My Franke Planar Tap is dripping..
1. Tap is dripping from the Spout
If your Franke Planar Tap is dripping from the spout then it is most likely that you need to change the valves (one or both) and / or the brass bush ring (but usually its just the valve) hot or cold.
There are two different versions of the Franke Planar tap. The earlier Planar Tap (pre 02/2008) took a 20 spline valve. The second version takes a 28 spline valve (and that valve in itself has been changed from a two threaded 2307R valve to the one threaded 3547R).
We strongly recommend, that you check what valve you have in your Tap prior to ordering – i.e. remove your own valve and then order accordingly. With Valve changeovers in production we cannot know What valve is in your tap. The changeover happened c.2007 BUT we cannot be responsible for the wrong valve being ordered if you do not check what valve you actually have in advance.
All our valves are genuine, sourced from your Tap manufacturer. There are 3 valve versions and the earlier ones have 20 splines (for which we would supply our 3549R valve) and the later model (post 02/2008) has 28 splines (valve 2307R with two threads, and latest one, 3547R with one thread). Based on the recommendation of the Planar Tap manufacturer, they recommend that if you have the 28 spline valve in your own tap, then the best replacement valve is the two threaded version 2307R (4276R). In other words, even if you have the lastest 3547R valve with one thread in your own tap, you should order the 2307R (4276R) with two threads as the replacement valve. So all you need to do, once you know that you have the Planar Tap is
- check to see if you have 20 or 28 splines.
- You can remove the handle and email pictures to us (as easy to remove the handle and usually 2mm grub screw) . Here is our Guide How to remove the Handle on your Kitchen Tap. Here is our Guide 7 easy steps to replace kitchen tap valve. With Valve changeovers in production we cannot know What valve is in your tap. The changeover happened c.2007 BUT we cannot be responsible for the wrong valve being ordered if you do not check what valve you actually have in advance.
- check to see if you need the bush with lip . If in doubt, order as you can return for a refund.
This tip was given to us by another customer (and we also have our blog link 7 Easy steps to change Kitchen Valve.
Isolate water supply
Remove handle by undoing screw.
With the aid of a small mirror undo chrome handle housing 2 grub screws with small Allen key from underneath , until you can pull off housing.
Then do same with chrome valve housing.
Undo old valve with adjustable spanner & fit new valve.
Refit housings same in reverse.
Make sure handle housing is on splines, so that handle upright is off & handle forward down is off.
Remove the handle insert to reuse by undoing the screw at the top of the old valve that holds the handle insert in place.
SMR Ceramic Disc Quarter Turn Valve 20 Splines 3549R
Measurements 3549R
Overall height : 45.65mm
Diameter at thread: 22mm
Splines: 20
Height of Splines: 4mm
Franke Franke Planar Tap Valve from c. 2007 / 2008 onwards
Measurements 2307R
Overall height: 53mm
Nut Height: 8mm
Diameter at thread: 21mm
Splines: 28
Height of Splines: 10mm
Measurements 3547R
Overall height: 53mm
Nut Height: 6mm
Diameter at thread: 21mm
Splines: 28
Height of Splines: 11mm
Brass Bush
A NEW Brass Bush might be required if you are replacing your Tap Valve and the Brass Bush Part has come away with your old valve i.e. your old valve is stuck inside (stuck to) the Brass Bush. If you cannot separate the Brass Bush from your old valve then you will need a new one.
Here is our guide Removing Brass Bush ring from Valve
If your valve appears to be wider than ours but all measurements tally except diameter, just make sure that you have removed the brass bush. For more information on removing the brass bush, see here.
Here is a picture of the 3547R valve with 28 splines stuck inside the brass bush SP3886
Here is the link for the Franke Planar Tap Valve
2. Dripping where Spout meets Base
If it is dripping where the spout meets the base then it is most likely that you need to replace the O Rings.
Franke Planar Tap O Rings (3617R and also known as SP3617)
Most common Planar Tap issue: removing the handle / getting access to the valve – see comments below Post for what other customers did to solve this issue.
Our Blog / Plumbing Guides section includes tips e.g. how to remove a valve. Follow the links below.
Hi I have a franke tap that the cartridge is inside the body of the tap and I have rung the brass fitting mean I cannot get it out any suggestions as I cant get a grip on it with spanners vice grips pr anything
HI Ed, email me a picture of your own tap and show me what the valve looks like inside your tap. What approx age is your own tap please ? email Alice sales@tapsandsinksonline.co.uk. I don’t know if you have seen this post as well 7 easy steps to remove your valve.
