The Bristan Easyfit range has become a favourite amongst kitchen and plumbing installers due to the speed and ease of installation.
One of the key issues for tradespeople when installing new kitchen taps is they are notoriously fiddly and time-consuming to replace – which can cost both installers and customers time and money.
Easyfit was specially designed to address these challenges and make light work of every kitchen tap installation with its Top Fix technology and five-step process, which means kitchen taps can be fitted in a matter of minutes.
We spoke to Marc Clayton of MS Clayton Plumbing and On Tap ambassador at Bristan about the new Easyfit range of kitchen taps and his top tips for installers who are thinking about testing out the collection.
Initial preparation:
“Before getting started on installing the new tap, there are a few things you need to do that will make your life and the lives of your customers that little bit easier in the long run. Firstly, the customer needs to pick a style of tap that’s right for them, their daily needs and the look of their home. Typically, I’ve found customers often tend to choose Easyfit styles over other styles of kitchen taps.
“Once you’ve both agreed on a tap, you need to make sure it’s suitable for the property. Always double-check the flow rates and look under the sink to make sure the new tap is compatible and that you have the right connections before starting a job.”
Tools and materials:
“Whilst you may need additional tools for removing the old tap, particularly if the old bolts have rusted or if you’re extending the pipes to suit the new tails, the Easyfit tap comes with everything you need to fit it in the box. This includes an Allen key, top fix base, push fit tap and flexi tails – meaning there’s one less thing for you to worry about when starting a new job.”
Removing the old tap
“After isolating the water supply, you’ll need to get started by removing the old tap. If you’re lucky, the bolts won’t have rusted, and you’ll be able to remove them with only a small box spanner.
“Unfortunately, if it’s rusted, then you will need to cut them out. I find a small rotary tool is best for this part and then the old tails can be cut if they’re copper, or if it’s a flexi you can simply loosen the nuts.
“Once the old tap has been removed, I always like to clean the sink top so I’m working on a fresh surface. Plus, I find customers appreciate this little gesture.”
Connecting and securing the new tap
“Fitting an Easyfit kitchen tap is pretty simple — fit the base, fit the tails, fit the body, and secure using the tools from the box. Then it’s time to get to work on connecting it to the water supply lines and ensuring you have a leak-free installation.
“One of the things that makes fitting taps easier for installers like me is the fact that the Easyfit range comes with isolation valves connected to the tails. Having these two things connected helps when checking the compression joints before moving on to test the tails and finally, the tap connections.”
Final steps
“Once the new tap has been fitted into place, it’s time to make sure it’s all functioning correctly. I do this by running the hot and cold sides of the tap individually to check that both correct flow and temperature are coming out of each side.
“Now I’m happy with how the tap is working, it’s time to have a quick chat with the customer to check in and hand over the tap instructions and the Easyfit tools. At this stage, I also register the tap’s 10-year guarantee, which helps give the customer peace of mind and often increases the level of customer satisfaction.
“Providing there are no major issues with the existing plumbing, the total time of installation should be less than an hour from walking into the house to leaving. It’s one of the many reasons why I choose Bristan’s Easyfit range over any other taps time and time again.”
For more information about the new Bristan Easyfit range, visit https://www.bristan.com/bristan-easyfit-taps
To view an instructional video of an Easyfit installation visit Easyfit – Faster – Smarter – YouTube
