Why taps start dripping
Most drips come down to a worn washer or cartridge inside the tap. Traditional taps use a rubber washer that hardens and cracks with age; modern mixer taps use a ceramic cartridge that eventually wears or gets scored by grit in the water. Either way, the tap can no longer seal fully and the drip begins.
A tap leaking from the spout when turned off points to the washer or cartridge, while water weeping from around the handle usually means a worn O-ring or gland.
Hard water makes all of this worse. Limescale builds up inside the tap, scuffs the sealing surfaces and shortens the life of washers and cartridges, which is why taps in this area tend to need attention sooner than the manufacturers suggest.
Repair or replace?
A sound tap with a worn washer is worth repairing, and new washers or a replacement cartridge are inexpensive parts. Where the tap body is corroded, the finish is tatty or the tap is an unusual size with parts no longer available, a straight replacement is the sensible route.
Replacing a tap is also the moment many homeowners choose to update the look of a kitchen or bathroom, since a new tap makes a surprising difference for a modest outlay.
Mixer taps and garden taps
A leaking mixer tap usually needs a new cartridge matched to the make and model, which we source once we know what is fitted. Leaking garden and outside taps are often perished washers or frost damage from winter, and an outside tap that drips all summer is worth fixing before it freezes and splits.
- Dripping taps repaired with new washers or cartridges
- Mixer tap cartridges sourced and replaced
- Kitchen and bathroom taps replaced
- Outside and garden taps repaired or renewed
Tidy work around the sink
Tap work often disturbs the sealant around a sink or basin, so we re-seal as needed and leave the area clean. If a leaking tap has damaged the unit or worktop below, we can make good the surrounding carpentry and boxing in the same visit.
Booking a tap repair
Whether it is one dripping tap or a houseful of tired ones, request a free quote or call 07735 852901. Toilets and appliances are covered on our toilet repairs and appliance installation pages.
If you are planning to replace a tap yourself and supply it, we are happy to fit a tap you have already bought, as long as it suits the existing pipework and mounting holes, which we confirm before starting.