To know how to fix a dripping kitchen tap, you will require some basic DIY skills. However, don’t stress, as fixing that dripping tap will prove to be easier than you expect.
There are only a few steps to follow in dealing with this issue. In a matter of minutes, that dripping tap will become a thing of the past, and that alone will be a weight off your shoulders.
What Happens With a Dripping Tap?
But before we take you through the key steps to fix dripping taps, what causes them in the first place? Well, the most common cause is worn-out parts. This is something that just happens over time, and before you know it, that leaking tap starts to make that all too familiar dripping sound.
Tap washers, for example, will not last for an eternity. They will often cause dripping taps as it means there is an insufficient seal. Water can then leak out.
However, that is often for a traditional tap. When it comes to a mixer tap, the cause is often damage to the tap cartridge. But don’t worry. We will help you identify the cause of your leaking tap and how to fix it.
As there are two different types of tap, we will go through fixing the traditional tap. After that, we will take you through fixing a leaking mixer tap.
How to Fix a Dripping Kitchen Tap in a Few Steps
Step 1: Turn Off the Water Supply
The first step must always be to turn off the water supply. Find where the mainline is for your water supply, and shut it off. Do double-check you have done this correctly, or you will have cold water going everywhere, and then you will have another problem to contend with.
Switching off the water supply should be easy to do. But make sure the taps are drained before you start trying to fix a dripping tap. It just stops you from making a real mess.
Step 2: Remove the Decorative Parts
When fixing a dripping tap, the next step is to remove the decorative parts. That often means the ceramic discs that tell you the difference between hot and cold water.
The best way to do this is to use a flathead screwdriver. You can simply prize them off by using that screwdriver as a lever. It’s important to do this as the key parts of the tap will be sitting under here.
Step 3: Unscrew the Tap Handle
Now that you have the top of your leaking mixer tap exposed, you can remove the broken ceramic discs and replace them. Check to see which cartridge is damaged, as mixer taps have one for hot and another for cold. Each ceramic disc should just pop out, and the replacement cartridge should simply slide into place.
Now that you have the top of your leaking mixer tap exposed, you can remove the broken ceramic discs and replace them. Check to see which cartridge is damaged, as mixer taps have one for hot and another for cold. Each ceramic disc should just pop out, and the replacement cartridge should simply slide into place.
Step 4: Remove the Nut
You should now see a large nut that is hexagonal in shape. You need to take a pipe wrench and an adjustable spanner and get to work on loosening that nut. Once again, know where you have put the parts as you remove them, or your tap will become useless.
If you struggle to get the nut to move, then a quick spray with WD40 will do the trick. However, make sure you hold the tap steady with one of your tools and turn the nut with the other. That is the key to removing it.
Step 5: Replacing the Tap Washer
As you have now removed the tap stem, you should then see the tap washer. There’s a good chance this washer is past its best, so you need to replace it. That will often be the source of the drip you are experiencing.
However, if the tap washer appears to be healthy, there’s another thing that could be causing it: that’s the O ring.
Step 6: Checking the O Ring and Putting the Tap Together
The O rings are located at the base of the tap spouts. To fix a dripping tap, you need to unscrew the tap spout to get to it.
Change the O ring by replacing it with a brand new one, and then put everything back together. Screw the nut back on, add the handle, and reapply those discs. Everything should then be in perfect working order.
How to Fix a Dripping Mixer Tap
But if you have a leaking mixer tap, then you need to go about things a slightly different way. A different issue will cause leaking taps with a mixer tap, but it’s still easy to fix.
The most common cause here is a broken ceramic disc held within the tap. You will need to replace the whole cartridge to stop that dripping tap, and here is how you do it.
Step 1: Turn Off the Water Supply
As before, you need to turn off the water supply before you start trying to fix a dripping tap. Check you have done this correctly to avoid creating a mess.
Step 2: Remove the Decorative Parts and Screw
As with the traditional tap, remove the decorative parts on the tap. This will be the coloured disc that acts as the hot or cold indicator.
That should then reveal a small screw that you also need to remove. However, be aware that it may sit behind something known as a grub screw. You may need to remove the small grub screw before you can get to the main screw that allows you to then remove the handle.
Put everything in a safe place for later.
Step 3: Remove the Ceramic Cartridge
Now you have the top of your leaking mixer tap exposed, you can remove the broken ceramic discs and replace them. Check to see which cartridge is damaged, as mixer taps have one for hot and another for cold. Each ceramic disc should just pop out, and the replacement cartridge should simply slide into place.
Adding a new tap cartridge is easy. However, you need to make sure you have the correct ceramic cartridge for your tap. Not all modern mixer taps use the same cartridge, so check which one is required for your particular monobloc tap.
Step 4: Put Everything Together
The final step is to then put everything back together, as your leaky taps should be a thing of the past. Once you have screwed everything in place, turn on the water, check the water pressure, and see the difference it has made. That is how to fix a dripping mixer tap, and it really is very simple to do.
Additional Tips
Finally, here are a few additional tips to help you along the way.
First, all O rings should be the same, so don’t stress about where you buy them. The same goes for rubber washers.
Use an adjustable spanner when removing the tap stem. It will allow you to get a better grip on that hexagonal nut with the tap, and you can then carefully remove it without too many problems.
If you have difficulty removing the O rings, then simply cut them off. O rings are made of rubber, so it should be easy enough to do that before you add in the replacement O ring.
Finally, double-check you have the correct two ceramic discs for your tap in advance. You don’t want to be removing the tap handle only to discover you have the wrong thing.
Fix Your Dripping Kitchen Tap!
And that is how to fix a leaking kitchen tap. As you can see, there are only a few simple steps to follow, and you may not even require a plumber to come and help you out. However, don’t be afraid to ask for help to fix this. You want everything to fit properly with an exact fit.
Unfortunately, a small leak can turn into a huge amount of water, so if you are in any doubt about fixing a dripping monoblock tap, then ask an expert plumber.
