Dripping Tap? Here’s How to Fix It Yourself in 15 Minutes

That steady drip-drip-drip from the kitchen or bathroom tap isn’t just annoying — it’s wasting water and money every single day. The good news: it’s one of the easiest plumbing jobs to fix yourself, and you almost never need to call a plumber for it.

In most cases, a dripping tap comes down to one worn part. Here’s how to diagnose it and fix it in about 15 minutes.

Why Taps Drip

Taps drip because a seal inside has worn out and can no longer create a watertight shut-off. Which seal depends on the type of tap:

• Traditional taps (with separate hot/cold handles) — usually a worn rubber washer at the base of the valve
• Mixer taps with a single lever — usually a worn O-ring or a failing cartridge
• Dripping from the spout long after you’ve turned it off — almost always the washer
• Dripping or leaking from around the handle itself — usually the O-ring

What You’ll Need

• An adjustable spanner or basin wrench
• A flathead or Phillips screwdriver (depends on your tap)
• A replacement tap washer or O-ring — we stock a range of sizes so bring the old one in if you’re not sure which fits
• PTFE tape, just in case any threads need re-sealing on reassembly

Step-by-Step: Fixing a Traditional Tap

1. Turn off the water and plug the sink so you don’t lose any small parts down the drain.
2. Remove the handle — usually a screw is hidden under a decorative cap on top. Pop the cap off and unscrew it.
3. Unscrew the valve body using your spanner, turning anti-clockwise.
4. Find the washer at the bottom of the valve, held on by a small nut. Remove the old washer — it’ll usually look flattened, cracked or perished.
5. Fit the new washer of the same size and reassemble in reverse order.
6. Turn the water back on and test. No more drip.

Step-by-Step: Fixing a Mixer Tap (O-Ring)

1. Turn off the water at the isolation valve.
2. Remove the handle — usually one screw underneath a cap, or an Allen key bolt at the back.
3. Lift out the cartridge and inspect the O-rings around it — they’ll look worn, flattened or torn if that’s the cause.
4. Replace the O-ring(s) with new ones of a matching size, lightly greased if you have plumber’s grease.
5. Reassemble and test. If it still drips, the whole cartridge may need replacing rather than just the O-ring.

When It’s More Than a Washer

If you’ve replaced the washer or O-ring and it’s still dripping, the valve seat itself may be damaged or scored, which usually means the whole tap needs replacing rather than just a part. That’s the point where it’s worth calling a plumber — but for the vast majority of dripping taps, a simple washer or O-ring swap is all it takes.