Stop a dripping tap

If your tap has an irritating drip, it could be that it has not been turned off tightly enough to stop the flow of water. Alternatively it could mean that a rubber washer inside the tap has perished. Look at the tap. Is it dripping from the spout? If this is the case, the rubber washer is more than likely the culprit or if it is dripping from the top, what is called an O-ring (again inside) needs replacing. A diagnosis and repair can be carried out fully guaranteed by Barnet Plumbers .

1. Turn off the isolation valve to your taps. You should know the location of this valve.

2. Put the plug in the sink. This is what a Barnet Plumber would do, because those tiny screws and bits that make up your tap are fiddly and prone to falling down the plughole into the sewer and then are swept away forever.

3. Pop the lid off each tap (sometimes labelled ‘H’ for hot and ‘C’ for cold, or coloured red for hot and blue for cold).

4. There’s a screw inside. Unscrew it anti-clockwise.

5. Expose the cartridge. This can be quite tricky, especially if you live in a hard-water area as limescale may have built up on the cartridge. You may have to use some force.

6. Pull the cartridge out.

7. Most DIY stores have replacements in stock. So there should not be a problem, just take the old one with you if possible.

8. Repair is by replacement.

9. Tighten it all up hand-tight, plus a quarter turn.

Tip:
Keep all the parts in the order in they were removed so that you can easily put them back again. A photo is a good idea.