Why a Dripping Tap Is Worth Taking Seriously
The case for ignoring a dripping tap is not hard to make. It is not a disaster and it is not stopping anything from working. But the water loss is real. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has pointed to household water use as an ongoing concern across Australian cities, and a dripping tap running around the clock can waste thousands of litres over the course of a year.
That water does not disappear. It shows up on the next bill.
There is more to it than the water bill though. A tap that keeps dripping leaves moisture sitting around the basin or sink constantly. That moisture is what mould needs to get started. It is what causes staining to build up and surfaces to deteriorate. By the time any of that is bad enough to deal with it has usually gone further than it needed to and fixing it costs more than the original tap repair would have.
The Most Common Causes of a Dripping Tap
The causes behind most dripping taps in Australian homes are pretty consistent. The same things come up again and again. Getting across what they are makes it easier to work out what the repair actually involves.
Worn Washers
This is the most common reason taps drip and it is especially common in older homes. The washer sits inside the tap and gets pressed against the valve seat every time it is used. Years of that wears it down until it cannot form a seal anymore and the dripping starts. Replacing it sorts it out but the water mains need to be turned off first and the tap has to be pulled apart properly to reach it.
Damaged Valve Seat
Inside the tap, the washer needs a smooth surface to press against to stop the water. That surface is the valve seat. Sediment builds up there over time, causes corrosion and the seat becomes uneven. A new washer pressing against an uneven surface is not going to seal no matter how good it is.
Worn O-Rings
O-rings are small rubber seals around the spindle of the tap. They do the same job as washers but in a different part of the tap and they wear out in the same way. When an O-ring fails, the drip tends to show up around the handle or the base rather than from the spout. Replacing one is not difficult once the tap is taken apart but identifying it as the source of the drip is where experience makes a difference.
Faulty Cartridge
Mixer taps use a cartridge rather than a traditional washer system. When the cartridge wears out or becomes damaged, the tap drips from the spout regardless of how firmly it is turned off. Cartridge replacement is generally more involved than washer replacement and the correct cartridge has to match the specific tap model.
Not sure what is causing your dripping tap? Ezy-Plumb can diagnose the problem and fix it properly the first time. Get in touch today and stop the drip before it becomes something bigger.
High Water Pressure
Sometimes a dripping tap is not caused by a worn internal component at all. Water pressure is one that catches people off guard. If the tap drips at certain times but not others, that is usually pressure in the mains pushing water through seals that are otherwise doing their job fine. It is not a worn part. It is just too much force behind the water at the wrong time.
What You Can Fix Yourself
Washer replacement is one of those jobs a lot of homeowners can take on themselves. Here is what it involves.
- Turn the water off at the mains.
- Take the handle off and unscrew the flange.
- Remove the spindle to find the washer.
- Take the old washer out. Put a matching one in.
- Reassemble, turn the water on, see if the drip is gone.
That is genuinely it. Get the washer size right and it holds. Most of the time an adjustable spanner and five minutes is all it takes.
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria is pretty clear on this - fixing a leaking tap is part of looking after water responsibly. An hour of work saves thousands of litres over a year. Worth doing.
Been meaning to sort that dripping tap for a while? Ezy-Plumb covers tap repairs across Brighton without any fuss. Book a time and get it done.
When to Call a Plumber
Not every tap repair is a good candidate for doing yourself. Valve seat regrinding needs proper tools and someone who knows how to use them. It is not something to attempt without both.
Mixer tap cartridges are similar. The right part has to match the exact model and fitting it wrong means the tap either still drips or stops working the way it should. Neither of those is a good outcome after an afternoon of work. If the drip is caused by high water pressure and a worn component, addressing the underlying pressure issue is work for a licensed plumber.
The Victorian Building Authority sets out clearly which plumbing work in Victoria requires a licensed tradesperson. Attempting work that falls under those requirements without the appropriate licence is not just a safety risk. It can create compliance issues that affect the property and void insurance in some circumstances. When in doubt, getting a professional in is the safer and usually more cost-effective call.
There is also the question of what else might be found during the repair. A plumber who opens up a tap that has been dripping for a long time will sometimes find corrosion or damage to surrounding components that was not visible from the outside. Finding something extra during a tap repair is actually useful. Catching corrosion or worn components while everything is already open costs a fraction of what it costs to deal with them after a bigger failure down the track.
Preventing Dripping Taps Before They Start
Tap components do not usually fail overnight. They wear down gradually and the best time to replace them is before they cause a problem rather than after. Getting taps checked as part of a general plumbing inspection every couple of years is usually enough to stay ahead of it. The cost is small compared to what a repair job costs once something has already gone wrong.
How you use taps day to day makes a difference too. A lot of people force taps shut out of habit and that extra force goes straight to the washer every single time. Taps are built to stop water with a firm turn and anything beyond that is just unnecessary wear on a part that will eventually need replacing.
Dripping tap, worn washer or something else entirely, Ezy-Plumb covers plumbing across Brighton and the surrounding area. Licensed, reliable and straightforward. Get in touch today.
FAQs
- How much water does a dripping tap waste?
Thousands of litres a year from a single tap. It does not look like much but it adds up fast and it all comes through on the water bill.
- Can I fix it myself?
A worn washer on a standard tap is something most people can handle at home. Valve seat damage or a mixer tap cartridge is a different job entirely. It’s worth knowing which one you are dealing with before you decide to go it alone.
- How do I know what is causing it?
Where the drip is appearing usually gives it away. From the spout means washer or cartridge. From around the handle or base usually means O-ring. A plumber can pin it down quickly.
- Is it worth tightening it harder?
No. It speeds up the wear on the washer and makes the problem worse. Needs a proper fix.
- When should I call a plumber?
Mixer tap still dripping, corroded seat, or a new washer that made no difference - call a plumber. Same if the drip only shows up at certain times. That is a pressure issue and a washer will not touch it.
