Why taps drip
A tap that drips from the spout when it is off almost always has a worn washer or a failed ceramic cartridge inside. Traditional taps use a rubber washer that compresses against a seat; over years it hardens and perishes. Quarter-turn taps use a ceramic disc cartridge, which either works or it doesn't — when it fails, the whole cartridge is swapped.
A tap leaking from the top, around the handle or spindle, is usually a worn O-ring or gland packing. That one often shows up as a small puddle on the sink every time the tap is used.
How a dripping tap is fixed
The water to the tap is isolated — ideally at a local service valve, otherwise at the stopcock — and the tap is stripped down. The washer, O-ring or cartridge is replaced with the correct size, the tap is reassembled and tested. It is a small job, but the right part matters: cartridges in particular vary between makes and models.
If the tap body itself is corroded, the valve seat is pitted, or the tap is a budget model with no available parts, a replacement tap is the better value. We will tell you honestly which situation yours is in.
Tap replacement and new sinks
Swapping a like-for-like tap is usually straightforward. Changing style — say from separate hot and cold taps to a mixer — can mean altering the holes in the sink or basin, which is worth planning rather than discovering on the day. Kitchen sink plumbing often comes up at the same time: waste connections, traps and the feed to a dishwasher are easy to sort while the tap is off.
If you are having other water work done, it can be efficient to combine visits. We also fit outside taps and handle washing machine plumbing, and a seized stopcock found during a tap repair can be dealt with under our stopcock replacement service.
Is a dripping tap urgent?
Rarely. But a tap leaking at the base or from the body can let water into the cupboard below, where it quietly damages the unit. If you can see water where it should not be, turn off the supply to that tap and give us a call on 07429 632804.
