How to Fit And Repair Taps

Leaky taps, whether they are in your bathroom or outdoors, can be not only irritating but can be bad for the environment and your household’s water usage. It is important to handle a dripping tap as soon as possible in order to minimize damage and make it easier to fix. With a few simple steps and tools, you can fix and replace these taps on your own without having to pay an expensive handyman to do the job for you.

Fixing a Dripping Tap

Please note that the method about to be detailed is for standard mixer taps that use traditional washers, not for monobloc taps which have hard-wearing ceramic discs. These will need to be ordered and replaced through the manufacturer.

Step One:

Try replacing the old washer with a new one. If you don’t have one at your immediate access or disposal, try flipping the washer to have the unused side up but make sure to replace it as soon as possible.

Step Two:

If replacing the washer doesn’t work, there is likely damage to the valve seating, which can be fixed using a washer and seating set or less easily with a special grinding tool. Turn off the water supply. Use your fingers or pliers to unscrew the top plate with the hot/cold emblem

Step Three:

Since all taps are not made in the same fashion or way, there isn’t a singular way to get the handle off. So this won’t be much help, but refer to another article if you need help getting the handle off, but the next step is to get the handle off.

Step Four:

Use an adjustable spanner in order to undo the headgear nut. Absolutely do not apply extra force to the nut if it is difficult to turn. It can damage the inlet pipe if you apply extra force. Instead of applying force, pad up the base and utilize a pipe wrench and apply necessary force to loosen it.

Step Five:

By unscrewing the nut, you will be able the remove the headgear. You will then see where the washer sits. Usually it will sit over a small button or be held in place by a nut. If it’s held by a nut, loosen it using an adjustable spanner in order to reach the nut. Then pry out the washer; a screwdriver may be helpful.

Step Six:

Replace with a new washer then assemble the tap back together in the same order. It is highly recommended you put some silicone grease at the base of the headgear in the threads before putting it back into the body.

And easy as that, you can replace and fix up your tap. Many times there will be a drippy tap that needs to be fixed. Take the six easy steps explained above and fix them all while helping conserve water and reduce water usage.