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Leaking taps and their constant drip, drip, drip, drip is annoying. We all know that about leaky taps. Then, it also hits us in the pocket regarding that water bill. Plus, it’s just a plain old waste of fresh water in an ever more environmentally-minded world. All those leaks from a dripping tap could fill a water supply bucket. Looking at our water meter in the front yard is almost like a nightmare. And fixing a leaking tap, it’s not as if we can turn off the water main to solve the issue quickly.
But it seems that some of us are a bit nervous about doing DIY tap repairs. We avoid even thinking about taking things apart and putting the tap back together, so we pray the leaky tap will be fixed if we turn the tap handle off again or lessen the water pressure. When it comes to fixing them, it’s nowhere close to being a minor problem. Changing a broken washer should be a little like changing a flat tyre.
It’s also possible that you must consider completely reseating a tap that requires some special plumbing tools you expect nobody to buy from the local hardware store. It can be quite a headache even just hearing about a shifting wrench or a ceramic disc, a tap body or tap lubricant, jumper valves, a tap bonnet, and rubber parts—all those terms. As much as saving water is in our minds, fixing a leaking tap is pretty daunting for most people.
If you’re thinking about taking the DIY approach if your tap drips, including your showerhead, mixer tap, garden tap, etc., read on; otherwise, a local plumber can fix leaking taps in an instant and prevent further damage to your house and save you lots of water supply and money.
Changing a washer is pretty straightforward. In all honesty, a tap isn’t a complex piece of technology, and it’s only made up of a few simple parts. In most cases, you can fix it with just a single session after a trip to the hardware store. Generally, two things need replacing in a leaking tap: the washer attached to the jumper valve or the O-ring (a rubber ring that sits on the stem of the tap – you’ll see it when you dismantle the tap).
Please turn off the mains and drain out all the residual water left in the pipe. Also, please turn on the tap you will work on to ensure it’s off!
Place a cloth over the sink drain to prevent important parts from falling, and undo the head nut. It’s usually under a cap, marking the tap hot or cold. Look for the individual parts and make sure nothing important goes missing; otherwise, you’ll have to purchase replacement parts.
One option is just to put in a new tap washer, but there are other washers that you can change while you’re at it. We’re talking about the big one around the nut you removed – the body washer. You can change your existing one into a new body washer. And there is also the spindle O-ring. If the O-ring causes the leaking, water could come out of the cover plate. You’ll see the spindle O-ring once you wind up the tap thoroughly. To put in the new tap washer, which is probably causing the leak, slide it out with your fingers – you may need some small pliers.
To do an excellent job, use some lubricant – some Vaseline will do – on the threads and spindle, and put Humpty back together!
Turn the mains back on and marvel at having fixed your leak!
Take a good look at your plumbing work and pat yourself on the back for putting all the right parts in place. You might still not be an expert and haven’t memorized all the terms yet, like a tap bonnet, gaffer tape, washer, and jumper valve, but you still did it!
If you’ve changed the tap washer and it’s still leaking, the valve “seat” the tap washer pushes down on is most likely worn. It allows water to pass no matter how much you tighten it. The tap valve seat, mostly made of brass, becomes worn and burred over time, mainly due to minerals in the water, such as lime. Reseating a tap involves grinding the seat to create a smooth, flat surface to seal correctly with the washer.
Re-seating a tap requires special tools, namely a “Tap Reseater”. Once the tap is dismantled, a tap reseater is placed over the tap valve seat and grinds or cuts the surface using a cutting disc and circular motion. If you’ve missed the seat, as in the handy picture here, installed the new washer, and you still have a leaking tap, it might be time for a new stainless steel seat.
Preventing, detecting, and repairing water tap leaks can save you money, as can severe damage, headaches, and frustration. You can also help conserve our precious water resources. So, if you’ve noticed any leaky faucets in your residential or commercial properties, call a professional!
Learn more about water and water leaks.
At Gold Coast Plumbing Company, reseating or replacing a tap is swift work with the right tools, skills, and experience. We fix leaking taps on the Gold Coast all the time. While we have the leaking taps out, we also do a full tap service, including the spindle and the ‘O’ Ring, ensuring your tap is good today and long into plenty of tomorrows.
When it comes to reseating a tap or changing a washer, the best cure is, of course, the prevention of dripping taps. So don’t over-tighten it when turning off that tap after brushing your teeth or watering the lawn! Once the water has stopped completely, stop closing the tap. Over-tightening can quickly cause severe damage to your taps that you may need a plumber to fix.
Don’t wait until the damages are worse. Fix a leaking tap as soon as possible. Call a professional plumber for efficient service for all your other plumbing issues, like urgent hot water service on leaking hot water systems or tanks, water heater repair and replacement, and gas leaks. Leave your plumbing needs and plumbing maintenance to the experts. Not only can we work on your tap washer, but we can also replace your dishwasher or help you with your kitchen renovation.
We can also provide hot water system services, including repair, replacement and installation, at a meagre cost. Trust only a fully qualified and licensed plumber for reliable service and perform a proper job on your plumbing fixtures, especially with your emergency plumbing problems. Rely only on the best! Call us today or book a service call and know our special offers— free, accurate quote included.
