Leaking Taps Alberton If you’re hearing water dripping all the time, chances are that your tap is leaking. This is a big annoyance and can waste up to 15 litres of water per day, which can add up quickly.

It’s important to call a plumbing professional as soon as possible to ensure that it doesn’t get worse. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to turn off the water at your stopcock and drain out the pipes until you can identify where the leak is coming from.

Alternatively, you can try to fix the leak yourself without having to pay a plumber a lot of money for the task. Using an adjustable spanner and a screwdriver, you can usually unscrew the decorative cap on top of the tap handle.

Once you’ve removed the cap, you’ll be able to see the screw inside of the handle that holds the tap together. This is often hidden underneath the hot or cold indicator button.

Another way to fix your dripping tap is to replace the washers that are used to seal the tap body. Washers can be purchased from most local hardware stores for a very small cost.

If your leaking tap is a traditional one, you’ll need to replace an internal rubber seal, or washer, that has perished. If you have a monobloc lever tap, you’ll need to replace a ceramic cartridge. It’s a fairly easy job to do, but you’ll need a screwdriver and some rags.