How to repair a dripping tap
20 October 2024
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Originally published 10 July 2022. Refreshed and re-published on 20 October 2024
A dripping bathroom or kitchen tap might start out as a minor inconvenience but it’s surprising how quickly it can become a costly, property-damaging problem. However, a leaking tap is usually easy to fix, and doing so yourself will save you both time and money having to call out a plumber. This step-by-step guide will show you how.
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What tools do I need to fix a dripping tap?
You’ll need the following:
- Adjustable spanner
- Flathead and cross-head screwdrivers
- Scissors
- Replacement cartridge
- Assorted washers and O-rings
It's a good idea to get your tools laid out neatly in the area you'll be doing the repair so you can easily access them while working.
Things to do before you start
1. Turn off the water
Before you start any plumbing work, turn off your water supply. Then run off any excess water through the pipes.
2. Put the plug in
Before you start disassembling your tap, put the plug in the plughole so you don’t accidentally lose any small parts down there.
3. Cover your taps
Protect the finish of your taps by covering with a soft cloth or masking tape where you can.
4. Take care when reassembling
Don’t over-tighten a washer or valve when reassembling, as this may damage or cause excess stress on the joint.
Traditional compression valve taps
need a full turn or more to reach maximum power and use rubber washers. These washers sit at the base of the valve and form a seal to stop water flow. Drips occur when the washer starts to wear away.
Ceramic disc valve taps
Such as modern mixer taps - reach maximum power after half a turn or less and use ceramic discs instead of washers.
How to fix a compression valve tap
2. Remove the valve
Use an adjustable spanner to loosen the valve, then remove it.
3. Remove the nut and screw
Remove the nut that holds the washer in place, then hold the valve steady with an adjustable spanner and use a screwdriver to remove the screw that holds the washer in place.
4. Check the seating
The tap seat is what the washer sits on when the tap is closed. If it’s damaged there will be small canals eroded into the metal of the seat. You can fix this by using a seat grinder tool to grind the rest of the seat down to the level of these canals or by buying a seat insert kit that adds a new piece to form a new seal
5. Test the drip
Once you’ve fixed the tap seat, try putting your tap back together and testing the drip. If the drip has gone then the washer wasn’t the issue.
6. Check the washer
Check the washer for wear and tear and replace if needed.
7. Reassemble the tap
Once you’ve done this, screw the valve, valve cover and tap handle back into place, and re-fit the handle cap.
How to fix a ceramic disc valve tap
1. Remove the tap head
2. Unscrew the inside screw and lift off the headgear (or unscrew the valve cover)
Using either a crosshead screwdriver or an Allen key, unscrew the inside screw. Once that’s done, you can lift the entire headgear off, or use an adjustable spanner to the loose and remove the valve.
3. Unscrew the hexagonal nut at the neck of the valve
Use an adjustable spanner and if the nut is stiff, grab the body of the tap or spout with your other hand for leverage and to make sure it doesn’t turn – otherwise you could damage the pipework underneath.
4. Remove the entire ceramic disc valve (or cartridge)
Check the ceramic disc valve for damage or grime, and clean or replace the valve. Then secure the valve and handle cap back into position.
1. Loosen the nut
Accessing the tap from below the sink, use a box spanner to loosen the nut that secures the tap to the sink.
2. Remove the grub screw
Twist the tap round so it’s facing you, then use a screwdriver to remove the small grub screw.
3. Access the O-ring
Lift the spout so you can access the O-ring, which is the rubber ring at the base of the spout.
4. Remove and replace the O-ring
Carefully remove the O-ring using a screwdriver then roll the replacement O-ring into position.
5. Replace the spout
Line up the marker on the spout with the groove in the tap body, and slot the spout back into position.
6. Secure in place
Secure the tap in place by re-tightening the grub screw and the nut underneath the sink.
FAQ's
Is it ok to leave a dripping tap?
It's not a good idea to leave a dripping tap. Watersafe estimate that a dripping tap could waste up to 5,500 litres of water over the course of a year!
Why should a dripping tap be fixed immediately?
As well as saving money, a leak that's left untreated could eventually get worse and contribute to damp & mould, so it's best to get it fixed sooner rather than later.
How to temporarily stop leaking tap
The only temporary solution is to turn off the water supply, but since this isn’t ideal for an extended period, we recommend combining it with the other repair steps outlined above.
In conclusion
We hope you found this information useful.
Remember, if you’re still having issues with a managed property, you can contact Places for People.
If you are not a Places for People customer, we do recommend using a reputable website to find a suitable tradesperson such as Checkatrade, TrustMark or Trust a Trader.
In the meantime, why not check out some of our other how-to-guides and insightful blogs?