Basin tap wrenches are used to tighten or loosen basin, sink and bath tap backnuts. They may also be used to undo hard-to-reach compression fittings.
Basin wrenches are primarily used to remove tap fittings that are hard or impossible to turn with traditional spanners and wrenches.
The threaded nuts that are used to hold taps onto a sink, basin or bath are often located in deeply-recessed places that can only be accessed with a basin tap wrench.
What is a backnut?
Backnuts are hexagonal nuts incorperating a flange and are commonly made from plastic or brass, though you may come across older steel backnuts.
Not all basin tap wrenches are limited to only fit backnuts. Adjustable basin wrenches can also be used on compression fittings.
What is a compression fitting?
A compression fitting is used in plumbing to join two or more pieces of pipe together or alternatively seal a pipe with a stop end. The device is made up of compression fitting nuts, olives, and a compression fitting body. As the nut is tightened, olive is compressed to create a water-tight seal.
