May 31

How To Repair A Dripping Tap

With the price of water rising and the dam levels dropping, now is as good a time as any to ensure your plumbing is in top shape to prevent leaks and keep money in your pocket.

Dripping taps can lead to a higher loss of water than you may think. A single tap can lose approximately 25 litres of water a day (that’s 9,000 litres per year!). Multiply that by all your household sinks, showers and toilets and aging plumbing hardware can lead you to having a small environmental crisis on your hands. Luckily, it can be a simple task to fix a leaking sink or shower. If you would like to repair it yourself, follow these steps to breathe new life into your taps. Alternatively, give us a call and we can visit you and repair the tap at your convenience.

So, how can I stop a leaky tap?

Firstly, identify which part of the tap is leaking. Does the tap drip even though it is turned off? Then you most likely need to replace the O-ring. Is there water leaking from the spindle? Then it is most likely the body washer that needs to be replaced. Either way the tap needs to be dismantled so it is worth your while to change out both your O-ring and body washer. These parts are inexpensive and simple to replace once you’ve dismantled your tap. This will ensure longevity of your plumbing hardware and means greater reliability and more time between repairs.

  1. Turn off your mains supply and then drain the tap you are working on. This can be done by opening the tap you are working on and opening another tap that is physically lower, such as an outdoor tap.
  2. Plug your drain to prevent losing any small parts down the sink.
  3. Remove the button (or screw) and handle and then remove the body (or skirt) of the tap. Consider using a cloth between the wrench and external hardware to prevent scratches.
  4. Wind out the spindle, expose the O-ring and remove by either cutting or prising off. Replace it with a new O-ring. The jumper valve will either be sitting inside the tap or may have come out attached to the spindle.
  5. Replace the body washer, return the jumper valve and tighten the spindle back into the tap housing.
  6. Replace the body, handle and button and turn off all your taps fully.
  7. Turn on mains water and ease air out of the tap by gradually turning it on. Once flow has returned to normal, turn the tap off again and check for leaks. If it is still leaking you may have a deeper plumbing issue. Call Us today to talk to one of our team members and schedule an appointment.

Note: If you are finding it difficult to turn off screw taps or just want to make it easier to operate your taps, you can replace your old spindle with a new ½ turn spindle. These have less parts to replace and make turning your taps on and off much easier.

All seem a bit too much? Contact Us today so we can fix the issue for you.

For any plumbing repair needs, call us today to book in your appointment. If you have a plumbing emergency, we are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1300 600 508.


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