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How to fix a dripping tap
A dripping tap wastes water and keeps you awake, but it is usually a ten-minute fix. The part that wears out is small and cheap; the trick is working out which type you have.
Why taps drip
Inside the tap, a rubber washer or ceramic disc presses against a seat to stop water. Over the years the washer hardens or the seat gets scratched by limescale, and water creeps past. In hard-water areas this happens sooner. A drip from the spout is almost always this. A leak from around the handle or base is usually a worn O-ring or a loose gland nut.
Work out which tap you have
- Traditional tap with a separate hot and cold head that turns many times: usually a rubber washer.
- Tap that turns a quarter turn (90 degrees) from off to on: ceramic disc cartridge.
- Single lever mixer tap: a cartridge inside the body, often held by a grub screw under the lever.
If you are unsure, take the first apart and look. Once you have the old part out, take it to a plumbers' merchant or DIY shop to match it.
What you need
- Adjustable spanner and a flat and cross-head screwdriver
- A replacement washer, O-ring or cartridge
- A cloth, an old towel, and a bowl or plug for the sink (so small parts cannot fall down the plughole)
- Penetrating oil if parts are stuck, and a little silicone plumbing grease
Step by step
- Turn off the water. Many modern taps have small isolation valves on the pipes underneath; turn the slot a quarter turn with a flat screwdriver. If not, turn off the stopcock and open the tap to drain it. Put the plug in the sink.
- Remove the cover. Prise off the small cap on top of the handle (it may hide a screw), undo the screw and pull the handle off. For a headgear tap, you may need to unscrew a metal shroud by hand.
- Undo the headgear nut. Use the spanner and hold the tap body with your other hand so you do not twist the pipe.
- Replace the washer. Pull out the headgear. The washer sits at the bottom, held by a small nut. Replace the washer, or replace the whole ceramic cartridge on a quarter-turn tap.
- Check the seat. If it is rough or pitted, a worn seat will make a new washer drip again. A tap reseating tool or a new tap may then be the answer.
- Reassemble and test. Put it back in reverse order, turn the water on slowly, check for leaks around the nut, and then open and close the tap.
Mixer and lever taps
Lever mixers usually have one cartridge. Look for a small grub screw under the lever or a cover on its side. Remove the lever, unscrew the retaining ring or collar, and lift out the cartridge. Cartridges are model-specific, so note the brand on the tap or take the old one with you. Some cheaper taps are not worth repairing, and a replacement can be cheaper than a cartridge.
Still dripping?
Check that the cartridge is seated flat, that rubber seals are in the right place, and that limescale has not built up in the spout. Soaking parts in a mix of white vinegar and water for an hour can help. If the tap is old, corroded or leaking from the body, replacing it is sensible. If you are not comfortable working on pipes, a plumber can do this in a short visit.
Before you start: stop leaks, not start them
Never force corroded nuts hard; copper pipe can kink or split. If water will not shut off, call a plumber rather than guessing. See our basic toolkit guide for what to keep at home, and our sink unblocking guide if the tap drain is slow too.
Frequently asked questions
How much water does a dripping tap waste?
It varies with the drip rate, but a steady drip can waste many litres a day. It is worth fixing both for the bill and because many UK homes are on a water meter.
Do I need to turn off the water at the stopcock?
Not if the tap has its own isolation valve. If it does not, shut the stopcock and open the tap to drain the pipe before you start.
Why does my tap still drip after a new washer?
The valve seat is probably scratched or pitted. A reseating tool can fix it, or the tap may need replacing.