How can I loosen up a really stiff tap?

I have a plumbe sure crystal bath taps shower mixer. I can only open the hot tap slightly and only a trickle of water comes out. The rest seems jammed. I have tried to dismantle the tap but I can,t. It has no screw at the top to release the tap head only a shroud father down.Please help me to find a way to dismantle the tap so I can de-scale or replace parts as necessary. The taps are only 12 months old ?

john stafford
June 2011

Oh ok after reading that answer I wish I would have done that! Oooooops! See I have the problem where I used my strength and have managed to turn the stiff tap but snaping the screw under the cap! What do I do now is it fixable there is a small amount of the screw sticking out but not enough to loosen it out with every day pilers. How it started was I managed to turn the tap on but not off! Am I gonna have to pay out loads of is it a fixable problem please help!

Emmab
March 2010

Thank you! It is taps, and the offending tap will be given much needed attention this weekend.

Sue
June 2004

Complete strip down called for here Sue.
That's plumber talk sorry, what type of mixer is it? two taps joined together or a variable mxer where you turn the middle on and the outside to adjust the temp.
If it's taps, take the top off the effected tap, usually there is a screw under the cap on the top, take that off, and get a big adjustable spanner to undo the mechanism,OOPS, I FORGOT,TURN THE WATER OFF FIRST.
Get a scale removing solution together in a container and soak it for an hour, remove it and wash it under running water and try to move the mechanism by putting the top back on it and turning it.
if it doesnt move, you will probably see a spring clip on the bottom of the knurled shaft, remove this and turn the shaft carefully with a pair of sharp pliers, do not slip with the pliers as this will damage the shaft, the mechanism should unscrew down out of the body, you will then be able to get some green pad on the working bits of it and clean it up with the descaling solution to help.
put it back together, (smearing everything with fairy liquid,) then, when you can move it with your fingers, hey presto job done.
The second type of mixer I would leave to me.
It's full of springs and cams, you wouldn't want to touch that.

Derek
June 2004

Have you tried replacing the washer inside the tap

Elsie
June 2004