Have you found yourself stuck with the issue of a dripping tap in your home?
Whether you have a dripping kitchen tap or your bathroom tap is leaking, in this guide our Bathroom Takeaway team will walk you through the best solutions to fix it.
What Causes Dripping Taps?
There can be various reasons for a tap dripping, but what are the most common reasons?
- Dirty tap cartridges
- Old or limestone build up on clogged fittings
- A dirty valve bonnet
- Broken washers
Most of the time, limescale accumulation has made the rubber washers porous.The washers are simple to replace and typically don't require expert assistance. But if you are still struggling, let’s explain how to stop a dripping tap.
How Do You Stop A Dripping Tap
Ready to learn how to repair a dripping tap?
Well firstly we recommend getting all the correct tools beside you before we start. The tools you will need are:
- An adjustable spanner
- Cartridge replacement
- Slot and cross-head screwdrivers
- Scissors
- Various washers and O-rings
Now you have got all the equipment you need. We suggest following these key points before we start.
- Turn you turn off water supply before beginning any plumbing work
- We suggest you run the taps to drain any access water in your system.
- Avoid over tightening your valve or washer when reassembling to avoid damage.
Step By Step How To Fix A Tap That Drips
Step 1: Switch Off Your Water
Firstly to sort your dripping mixer tap or dripping waterfall tap you must turn off the water. Depending on whether you have a stopcock or an isolation valve it's worth checking the pipes underneath your sink if you're not sure where this is located.
Step 2: Locate The Screws
The next step is to find the screw that connects the parts of your tap together. Usually, it is concealed beneath the cold and hot caps.
Although it should be possible to unscrew this by hand, you can always use a slot-head screwdriver to remove the taps if that doesn't work.
Step 3: Disassemble Your Tap Parts
The tap's head must now be unscrewed. You will also need to remove any metal covering that may be on the head.
As you disassemble the tap, place all of its components on one side in the same order. When you put the parts back together, it will be simple for you to remember the order.
Step 4: Ceramic Disc Replacement
Now you should be able to see the valve. Gripping the valve with the adjustable spanner, turn it until it appears loose enough to remove.
The next step is to replace your tap cartridge, tighten it, and put your tap back together the right way.
Step 5: Replace Rubber Washer
The next step in changing a washer is to turn the valve until it is loose enough to be removed using your adjustable spanner.
Replace the rubber washer with a new one after unscrewing or sliding it off. As in the previous step, put your tap back together properly.
Step 6: O-Ring Replacement
The final step on how to repair a dripping tap is to replace the O-rings on your tap.
If the leak continues after replacing the washer, you may need to check for O-ring wear and tear. A smaller version of the O-ring is the washer located at the bottom of your tap spout.
The O-ring can be accessed by lifting the spout and removing the grub screw at the bottom.
Locate the O-ring at the base, then loosen it to slide it off. You can also use scissors to cut it off if needed. The new O-rings can now be inserted, the screw tightened, and the spout returned to its original position.
FAQ’s
How Actually Does A Tap Work?
The water flow in a tap is managed by a valve mechanism.
The valve opens when the handle is turned, letting water move from the water supply to the sink or other fixture.
The position of the valve controls the amount of water that flows, and some taps use a valve to mix hot and cold water to improve water temperature.
How To Fix A Dripping Mixer Tap
Are you wondering ‘how do you fix a drainer tap?’ Or your mono basin mixer tap dripping is causing you issues, the same process as above applies across most tap fixing.
What Do I Do If My Bath Shower Mixer Tap Is Dripping?
If you are questioning “how do I stop a dripping tap in a bathroom?” Then don’t worry we have you covered. If a bath shower mixer tap is dripping, the problem is usually caused by a worn-out washer or a faulty cartridge. So we suggest you once again follow the steps above.
If you are struggling with how to stop a dripping mixer tap we always suggest calling in a professional too!
