I have this American Standard tap in the bathroom where the flow has become less and less over the years. I imagine there's some kind of mineral build-up that's impeding the flow, so before rushing out and buying a new tap I'm wondering if I can just take it apart and clean inside? There is a kind of "button" just under the lever, but I don't know if it unscrews or what.

Before ripping it apart, have you cleaned out the flow straightener which screws into the outlet end? 

 

You'll need water pump pliers or similar, take it out and soak in vinegar to dissolve the crunchy bits.

 

The "button" probably just pings out with a small screwdriver or knife blade (care) to reveal a way of getting the handle off. 

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Before ripping it apart, have you cleaned out the flow straightener which screws into the outlet end? 

 

You'll need water pump pliers or similar, take it out and soak in vinegar to dissolve the crunchy bits.

 

The "button" probably just pings out with a small screwdriver or knife blade (care) to reveal a way of getting the handle off. 

Are you talking about the mesh that screws into the tap outlet? if so, yes, that was the first thing I looked at, and it was clean.

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Are you talking about the mesh that screws into the tap outlet? if so, yes, that was the first thing I looked at, and it was clean.

Yup, oh-well it may have been an easy fix. Can't hurt to give it a vinegar bath anyway.

 

It is also worth checking the flexy that feeds the tap, sometimes they have mesh too.

Just now, Crossy said:

Yup, oh-well it may have been an easy fix.

 

It is also worth checking the flexy that feeds the tap, sometimes they have mesh too.

Thanks, worth a try.

I had a slowdown of flow from the kitchen tap which was not very old.  I took off the flexy hose under the sink and found that both ends had a build up of stuff at both ends.  Bought a new hose and put it on and the flow was back.  I didn't throw the old flexy hose away, put it out to dry out and after a week or 2 pushed a straightened out clothes hanger through the hose from both ends and the build up of stuff was not through the entire hose, only at the ends. 

Usually if there's corrosion inside a faucet, it will show on the outside as well - so maybe nothing to do with that.  Esp. since the filter looks good.

 

You might try unscrewing the hose connected to the faucet and see if anything flushes out.  Hopefully you have a stop valve on that - if not you will need a buddy on the main cut-off.

would think the "button" under the handle is the way in - probably "Allen" screw underneath  - get the button out  ??????????????????? --- see Crossy comment. 

As said you can take top off after access to the screw behind that round cover but then you can remove the valve and clean or replace.  But only time I have had issues was scratch causing leaking so replacement required.  It is much more likely to be the hose below and that should be changed (they can fail and make a huge mess if you are not there when it happens to shut off water).  Also if wall shut off test water flow without hose or turn on water for second with hose detached to clean out anything in pipe.

Before you start any work on the tap make sure the plug is in the plug hole.

 

You don't want any vital little bit fall into the sink rattle round in ever decreasing circles till it magically disappears down the plug hole.

 

I have several versions of that T-Shirt. 

To take off the lower end of the flexible hose would be no problem, however the upper end which is attached to the tap looks like a headache to remove. I wonder if removing the entire sink might be the best option, especially if the tap needs replacing. It would have to be re-grouted (silicone) after of course. If I could fins a reputable plumber in Pattaya I would rather use him.

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

To take off the lower end of the flexible hose would be no problem, however the upper end which is attached to the tap looks like a headache to remove. I wonder if removing the entire sink might be the best option, especially if the tap needs replacing. It would have to be re-grouted (silicone) after of course. If I could fins a reputable plumber in Pattaya I would rather use him.

That's why they make basin wrench below - they are available here but few plumbers seem to have.  And if they made the cutout small in countertop may not fit - so yes removal of sink is an option.  I would remove the wall end of the hose first and see if full of dirt/rust by any chance.

Changing or cleaning out the flexible water supply hose is a good investment to achieve better water flow in a basin tap. Global House Store and other  Stanley Tool Hardware dealers in Buriram Thailand stock the Stanley 11 inch Tap wrench. It is not expensive. It should be available in any province in Thailand. Prices of 300 watt and 320 watt solar panels have dropped significantly since this photo was shot in Isaan. 

34 minutes ago, kamalabob2 said:

Changing or cleaning out the flexible water supply hose is a good investment to achieve better water flow in a basin tap. Global House Store and other  Stanley Tool Hardware dealers in Buriram Thailand stock the Stanley 11 inch Tap wrench. It is not expensive. It should be available in any province in Thailand. Prices of 300 watt and 320 watt solar panels have dropped significantly since this photo was shot in Isaan. 

 

Around 500 baht is expensive for something I will probably use once, but thanks for the heads up.

15 hours ago, giddyup said:

Around 500 baht is expensive for something I will probably use once, but thanks for the heads up.

depending on where you are I have two kinds of wrench that you can borrow and a couple of wide jaw adjustable spanners that fit the waste nuts

2 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

depending on where you are I have two kinds of wrench that you can borrow and a couple of wide jaw adjustable spanners that fit the waste nuts

Thanks for the offer but I'm in Pattaya. I'm going to check the flexible hose first to see if that's clear before I do anything else, and I only need a regular spanner for that.

