Dripping taps

Unfortunately, plumbing fixtures and fittings often need regular maintenance as they are continually subject to high pressures and wet conditions and are therefore prone to failing. Also here in parts of the country we have hard water conditions and limescale, which contributes to the leaking taps. Limescale is a chalky white deposit, often found on the inner surface of old pipes and taps and is problematic and unsightly.

Although a dripping tap is easily fixed, it’s identifying the part required to fix it, which can be a little tricky. Traditional bath, basin and kitchen taps use tap washers to isolate the water but modern ones use a variety of tap cartridges. You can pick up tap washers in any hardware shop (B&Q, Screwfix, Wickes). They come in a selection of sizes, so be sure to buy a pack of varying sizes ensuring you have the correct one for the job.

Modern mixer taps differ between manufacturers and identifying the make and model can often take longer than the job itself. If you’re having problems identifying the tap or the cartridge I recommend using Shower Doc. Simply upload a picture and description and they will help identify the tap and supply the correct part to fix it. Failing that, book a video call with us and we’ll happily chat to you about any leaking pipes, dripping taps, or plumbing / heating problem you may have.