Dripping or leaking tap
Causes
Listed under: fixtures and fittings, plumbing, Services, baths, showers, sinks and handbasins
Cause
Washer needs replacing
Repair
- dripping taps should be fixed without delay. A slow-dripping tap can lose 3 litres per day and a fast-dripping tap can waste more than 70 litres per day
- older styles of tap use a rubber washer that can wear out and require replacement
- temporarily turn off the water supply using the toby at your property boundary. The toby is usually protected by a metal or blue or black plastic cover. Newer models can be turned on or off by hand, but a few older models use a metal handle
- if you are working on a hot tap, turn off the water from the cylinder
- at the tap, remove the Hot or Cold indicator (see drawing) and then undo the screw and lift off the top of the tap
- unscrew the shield to expose the tap
- use a spanner to remove the nut/spindle assembly
- use a spanner to remove the nut holding the washer in place. Replace the washer
- replace the retaining nut then reassemble the tap. Wrapping some thread tape around the unit before reassembly can reduce the risk of future leaks in old taps
- turn on the water again
- more complex lever and ceramic taps and shower mixers are likely to require a licensed plumber to repair