How To Fix A Leaking Tap

If you live in an old house, or even a modern house that is just showing its age, then chances are at some point or another you will have to deal with a faucet leak.

Faucet leaks can waste water, cause damage to floors and counters… and be loud enough to wake up the dead. Once this happens it should be fixed as soon as possible. The longer a leak goes on for the more damage it can do, not only to your home but also your wallet!

In this article we shall show how to fix a faucet that leaks from the spout as well as how to fix a tap that dribbles out of its handle. We shall also take look at other common types of leaks such as leaks from the aerator and leaks at the base of a tap; we’ll show you how to fix all these different types of faucet leaks.

What Causes A Faucet To Leak?

There are several reasons why your faucet may be leaking: The most common cause for a faucet leak is when an O-ring in the base of the spout becomes worn out or damaged, allowing water to escape. Another reason can be that when certain parts in the assembly become loose or worn out over time. Finally, sometimes a faucet just needs reassembling! Sometimes old washers can actually dry up and shrink causing them to no longer fit tightly around their seat in the base of the spout. As the faucet begins to turn on, this will create a gap that allows water to escape.

Solving Leaks At The Spout

The most common type of leak occurs at the spout itself (the tip where the water comes out). Luckily these leaks are easy to fix! These types of problems can usually be solved by either simply tightening up the small screws inside the base of the spout or replacing any worn out washers inside. How To Fix A Faucet That is Dripping From The Spout Turn off your main tap/valve and let any excess water drain down. Remove existing O-ring (if present) and replace with new one that you will find in your tap kit (see below to learn more about how to identify an O-ring and other types of washers). Now turn your main tap/valve back on so any excess water can drain out. Using a screwdriver, tighten up the screws found in the base of the spout (see image above) Once completed you should find that your leak has stopped. If it hasn’t, then one last thing you should check is whether or not all the internal parts are tight and correctly fitted together; sometimes there can be multiple moving parts within the base of the spout that need to be ‘pocketed’ together tightly (this will usually involve putting together smaller pieces such as springs and small metal rings before then pocketing them into using larger pieces). While doing this make sure to not over tighten the screws; you don’t want to strip them! Also, when puttng these internal parts together try not to leave any gaps or allow any of the pieces to move around. If they do then your leak will simply return and this is a sign that an O-ring is needed in order to seal everything up properly.

How To Fix A Faucet That Is Dripping From The Handle

Another type of faucet leak can occur from the handle where it screws into the tap body (the main part of your tap). When dealing with leaks at the handle it’s best to determine what kind of washer/s you have in there before proceeding further. Generally speaking if you have rubber washers then you just need to tighten up the screws at the base of the handle. If however they are metal washers or no washers at all, then a rubber gasket is usually missing and one will need to be replaced.

To Fix A Faucet That Is Dripping From The Handle Turn off your main tap/valve and let any excess water drain down. Remove existing O-ring (if present) and replace with new one that you will find in your tap kit (see below to learn more about how to identify an O-ring and other types of washers). Using a screwdriver, tighten up the screw found inside the top of the handle (see image above) Once completed you should find that your leak has stopped.

How To Fix A Faucet That Is Dripping From The Spout Joint

Another common type of faucet leak occurs at the joint where the spout meets the tap body (the main part of your tap). When dealing with leaks at this point it’s best to determine what kind of washer/s you have in there before proceeding further. Generally speaking if you have rubber washers then you just need to tighten up the screw at the base of the handle. If, however, they are metal washers or no washers at all, then a rubber gasket is usually missing and one will need to be replaced. It is always best to purchase replacement parts for your particular make and model or from a reputable brand (if they are still available) in order to ensure that you avoid any compatibility issues.How to Repair a Ball-Type Faucet | how-tos | DIY

To Fix A Leaking Spout Joint Turn off your main tap/valve and let any excess water drain down. Using a screwdriver, tighten up the screw found inside the base of your spout (see image above) Once completed you should find that your leak has stopped. If it hasn’t, then one last thing you should check is whether or not all the internal parts are tight and correctly fitted together; sometimes there can be multiple moving parts within the joint between the spout and tap body that need to be ‘pocketed’ together tightly (this will usually involve putting together smaller pieces such as springs and small metal rings before then pocketing them into using larger pieces). While doing this make sure to not over tighten the screws; you don’t want to strip them! Also, when putting these internal parts together try not to leave any gaps or allow any of the pieces to move around. If they do then your leak will simply return and this is a sign that an O-ring is needed in order to seal everything up properly.

