How we do it Video Series – Finding and fixing a tap leak

This video takes you through the steps of how we find and fix a tap leak at Essendon Plumbing Services. If you can’t watch the video right now, read on below for a rundown of how big Seano sorted out this client’s leaking tap.

“G’Day, big Seano again from Essendon Plumbing Services. I’ve been called out to another clients premises in regards to a leaking tap and a high water bill. The client's informed me that this particular tap, even though it's awfully tight as it can possibly be, is still dripping. What I'm going to do here is I'm going to isolate the water to the main. I'm going to take out the spindle body, service and re-washer.

All righty. I've been out to the front of the premises. We've isolated the water at the meter. We've disconnected the meter to stop any water backflow or pressure rising. What we're going to do now is we're just going to bleed the tap. There we go. Just so I can undo this spindle body. There we go, look at that. A squashed and split washer. Again, it's just a dirty old plastic washer. Comes standard with a bib tap and most other tapware that you do get.

What we're going to do, we're going to check inside the tap itself. Look at that. You've got a tiny, tiny little split. Like a hairline split where the washer seats. What we're going to do, we're going to get a reseating tool. Trusty old Milwaukee. I don't know of any plumbers that don't run Milwaukee. But take the spindle body washer out. What we'll do ... You generally don't have to nip that up. All you do, a couple short sharp blasts. A little squiz. Oh yeah. That face is beautiful. There's nada. No more can we see the hairline split.

Okay so these O-rings they don't look real flash. What we do, get a little screwdriver, pop him off. We know it's a number 8.5 O-ring. What we do get him out. Roll this other little bugger on there. Then we want to get some HydroSeal, tap lube. Squeeze a little bit on there. Work it in. I generally try to work it in above the top O-ring. It just looks good for the client. Again a new washer. These HydroSeals. I think it'll be quite ... Again the longevity of the HydroSeal is far greater than the plastic.

All right. Nice and tight. Turn that off for a minute. What we will do, we'll go out and return the water supply. Come back and test this tap.

All righty. We just returned the water supply. Again just to test that this has worked, just move the tools out of the way, especially the drill. No one likes a wet drill. We'll just crack the water on slightly. Again with it going slow it'll take out little brass filings from refacing. All fixed.

As you can see it's not just a basic thing of changing a faulty tap washer or a jumper valve. Again if you suspect that it is something more serious or sinister than just replacing a jumper valve please do not hesitate to contact us at Essendon Plumbing Services. Again experience the difference of a company that goes above and beyond.”