How to Fix a Dripping Tap (and When to Call a Plumber)

"How to fix a leaky tap" is one of the most Googled DIY questions in the UK, and for good reason: a steady drip wastes water, stains the basin and drives you mad at night. The good news is it's often a 20-minute job. The trick is knowing which kind of tap you've got.

Step 1: Work out your tap type

• Traditional (compression) tap: the handle turns several times from off to fully on, and gets stiffer as you close it. Drips are almost always a worn rubber washer.
• Quarter-turn tap: the handle goes from off to fully on in a quarter or half turn. These use a ceramic disc cartridge; a drip means the cartridge needs replacing.
• Mixer or monobloc tap: if water leaks from the base of the spout rather than the nozzle, it's usually a worn O-ring.

Step 2: Turn the water off

Look for an isolation valve on the pipe under the basin — a small screw slot. Turn it a quarter-turn so the slot sits across the pipe. No isolation valve? Turn off the house supply at the stopcock (here's where to find it). Open the tap to drain what's left, and put the plug in so no small parts disappear down the waste.

Step 3: Fix it

Replacing a washer (traditional tap)

1. Prise off the decorative cap on the handle and undo the screw underneath.
2. Remove the handle, then unscrew the headgear nut with a spanner (hold the tap body steady so you don't twist the pipework).
3. The washer sits at the bottom of the headgear — remove it and take it to the shop to match it.
4. Fit the new washer, reassemble, and turn the water back on slowly.

Replacing a ceramic cartridge (quarter-turn tap)

1. Remove the handle as above.
2. Unscrew the cartridge and note whether it closes clockwise or anticlockwise — they come in pairs.
3. Take it with you to buy an exact match, fit it, and reassemble.

Replacing an O-ring (mixer tap)

1. Loosen the grub screw at the back of the spout and lift the spout off.
2. Roll off the old O-rings, smear new ones with silicone grease, fit, and push the spout back on.

When to call a plumber instead

• The tap body is cracked or badly corroded.
• The headgear nut won't budge without twisting the pipe.
• You can't get a matching cartridge — sometimes a new tap is the better fix.
• The drip is from the pipework under the sink, not the tap itself.
• There's no working isolation valve or stopcock.

A tap repair is a small job for us, and we're happy to do it. Typical prices are in our plumber cost guide. If you're in Preston, Penwortham, Leyland or nearby, call 07949 075721 or use the form below.