Moll grips and a flat screwdriver worked a treat, little bit of scratching to handle but finally off. Thanks for all the help guys.
Thanks. I needed to get the taps off. A plumber did it carefully with a chisel / screw driver and wd40.
Now I need to order the 28 spline valves 2307R.
HI Vincent,that’s great that your plumber got the handles off. I will email you the link to the valve as well as post it here for you. Was there anything usual that your plumber had to do to remove them as I have other customers in same situation and it seems to be a particularly awkward tap and unfortunately we don’t have an old one here to replicate it for a video etc. Here is the link to the Planar Valve and you just have to select the 2307R valve within that link (it has 28 splines and is a two threaded valve whereas the current valve in the planar has also 28 splines but has only one thread). Alice
So what was the solution to taking the planar mixer taps off once the grub screws are removed, if the Taps still won’t budge? Ours are a few years old and it is a lime scale area.
Is there anything that can be done or is the tap unit likely to be non fixable?
You could try this tip here to remove the limescale but a qualified plumber should be able to remove this for you. Also if you go to our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TapsAndSinksOnline/
there is a video there that shows removing a handle from a tap very similar in style to the Planar Tap. Take a look at that and see if it helps you. Alice
Problem with my PlanarMixer tap cant get handle to budge after removing the two little screws.tried releasing agent and lemon still no joy.
HI Roy, how old is your Tap and I will see what I can do to help . Kind regards, Alice.
Cheers Alice sorry for delay.I think its 6 years since it was fitted and thanks for replying.
HI Roy, dont know if this will help you, but another customer was in the same situation and had to get a plumber in the end : Thanks. The taps would not budge after unscrewing the grub screws. My plumber carefully wiggled them and and used a chisel / screw driver to tease the handle off the spline, spraying WD40 into the gap that started to open up. After 10 minutes of careful work they came out. Necessary to then clean the handle and spline, apply silicone grease and refix.
Was careful to minimise damage to Tap handle with screwdriver.
and recently, from Simon, another customer 28.12.2018
Wow, that took me some time. Was having exactly the same problem as above, I think my Planar was the older model, I unscrewed the on/ off lever with a single Allan key screw. I then removed the 2 grub screws under the valve housing, ( the larger 30mm box joined to the tap stem ) .
I then spent an age pulling, tapping and prising, trying to remove both the housing and the remainder of the lever block. Eventually discovering it was impossible!
This led me on a search for other fixings, which I eventually found.
There are 2 more grub screws under the tap lever block !!!!!
So before you try pulling and tapping, you should have removed a total of 5 grub screws. ?
Really hope that helps.
Same problem, can’t get the handle off. Did anyone manage to come up with a solution?
HI Kirk, here is what another customer’s plumber did :”The taps would not budge after unscrewing the grub screws. My Plumber carefully wiggled them and and used a chisel / screw driver to tease the handle off the spline, spraying WD40 into the gap that started to open up. After 10 minutes of careful work they came out. Necessary to then clean the handle and spline, apply silicone grease and refix.
Was careful to minimise damage to Tap handle with screwdriver.
Hi, I’m having the same trouble with removing the tap handle and valve housing to expose the valve on my Franke Planar mixer tap. I’ve removed the 2 grub screws but it won’t budge. Anyone have any ideas? There must be something I’m missing? Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve
how old is your tap and do you have hard water (limescale)?
I’ve removed the grub screws from my Planar tap, but I can’t get the metal cover off, no matter how hard I pull! Am I missing something!?
Hi Nic , if you go to our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TapsAndSinksOnline/
there is a video there that shows removing a handle from a tap very similar in style to the Planar Tap. Take a look at that and see if it helps you. Alice
Hi Nic
Having the same problem. How did you over come the issue?
Cheers,
Neil
From another customer
Isolate water supply
Remove handle by undoing screw.
With the aid of a small mirror undo chrome handle housing 2 grub screws with small Allen key from underneath , until you can pull off housing.
Then do same with chrome valve housing.
Undo old valve with adjustable spanner & fit new valve.
Refit housings same in reverse.
Make sure handle housing is on splines, so that handle upright is off & handle forward down is off.