got isolation valves under the sink, I can fit them while I'm there (highly recommended - makes future tap changes much easier).
How long will my new kitchen tap last?
Quality taps last 10-15 years easily, some much longer. Cheap taps might only last 3-5 years before cartridges fail or finish wears off. Spend a bit more on the tap itself - you use it dozens of times a day, worth having something decent.
Can you fit a tap if I've got a granite or composite sink?
Yes - just need to be careful tightening it so we don't crack anything. Composite and stone sinks are tough, but the tap still needs securing firmly without overdoing it. I've done hundreds, no problem.
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