Be aware Thai often do not use basin wrench so there may not be any room to use between tap nuts and countertop - they use strong fingers/pry bar to hold nut in place and turn tap or remove sink.  Once hose is removed from wall you can then hold other end in place and turn tap to loosen.  

One thing to try without having to remove the tap ( because it can be a bugger)

is unscrew the hose at the wall,its normally much easier to get to

then turn the water on at the stop valve and make sure  there is good flow out of the wall

( yes it goes everywhere)    then  if the tap has a filter screwed onto the spigot remove that (sometimes its hard to tell there is a filter so examine the tap carefully)

now with filter removed  open the tap fully and use either bum squirter or shower hose to  reverse flush the tap  so you use your hand to "mate" the squirter with the tap spigot and give it a good blast it works quite often, unless the tap is completely rusted or limescaled

1 hour ago, johng said:

One thing to try without having to remove the tap ( because it can be a bugger)

is unscrew the hose at the wall,its normally much easier to get to

then turn the water on at the stop valve and make sure  there is good flow out of the wall

( yes it goes everywhere)    then  if the tap has a filter screwed onto the spigot remove that (sometimes its hard to tell there is a filter so examine the tap carefully)

now with filter removed  open the tap fully and use either bum squirter or shower hose to  reverse flush the tap  so you use your hand to "mate" the squirter with the tap spigot and give it a good blast it works quite often, unless the tap is completely rusted or limescaled

Thanks for the tips, I tried what you suggested, some black sh*t was flushed out of the tap/pipe but the flow improved very little so I would think a new tap is in order, but I believe these taps may have a cartridge inside that can be replaced.

 

They turn a hole to line up in a tunnel - you can remove and then turn water on to clear anything and replace.  Just replacing the cylinder is not going to help anything IMHO - you do that to correct scratch leaking - it is just a large hole so any blockage would be external or easily cleaned with removal.

 

Well the next thing would be to  pop the button thingy off and release the handle

then there will be a brass body..ahh @lopburi3 beat me to it

you can prise off the red plastic bit and the 2 ceramic discs will come out for more cleaning

but be careful as they break quite easily.

With the brass body removed repeat the back flush and then forward flush there should be good flow out of the space left by the brass body..then get someone/something else to block the hole where the brass body would go and flush again..if you don't get good flow then  yes the tap will have to come off either to replace or soak in  vinegar for a few weeks !!!! ????

23 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

They turn a hole to line up in a tunnel - you can remove and then turn water on to clear anything and replace.  Just replacing the cylinder is not going to help anything IMHO - you do that to correct scratch leaking - it is just a large hole so any blockage would be external or easily cleaned with removal.

 

If you look at the video I attached to my last post you will see the cartridge looks totally different from what you pictured. It also looks like a sealed unit so not possible to clean.

13 minutes ago, johng said:

Well the next thing would be to  pop the button thingy off and release the handle

then there will be a brass body..ahh @lopburi3 beat me to it

you can prise off the red plastic bit and the 2 ceramic discs will come out for more cleaning

but be careful as they break quite easily.

With the brass body removed repeat the back flush and then forward flush there should be good flow out of the space left by the brass body..then get someone/something else to block the hole where the brass body would go and flush again..if you don't get good flow then  yes the tap will have to come off either to replace or soak in  vinegar for a few weeks !!!! ????

I think the cartridge is a sealed unit, not possible to clean.

And your video was of a duel cold/hot mixing kitchen tap.  You did not mention having hot/cold water sources to your tap so believed it to be a normal single cold quarter turn type - but looking again it appears to be lift up to provide flow.  Have not used that type so indeed they likely are plastic inside and replace the tap items. 

3 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I think the cartridge is a sealed unit, not possible to clean.

you'll only know by taking a look at what you have...but if its like the one in your video then yes almost impossible to clean...I bet finding a replacement part would be an "interesting" experiment ????

5 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

And your video was of a duel cold/hot mixing kitchen tap.  You did not mention having hot/cold water sources to your tap so believed it to be a normal single cold quarter turn type - but looking again it appears to be lift up to provide flow.  Have not used that type so indeed they likely are plastic inside and replace the tap items. 

There is only cold water connected, no hot.

6 minutes ago, johng said:

you'll only know by taking a look at what you have...but if its like the one in your video then yes almost impossible to clean...I bet finding a replacement part would be an "interesting" experiment ????

They sell the American Standard taps at all major hardware stores in Pattaya, but whether the cartridges are also available, I don't know.

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There is only cold water connected, no hot.

But it is rise the lever to provide flow right?  In that case it would not be the normal quarter turn type I posted and probably not designed to be cleaned.

Just now, lopburi3 said:

But it is rise the lever to provide flow right?  In that case it would not be the normal quarter turn type I posted and probably not designed to be cleaned.

Yes, raise the lever, which can be turned left and right for hot and cold, but only cold in my case.

1 minute ago, giddyup said:

Yes, raise the lever, which can be turned left and right

Ok then  new tap time I think ????