Dripping or even worse leaking taps are a common feature in many Essex households; in fact, it’s the number one plumbing issue in most UK homes.
At best dripping taps are annoying that constant drip, drip, drip can get on your nerves after a while and because of this, we’re often called out to repair offending taps.
Very often though dripping taps (or worse leaking taps) are left alone and forgotten about sadly, it’s not a high priority for most people but what they don’t realise is a dripping tap can waste over 1000 gallons of water a year.
A lot of water and money down the drain even more so if it’s a hot tap that’s dripping.
Fortunately fixing a leaky tap’s inexpensive whether you do it yourself or hire a Plumber. Only attempt to fix the tap yourself if you have good DIY skills and the correct tools do it wrong, and a dripping tap will be the least of your worries.
How To Repair A Dripping Tap
Firstly ensure you have the correct size washer for your tap.
Switch off the water supply to your tap most taps these days are fitted with tap connectors where you can cut off the water supply at the connector with a flat-headed screwdriver otherwise shut off the water at the mains stopcock.
Once switched off open the tap to release any remaining water
Pillar Taps
- Undo the headgear nut with an adjustable spanner if it’s hard to undo grip the nut underneath the tap with an additional spanner.
- Once undone remove the top assembly known as the stem from the tap.
- You will see the washer at the bottom, pull the old washer off, use a flat head screwdriver to prise off if necessary
- Place the new washer onto the stem and screw the headgear back in
- Retighten the headgear nut with your spanner make sure you don’t over tighten
- Switch water supply back on and run water to test the tap
Mixer Taps
Mixer taps generally use the same mechanism as traditional taps but will have two headgears (one for hot and one for cold) remove both and follow the same process listed above.
Ceramic Disc Taps
Many modern taps utilise a cartridge containing a pair of ceramic discs which eventually will wear out (especially in hard water areas) you will need to install a new cartridge in the tap, if you’re not sure what cartridge you need remove it first and take it to your local DIY store to match a replacement one.
- Switch off the water supply
- Run the tap to drain excess water
- Remove the tap head; all heads are different you’ll find a grub screw somewhere that’ll allow you to remove the head
- Once the heads removed use a spanner to undo the nut, then you can remove the cartridge
- Fit the new cartridge and reassemble the tap
- Switch on water supply and test the tap
Struggling with your tap or unsure? we can help give us a call
