ᐅ Ikea Elverdam Mixer Tap on Domsjö Sink Issues

Hello again,

Today I finally had my kitchen installed, which went smoothly apart from a few minor issues. However, the Elverdam mixer tap is not firmly fixed to the sink. The installer (not from IKEA, as the appliances are from elsewhere) said that this is often the case with IKEA taps—that they can’t be properly secured.

After about ten uses, the mixer tap wobbles so much that we’re worried it might come off completely. The installer said this is IKEA’s fault and advised me to exchange it. I’m also missing the installation tool (a pipe-like part similar to a spark plug socket) needed to tighten it myself.

The installer mentioned something about bending if it’s tightened too much... What should I do now? Will IKEA exchange it for me? Or are there other ways to secure it properly? Do they have spare parts (tools) at IKEA? Ideally, I would prefer to exchange it and invest my money in a faucet from Grohe instead—they at least look more robust...

Thanks and best wishes for May

Saschaline

Hello,
first, check whether the installer followed the assembly instructions exactly. The triangular plastic part should not be necessary for domsjö and might only cause additional instability.
The pipe wrench is supplied with the faucet. If you don’t have it, the installer probably took it. You can get a replacement from IKEA as a spare part. The part number is listed in the assembly instructions.
Tighten the nut securely, but carefully. The nut should not come loose on its own.

Hello Saschaline!

That’s really unfortunate! Sometimes I just can’t believe the poor workmanship some contractors deliver.

To me, it sounds more like your contractor didn’t want to properly install the mixer tap. But of course, he still expected to be paid for his sloppy work, right? By the way, he is also liable for his work and has to provide a warranty on it. So he can’t just get away with it that easily.

It might be possible that there was something wrong with the mixer tap itself. But what would you do with the installed tap then? Take the whole kitchen back to Ikea?

Take a look at the installation manual. On page 6, there are clear pictures showing how it should be done. What I couldn’t tell is whether the “socket wrench” you mentioned comes with the Ikea tap or you have to provide it yourself. I’d think it was included. Probably the idiot just took that tool with him because he wants to charge you again when he comes to fix it.

If you have no experience with tradespeople and don’t want to get involved yourself, that’s understandable. Then you’ll probably have to deal with the contractor and/or Ikea.

In my opinion: your contractor didn’t do his job properly!

I would call the contractor and give him two options: either the tap is defective (which I don’t believe), in which case it’s not his fault, but then he installed it incorrectly. SO he has to remove the tap at his own cost, and you sort things out with Ikea. You’d of course have to pay again for reinstalling it later. I’d try to negotiate a goodwill solution with Ikea for that.
Or the tap is fine and he simply didn’t install it properly, in which case he must fix it immediately.

I would insist on an immediate repair during that conversation and inform him that if it’s not fixed by [date] May, you will hire another professional company to do the job as a replacement contractor.

Then make sure to send a fax with the same message, including a deadline with a specific date and the statement about hiring a replacement contractor if he doesn’t comply — or if you don’t have a fax machine, send a registered letter with return receipt. When setting deadlines, never say “within 3 days”; always write “by [date] May 2012.” Use terms like “deadline” and “otherwise replacement contractor.”

Replacement contractor means you hire another company to properly carry out the repair and the original contractor must pay for it. You can look this up under construction law on Wikipedia; I included the link for you.

If you don’t feel like calling the contractor, the fax or registered letter is sufficient. Under no circumstances should you skip a written statement.

The good news: you will get a mixer tap that doesn’t wobble.
The bad news: you will have to be patient for some time and live with the wobbling tap for now.

A third option would be to try fixing it yourself or ask a neighbor, friend, or partner to help you. Just get the right socket wrench from Ikea beforehand. And don’t forget to keep recommending your contractor!

A fourth option could be:
Get a new tap from Ikea again, so you have all parts complete (including the socket wrench), and show it to the contractor when he comes. He will hardly claim that two separate parts are defective.

fotokatze

First of all, thank you very much. I had already suspected something like that. There are still a few other small issues left in the kitchen, like the cornice or trim strip, due to missing tools. He will just have to take another look when he comes back.

But I took care of it for now under the assumption that the fault lies with IKEA (handover protocol). I don’t think I can tighten it any further with this socket wrench—at least, it looks similar to the description.

Thanks again

Regards

Saschaline

As far as I can tell from the photos, everything looks very good. I don’t think anything is missing or needs to be followed up on now...

As far as I can judge from the photos, everything looks very good.
I don’t think anything is missing or needs to be redone...

The only question left is:

"Why is it wobbly?"

Can I get it exchanged now—even without the spindle (and I no longer have that triangular piece either; the installers do)?

Or how can I make this thing stable? As it is, it’s useless... and not properly functional in any way.

Best regards

Saschaline