What To Do When You Don’t Have The Right Tools Or Parts

If for some reason you don’t have the right tools or parts available (if it’s late at night for example) and you need your tap running again asap, then depending on what type of faucet you have there may be a quick and easy workaround that you can apply.

If You Have A Faucet That Has Rubber Washers/O-Rings Playing around with the tap handles may reveal that there are some hidden ‘stops’ that prevent it from tightening properly and as such can result in a very loose-fitting. If this is the case, then all you will need to do is adjust these so they let the handle tighten up correctly and seal everything up again (be careful not to use too much force however as they might break).

If You Have A Faucet That Uses Metal Washers Or No Washers At All If you have no O-rings present or if your washers are anything but rubber, then you will need to find something that can temporarily take their place. A quick and easy solution is to take some Teflon tape (ideally 3-4 wraps) and wrap it around the thread of the screw before tightening it up again. This will usually provide enough seal until you can get your hands on a proper replacement part or complete repair kit.

If You Have A Style That Is Unique Or Difficult To Identify There are many types of faucets out there with unique mechanisms used to control water flow, dispense soap/shampoo, etc.. that may leave one confused as to what they should be bought as replacements or how they operate. Sometimes these taps are continually plagued by leaks even if the correct parts are found due to parts not being compatible, missing internal components, or not being attached in the correct way. The best solution in cases like these is to refer back to your user manual or to contact customer service at your local sink/faucet brand (who should be able to send out parts for you).

How To Fix A Leaking Tap NOTE: If none of the above solutions work then it’s probably best that you take your tap into a professional plumber; chances are they will either be able to fix it right away or provide you with some advice on how to do so yourself.

If, However, Your Tap Still Leaks…

Unfortunately, if none of the above works and your leak continues even after trying everything mentioned here or giving it time to settle down, then there may be deeper issues present within the tap that require professional attention. It could be an internal component that has seized up/broken, the tap may have been installed incorrectly (or not at all) or some other issue may exist.

How to Choose a Qualified Plumber

Many South Africans choose to go the cheaper route than the more expensive when calling in plumber services because of the financial pressures placed on them by the local economy. Sometimes, unqualified plumbers are called to complete the job at a lower rate or even try to fix it ourselves.

In many cases, however, the initial savings will end up costing you more long-term, not just in monetary terms, but also in terms of your health.

Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa, warns that poor plumbing repairs can lead to costly calls and increased costs. This could also expose you to many safety and health hazards.IOPSA executive director's report

Reynolds warns that an unqualified plumber does not have the knowledge to fix problems with water pressure, hydraulics, or other health issues that can be caused by improper plumbing.

You get what you pay
It’s worth paying a little more, but you can rest assured that the work is done according to the official plumbing regulations.

A plumber is a skilled craftsman who has learned his trade over the course of three to four years working under the direction and guidance of an experienced plumber. Reynolds urges that a plumber is entitled to demand a fair price for the work performed.

These regulations allow Qualified Plumbers to offer work that is based upon tried-and-true methods that are constantly improving with the advancement of materials.

Do not use the unqualified

To find out if a plumber is qualified, visit their website.

You can ask the plumber to show you proof of being a member of a voluntary organization such as IOPSA or the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) when he/she arrives at your home.

“However, there are some qualified plumbers who do not wish to be a part of such voluntary organizations. This does not mean that they are not competent at their jobs. Reynolds notes that customers should ask Reynolds for proof of qualification in such cases.

He reiterated that customers should not compromise on their safety and health. “It’s not about unblocking a drain, but moving away any waste that, if left to linger, can spread disease. Even a poorly installed geyser/hot water storage vessel could cause it to explode and cause untold damages.