Bristan Tap Problems (Zing, Artisan — Cartridge Faults)
Some Bristan taps in social housing have HFFC (High Flow Fit and Click) cartridges that are a non-standard size. Measure the cartridge length and diameter before ordering.
Bristan taps are fixtures in millions of UK homes, from council properties to new-builds, but their ceramic cartridges wear out like any moving part. A dripping tap, stiff handle, or sudden loss of hot water control usually points to a failing cartridge—the sealed unit inside the tap that controls water flow and temperature. The good news is that cartridge replacement is one of the most straightforward DIY plumbing jobs, costs less than £20 in parts, and takes under an hour with basic tools. This guide walks through diagnosis, removal, and fitting for Bristan's most common models (Zing and Artisan), plus what to do if the problem runs deeper than a worn cartridge. If you're faced with a corroded tap body or damaged internal seat, or you'd simply rather not risk it, a Gas Safe registered plumber or qualified heating engineer can complete the job in a morning visit.
Not sure if this matches your problem?
Use our interactive tool — answer a few questions and get a personalised diagnosis.
Most likely cause & what to check
Bristan is a UK brand (headquartered in Tamworth, Staffordshire) and one of the dominant suppliers to social housing and volume housebuilders. If you live in a council property or a new-build from the last twenty years, there is a good chance your taps are Bristan. The Bristan Zing is a budget basin and bath mixer widely found in housing association properties; the Artisan is a step up and common in private new-builds. Both use ceramic disc cartridges. Bristan's own website (bristan.com) has an excellent spare parts finder — enter the model name and you will get the correct cartridge part number.
Turn off the water at the isolation valves or the property stopcock. Open the tap to release pressure. On Bristan Zing taps, the handle cap is a push-fit coloured disc (blue for cold, red for hot on pillar taps; a chrome disc on mixer taps). Prise it off with a flathead screwdriver wrapped in a cloth to avoid scratching. The retaining screw is underneath — usually a Phillips or crosshead. On the Bristan Artisan, the handle shroud (the decorative outer cover) may need to be unscrewed first before the retaining screw is accessible.
Remove the handle and you will see a dome-shaped or hexagonal gland nut holding the cartridge in place. Unscrew this anticlockwise — on older Bristan taps this may be quite stiff due to limescale. Use an adjustable spanner with a cloth. The Bristan Zing typically uses a 25mm ceramic cartridge; the Artisan uses a 35mm or 40mm depending on whether it is a basin or kitchen tap. Pull the cartridge straight out once the nut is removed. If it is stubborn, a cartridge puller (available from Screwfix for around £10) will save a lot of frustration.
Take the old cartridge to Screwfix, Toolstation, or Plumb Center — all stock Bristan-compatible cartridges. Alternatively, order directly from Bristan Spares (bristanspares.com) using the part number from their website. Genuine Bristan cartridges are typically £8–20. When fitting the new cartridge, ensure the hot/cold orientation tabs align with the slots in the tap body — fitting the cartridge 180 degrees out will reverse the hot and cold directions, a common mistake.
Refit the gland nut and hand tighten, then snug up with a spanner — do not overtighten. Refit the handle and retaining screw, then the cap. Restore the water supply slowly and check for drips. Test that the tap turns off positively at both extremes — a Bristan mixer that drips with the handle fully in the cold position often has a cartridge fitted the wrong way round.
If the tap body itself is corroded or the tap seat is damaged (usually from years of dripping water eroding the brass seat), a cartridge replacement will not cure the drip. On monobloc taps this typically means replacing the whole tap. On older pillar taps with a traditional washer-and-jumper arrangement (pre-2000 Bristan taps may have these), a tap reseating tool (available from Screwfix for around £20) can regrind the seat to give a clean seating surface for a new washer.
Prefer to have it done for you?
Find me an engineer →🛠 Tools & materials you may need
🔗 Some links above are affiliate links — if you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This keeps the site free.
Was this guide helpful?
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my tap cartridge has failed?
A worn cartridge usually shows itself through a persistent drip (even with the handle turned fully off), a handle that's become stiff or difficult to turn, or water that won't get hot or cold no matter how far you push the lever. If tightening the gland nut under the handle doesn't stop the drip, the cartridge itself has reached the end of its life.
Can I just buy any Bristan cartridge or do I need the exact model?
You must match the cartridge to your exact tap model—Bristan makes 25mm, 35mm, and 40mm cartridges, and fitting the wrong size won't work. Use the Bristan spares finder on their website or take a photo of your tap to a plumber's merchant; fitting the wrong cartridge is a false economy.
Why would my new cartridge still drip after I've fitted it?
The most common cause is fitting the cartridge 180 degrees out of phase, which reverses the hot and cold—check that the orientation tabs on the cartridge align with the slots in the tap body. If the cartridge is correctly oriented and the tap still drips, the tap body itself may be corroded or the internal seat damaged, which requires a full tap replacement.
Do I need a special tool to remove the old cartridge?
A standard adjustable spanner and flathead screwdriver are usually enough, but if the cartridge is stuck fast (common in hard-water areas where limescale has built up), a cartridge puller from Screwfix costs around £10 and saves considerable frustration and risk of damage to the tap body.
Is it safe to replace a tap cartridge myself if I've never done plumbing before?
Yes—cartridge replacement requires no soldering, no gas work, and minimal special knowledge; the main skill is careful disassembly and ensuring you don't overtighten the gland nut. Turn off the water first, work slowly, and take a photo of each step as you go; if you get stuck, a plumber can finish the job in minutes.
What should I do if my tap cartridge is a non-standard HFFC size?
Measure the cartridge length and diameter carefully before ordering a replacement—HFFC (High Flow Fit and Click) cartridges used in some social housing stock are non-standard sizes and cannot be substituted with regular Bristan cartridges. Contact Bristan Spares directly with your tap model number if you're unsure.