Not only is a leaky tap incredibly annoying, it can also damage your home and impact your water bill. You’d be surprised to learn how much water is being wasted with those incessant drips. Research has shown that a leaking tap could waste up to 20,000 litres of water a year. Yep, you read that right.
Check out this drip calculator to see just how much water your leaky tap is wasting. Not to make you feel bad or anything.
Fixing a leaky tap is a lot simpler than you may think. Though there are plenty of plumbers in London who can help, it’s worth every homeowner learning this basic plumbing skill.
Read on for our easy guide to help you fix your broken tap.
Simple enough. Turn the water off at the stopcock or isolation valve, located underneath the sink. Check it’s off by running the tap until no more water comes out.
The screw that holds your tap together needs to be loosened. You’ll usually find this underneath the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ caps or indicators. It’s possible to unscrew these by hand, or you could use a screwdriver to pop them off.
The next step is to take the tap’s head off (that’s the bit you turn). You may find a metal casing around the valve, so take this off too. Assemble all the pieces you’ve taken apart next to the sink carefully. It helps to lay them in the order you took them off, so it’s easier to put it all back together.
So this is where you take a slightly different approach depending on the type of tap you have. Some use washers and some have ceramic discs. If you’re not sure which one yours is, a quick test to check is by turning your tap. Those that only rotate up to a half are usually ceramic. If it turns further than that, you probably have a traditional or ‘washer’ tap.
To replace a ceramic disc, grip the valve with your spanner and loosen. You’ll then easily be able to pop your new ceramic cartridge in. Tighten valve and put your tap back together.
Washer types may be leaking because of two reasons: a worn O-ring, or a broken washer. To replace a rubber washer, loosen the valve with your spanner. Slide off the rubber washer and replace. Tighten the valve back on and re-assemble your tap.
If you’ve replaced the washer and find there’s still a leak, check the O-ring for any signs of damage. If this needs replacing, unscrew the spout and use your screwdriver to loosen and replace the O-ring at the base.
Not to doubt your plumbing skills or anything, but there are times when you may just need a little professional help. Hire a plumber if you encounter any of the following issues:
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