Mixer tap valve stuck

[zoothorn]

Hi chaps,

 

small issue preventing water going UPWARDS via hose, to a shower head, from a bath mixer tap pair.
 

The valve thingy between the taps, is stuck. How to release it?

 

Thanks, Zoot

[Nickfromwales]

Does it lift, or turn, normally? Usually these lift and are held up by water pressure, then they drop back to bath position by themselves. 
 

The part you pull should unscrew if you turn it with a spanner (lefty loosey) and then you can WD40 it, or search for a matching replacement.

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

There are flat spots here for the spanner to grip onto. 
 

 

 

[ProDave]

If a hard water area, soak it in Viakal or similar once removed to disolve the limescale.

[zoothorn]

On 19/07/2026 at 13:44, Nickfromwales said:

Does it lift, or turn, normally? Usually these lift and are held up by water pressure, then they drop back to bath position by themselves. 
 

The part you pull should unscrew if you turn it with a spanner (lefty loosey) and then you can WD40 it, or search for a matching replacement.

 

 

Hi Nick, thanks for your 2 replies.

 

No, the brass centre section seems stuck firm. I don't quite know which bit is meant to move (never unscrewed the top of one of these ever before- & no-one really uses these taps-up-to-showerhead things).

 

I presume, in photo 1 where the chrome cap is screwed on/ as is meant to be, this section should simply pull UP say 1/2" or so. Meaning the brass bit with the thread on inside, should also move up 1/2".

 

I can see your flat area on the outer tap section, but i wouldn't need to twist or use this for leverage.. would I? It's only the centre brass area inside it that I need to grasp & shift.

 

Unfortunately I'm NOT near it presently (I live 120m away)- I took photos of these taps, at my dear old friend's upstairs previously unused bath area, which a new situation/ a live-in carer has just started using you see. At the mo, she only has the bath of use. Not ideal esp in this heat. Even if she's from Zimbabwe.

 

Thanks, Zoot

[zoothorn]

On 19/07/2026 at 15:32, ProDave said:

If a hard water area, soak it in Viakal or similar once removed to disolve the limescale.

Hi ProDave,

 

yup had thought of this, but awkward to get something to soak it in. Kettle, easy. Here/ this, in situ, I can't exactly immerse in a bowl of limescale dissolving stuff.

 

Noted Viakal tho. Thanks, Zoot

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, zoothorn said:

I can see your flat area on the outer tap section, but i wouldn't need to twist or use this for leverage.. would I? It's only the centre brass area inside it that I need to grasp & shift.

That flat bit is where you apply an adjustable spanner, and the offending item will unscrew anti-clockwise and come out whole.

 

Then a soak in Viagra, as @ProDave uses and swears by, or maybe just WD40 or a quality ‘release agent’ will get this moving again.

 

You can use google to match the part and maybe get a new replacement, but that’s down to luck tbh. 

[G and J]

I’ve had success in such situations both with the bottle viakal dripped on the beastie in question and with the spray version too.  Patience needed.