Most dripping taps are caused by a worn rubber washer (in older screw-down taps that take several turns to open) or a worn ceramic cartridge (in quarter-turn and most mixer taps). Turn off the water to the tap, replace the washer or cartridge, and the drip usually stops. If the tap drips from the handle or the base instead of the spout, it’s a worn O-ring or seal.
First, what kind of tap is it?
Turn the handle and count. If it takes several full turns from off to fully on, it’s a traditional compression tap with a rubber washer inside. If it goes from off to full in a quarter or half turn, it has a ceramic disc cartridge. Most modern mixer taps, including single-lever kitchen mixers, use a cartridge.
Where the water comes out matters too. A drip from the spout means the washer or cartridge isn’t sealing. Water around the handle or the base of the tap means a seal or O-ring inside the body is worn.
Before you start: turn the water off
Look under the sink for small isolation valves on the pipes going up to the tap. Turn the slot a quarter turn with a flat screwdriver so it sits across the pipe. If there are no isolation valves, turn off the house’s main stopcock (often under the kitchen sink). Open the tap to let the remaining water out, and put the plug in so small parts can’t vanish down the drain.
Changing a washer (screw-down taps)
- Prise off the decorative cap on the handle and undo the screw underneath, then lift the handle off.
- Undo the headgear (the large nut) with a spanner, holding the tap body steady with your other hand so it doesn’t twist.
- The washer sits at the bottom of the headgear, held by a small nut or pushed on. Replace it with one the same size.
- Reassemble, turn the water back on slowly and check for drips.
Changing a ceramic cartridge (quarter-turn and mixer taps)
- Remove the handle (usually a hidden grub screw or a cap with a screw underneath).
- Unscrew the cartridge with a spanner and take it to a plumbers’ merchant, or note the make of tap, so you get an exact match. Cartridges are often tap-specific, and left and right can be different.
- Fit the new cartridge, hand-tight then a little more. Don’t force it.
- Refit the handle and turn the water back on slowly.
If the tap is old, badly limescaled or parts aren’t available, a new tap is often better value than chasing parts.
How much water does a drip waste?
More than you’d think. A steady drip can add up to many litres a day, which matters if you’re on a water meter, and on hot taps you’re also paying to heat it. A dripping hot tap can also leave limescale stains that are hard to shift from sinks and baths.
When to call a professional
Call us if the tap is still dripping after a new washer or cartridge, if the tap body is cracked or corroded, if the isolation valves won’t turn or the stopcock is seized, or if you’d simply rather not take a tap apart. It’s a quick job for us, and we’ll bring the common parts with us.
Quick questions
Why is my tap still dripping after changing the washer?
The valve seat inside the tap body may be worn or scored, so the new washer can’t seal. A plumber can re-cut the seat or, more often, replace the tap.
Can I fix a dripping tap without turning off the water?
No, it isn’t worth the risk. Use the isolation valve under the sink, or the main stopcock, before taking any part of the tap apart.
Why does my mixer tap drip from the spout?
Most single-lever mixer taps use a ceramic cartridge. A drip from the spout usually means the cartridge needs replacing.
How much does it cost to fix a dripping tap?
It depends on the tap and the part needed. Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you what it’s likely to be before we come out.
This guide is general advice for simple checks. Never attempt work on gas appliances yourself: by law, gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999.