1. Why should the aerator be removed prior to turning the water on and then installed after running the tap for a short while?
When you do some plumbing work, all sorts of bits and pieces of old washers etc may fall into the plumbing (causing no harm) however by removing the aerator and running the water for a short while before screwing the aerator back in, this gunk is cleaned out.

2. My recess seems to be leaking in the wall! What has happened?
It is quite likely that the old washer or the old seat was not cleaned out of the recess properly or that you may have used old washers or jumper valves.

3. What sort of cleaning solvents / powders can I use to clean my SHIRAZ tap-ware?
All powder-coated surfaces are tolerant to gentle cleaning with liquid cleaning detergents, however avoid harsh scrubbing on chrome and on powder coated surfaces.

4. My stuffing box seems to be too long to screw into the recess, what can I do?
It is quite likely that you have not opened the tap fully before you have tried to assemble the stuffing box. Undo the stuffing box assembly, open the tap fully before reassembly.

5. Do I need thread seal tape?
Yes ~ Absolutely! Thread seal tape is a vital part of the plumbing. All BSP pipe sizes may have a small leaking problem due to the build up of manufacturing tolerance permitted under the standards of manufacturing. Some people overcome this by over tightening - damaging their tap-ware. Do a professional job and don't forget the thread seal tape.

6. The recess spindles seem too short for my recesses, what can I do?
There are numerous spindle extension devices available from your local plumbing merchant or hardware store. We are currently developing an extension specially suited to our SHIRAZ product.

7. Why should I use a soft rag when doing up the tap-ware components?
Powder coated or chrome surfaces can easily be damaged by twisting with a pair of pliers or spanner. Always use a rag and avoid tightening the bath spout by levering with screwdriver. Remember thread seal tape helps here.

8. I am having problems removing the old components, can you offer any advice?
You may have to consider tapping old components to break any seal they may have with your plumbing. If your bath spout is in good condition but the handles and flanges need replacing, you may wish to replace only the handles or flanges with a SHRAZ Recess Top Half.

9. What sort of spanner should I use to remove the old stuffing box assembly when they are recessed in the wall?
Dunnings manufacturers a range of tube spanners to suit nearly all plumbing spindle sizes in use today. A correct size tubular socket may also help. Avoid using the wrong size tube spanner, as it will damage the old spindle making it even harder to remove.

10. My handles do not seem to fit, why do they need a light tap to fit over the recess stuffing box assembly?
We have made sure that the handles need a slight tap on to prevent the handles becoming loose once the set is installed. Better to have a tight fit for the handle rather than a loose fit which would mean the handle will always appear loose.

11. Why must I turn the water off before installing any tap-ware and where do I do that?
You must turn the water off before fitting any tap-ware because firstly hot water will burn you and cold water will go everywhere making a big mess and making it nearly impossible to reassemble. Turn the water off at the water meter and check the hot water before undoing the taps to make sure that water will not burn you. You can find the water meter by turning on a few taps inside the house and walking around the garden listening for the clicking of the water meter as it goes around if you do not know where the water meter is.

12. Do I need lubricant on the O Rings I see during installation?
O-ring lubricant is another very important part of the assembly. Any O-rings you see should be lubricated to ensure that smooth, carefree operation is maintained for many years. The lubricant stops pinching the O-rings.

13. How tight do I do a thread up?
Kinco nuts and other threads should be tightened to about a quarter turn past strongly hand tight. Any more and you are damaging the tap. Let the thread seal taps do the work in sealing not brute force.

14. Why should the showerhead be removed prior to turning the water on and then installed after running the tap for a short while?
When you do some plumbing work, all sorts of bits and pieces of old washers etc may fall into the plumbing (causing no harm) however by removing the shower head and running the water for a short while before screwing the aerator back in, this gunk is cleaned out.