The horrors of a leaking taps run deep within the minds of all homeowners. Leaking taps can lead to disasters, such as flooded floors, damaged furniture (or other expensive items) and can end up costing a fortune to fix if left unattended. Thankfully, a leaking tap is an easy DIY fix, and should be tackled and fixed as soon as possible.
According to homehardware.com, you’re going to need the following to fix a leaking tap:
- 12mm washers: common amongst most homes
- Two O-rings (one spare)
- Jumper valve
- Wrench and spanner
- Screwdriver
- Tap lubricant
- Cloth
Presteps:
Before you begin fixing your leaking tap, make sure that all water supplies are turned off. A house will usually be near the street. Apartments generally keep their water supply valve in the bathroom.
Turn the leaking tap on to release any water being held in the leaking tap.
Once all the leftover water has been emptied out of the leaking tap, use a plug in the basin to prevent any parts from falling down the drain.
Step 1
Use a spanner to take the tap’s cover off. Every tap will be slightly different, but the process should remain somewhat the same.
Step 2
Remove the handle of the leaking tap, usually found under the temperature signs. You may need to remove a metal cover using your hand, a spanner or a wrench.
Step 3
Unscrew the leaking tap’s canopy and remove the headpiece with a wrench (if necessary). The jumper vale will fall down, so make sure you’ve put the basin’s plug in.
Step 4
Replace the o-ring, jumper valve and body washer. If necessary, you can use some lubricant on the rotation axis.
Step 5
Put the headpiece back on the tap. Don’t over-tighten the nuts as this could cause issues later on.
Step 6
Start putting the pieces of the tap back together. Turn the tap off, and then turn the water source back on. Do a checkup on the tap to see if it’s leaking.
Why Is My Tap Still Leaking?
If you’ve tried these steps but find yourself unsuccessful, consider calling in a local plumber to help you out.
Conclusion:
Most taps in our homes are relatively easy to fix up. However, sometimes the entire tap needs replacement or reseating. If you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself, give your local plumber a call.
