A dripping tap is more than an annoyance — a steady drip can waste litres of water a day and push up your bills. The good news is that most dripping taps can be fixed at home with a few basic tools. This guide explains how to fix a dripping tap step by step, and how to tell when it’s a job for a plumber.
Why taps drip
The cause depends on the type of tap:
- Traditional taps (the kind you turn several times) usually drip because the rubber washer inside has worn out.
- Modern mixer and quarter-turn taps usually have a ceramic cartridge (disc) that wears over time.
- Worn O-rings or a damaged valve seat can also cause drips, and very high water pressure can make a tap drip even when the parts are sound.
What you’ll need
- A flat and cross-head screwdriver
- An adjustable spanner
- A replacement washer or ceramic cartridge to match your tap
- A cloth to protect the tap and plug the plughole
How to fix a dripping tap: step by step
- Turn off the water supply. Use the isolation valve on the pipe under the sink, or the main stopcock. Then open the tap to drain any remaining water.
- Plug the plughole so small screws can’t fall down the drain.
- Remove the handle. Prise off the decorative cap (hot/cold indicator), undo the screw underneath, and lift the handle off.
- Unscrew the headgear with an adjustable spanner to reveal the washer or cartridge.
- Replace the worn part. Fit a new washer (traditional taps) or a new ceramic cartridge (mixer taps), and replace the O-ring if it looks perished.
- Reassemble the tap in reverse order, taking care not to overtighten.
- Turn the water back on slowly and test. The drip should be gone.
Traditional or ceramic? How to tell
If the tap turns several full rotations to shut off, it’s almost certainly a washer type. If it shuts off in a quarter turn, it has a ceramic disc cartridge. Take the old part to a merchant to match the replacement exactly.
When to call a plumber
Call a professional if the tap is seized or corroded, if you can’t identify or source the right cartridge, if the drip continues after replacing the washer, or if the real cause is your water pressure. A plumber can replace cartridges and valve seats cleanly and check whether a pressure issue — see our guide on water pressure — is behind it. Left unfixed, a persistent drip can also point to a hidden leak elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my tap still dripping after changing the washer?
The valve seat the washer presses against may be worn or scaled, or the tap may actually have a ceramic cartridge rather than a washer. A plumber can re-seat or re-cartridge the tap.
Is a dripping tap expensive to ignore?
A single dripping tap can waste several litres a day, adding to metered water bills — and a hot tap wastes energy too. It’s worth fixing promptly.
Can high water pressure cause a tap to drip?
Yes. Excessively high mains pressure can force water past the seals. If several taps drip or bang, it’s worth having the pressure checked.
Need a dripping tap fixed fast?
If you’d rather not tackle it yourself, our team provides quick, reliable plumbing services across West London. Call 020 3561 4415 or contact us for a quote.