What you will need
Before touching the tap, get everything together: an adjustable spanner, a flathead screwdriver, a pair of long nose pliers, a pair of multi grips and a replacement tap washer.
Step 1: Turn the water off
Check under the sink for the supply water pipes coming out of the wall. There should be a small isolation valve. Shut it, open the tap, and let whatever is left in the line run out before you touch anything. No valve under the sink? The water meter outside will do the same job. Turn the mains off there instead.
Step 2: Remove the handle
The cap on top of the handle is usually metal and can be unscrewed by hand or with a spanner. Take the cap off, and the handle should come away cleanly. Older taps can be stubborn about this. If yours is, hold the base steady and twist the handle while pulling up rather than just yanking it toward you. If it is still struggling to come off, spray some WD40 or CRC, wait 10 minutes and try again.
Step 3: Get to the washer
There is a flange that sits at the base of the tap spindle. This will need to be unscrewed by hand anticlockwise. Chrome fittings mark easily so if you are struggling to remove the flange by hand, wrap it in a towel and use a pair of multi-grips. You can also try spraying some WD40 or CRC, wait 10 minutes and try again.Once the flange has been removed, you will need to remove the tap spindle. Use a spanner to unscrew the tap spindle anti-clockwise at the base (where it has been designed to use a spanner). After the spindle has been unscrewed , you should be able to see your tap washer in either the recess of the spindle or that little hole in the basin where the tap spindle has come out - this can now be removed. You may need to use a pair of long nose pliers to get it out. Try to avoid using a screwdriver to wedge it out as it can damage the valve seat underneath the basin.
For the replacement, make sure it carries Australian standards certification, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says plumbing parts should meet that standard.
Step 4: Fit the new washer
Fit the washer into the recess of the tap spindle, the same way the old one sat. Insert the spindle back into the hole where it came out. Tighten it with a spanner but stop as soon as you feel resistance. Overtightening destroys the seal immediately. Make sure the tap is turned the whole way on before you tighten the tap spindle.
Step 5: Close everything up and test
Reassemble the tap by screwing the flange back on, placing the handle back onto the top of the tap spindle and screwing the cap back on. Turn the tap off.
Open the isolation valve slowly and test the tap a few times. Check the spout and the base for leaks. If it is bone dry, the repair is complete.
Still leaking? The valve seat has probably deteriorated to the point where no washer will fix it. Regrinding or replacing it is licensed plumber territory.
Not keen on doing it yourself? Ezy-Plumb covers leaking taps across Bayside Melbourne. Book online today.
When a washer is not the answer
One thing to keep in mind: this only applies to traditional washered taps. Ceramic disc taps are a different story entirely. The same goes for a tap that is cracked, corroded, or still leaking after you have already put a new washer in. At that point, patching it is a waste of time. The tap needs replacing.
Ezy-Plumb installs new taps across Bayside Melbourne with upfront pricing. Call us today: 0402 169 096
FAQs
Q: Does Australian law allow homeowners to replace tap washers without a licence?
Ans: Yes. Washers are one of the few things you can legally fix yourself, as outlined by the Victorian Building Authority. Pipework and tap body repairs require a licensed plumber.
Q: What tells me the washer is responsible for the leak rather than something else?
Ans: Dripping from the spout with the tap off means the washer. Wet around the base means the O-ring. Location tells you everything.
Q: The washer is new, but the tap is still dripping. What has gone wrong?
Ans: Check the valve seat, it is the machined surface the washer presses against. If that is worn or pitted, no washer will seal it properly. That is a licensed plumber’s job.
Q: What kind of service life should I expect from a replacement washer?
Ans: It depends on the way the tap is used. Tap washer should last at least 6-12 months depending on your water quality and how much the tap gets used. Do not sit on a slow drip, though, Sydney Water says even a minor leak wastes thousands of litres annually.
