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. 

[saveasteading]

Im thinking  @zoothorn  doesn't need to turn off the water as it is after the taps, before removing this part but it may be prudent?

 

A spanner with a decent long lever?

[Nickfromwales]

4 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Im thinking  @zoothorn  doesn't need to turn off the water as it is after the taps, before removing this part but it may be prudent?

 

A spanner with a decent long lever?

No need to shut off the water   

[zoothorn]

On 21/07/2026 at 21:56, Nickfromwales said:

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. 

Hi Nick,

 

apologies I'm not understanding which bit yiu are referring to, to unscrew. Not being able to get to the house for a while too. I am 110m away.

 

Of course I see your flat spot. But this seems to be the lower section, & the part that doesn't move, of the uppy-downy brass section.. which seems to be the section that is meant to move, & is stuck, within it.

 

I have unscrewed the 'cap' to reveal the brass bit: with the cap on (& so far as I recall with these) the cap/ knob is supposed to be pulled UP, to divert water to the hose (& up to the shower head). Is this right. I can only guess this to be logical, bc with the cap screwed back on, it's then in the 'down' position, & is flush with the surrounding large tap "chassis" section. And the water is currently coming out of the two taps.

 

Christ it's difficult to explain typing words in a box. Almost exhausting.

 

Thanks, zoot 

Edited 5 hours ago by zoothorn

[zoothorn]

On 21/07/2026 at 21:58, G and J said:

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. 

Hi G&J,

 

Assuming you removed a section to do this soaking, could you possibly explain exactly which part you removed? And how?

 

 Can you see I have done step 1, & unscrewed the chrome cap. This reveals a brass section, onto which, the cal was screwed onto: the brass section has a thread on it.
 

The brass section, surely then, is the section that is meant to move up-down, within the stationary chrome surround base section (this section Nick points to, but I have no idea what this flat spot spanner area is for).

 

thx Zoot

[Nickfromwales]

On 19/07/2026 at 13:45, Nickfromwales said:

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

 

 

That little chrome tower will unscrew and come out of the bath filler spout, and the brass bits are captive inside it.
 

 It'll look a bit like this:

 

 

https://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/bath-mixer-diverters.html?srsltid=AfmBOooConE86lzVQygWRuBY6irx9Jr3MXuk9E_xTTKGo_XLBUAOv-nM

[zoothorn]

10 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

That little chrome tower will unscrew and come out of the bath filler spout, and the brass bits are captive inside it.
 

 It'll look a bit like this:

 

 

https://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/bath-mixer-diverters.html?srsltid=AfmBOooConE86lzVQygWRuBY6irx9Jr3MXuk9E_xTTKGo_XLBUAOv-nM

Aha thanks Nick. I'm on board!

 

So assuming universal thread diameter for this whole section, I should maybe just buy a new one.

 

If I do that, I guess just a Q then, of whether I need turn off house water. My old friend.. won't want me doing that you see (even telling him I built my own bathroom with electric shower! I'm not a "qualified tradesmen" you see in his pov!).

 

Grateful for that- fab BH help as always.

 

Zh
 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by zoothorn