How our plumbers can fix your leaking tap?

Leaking taps are one of the most common household plumbing problems we come across and if left to drip, it can waste more than 25Litres of water per day!

There are numerous reasons why taps drip and without the correct diagnoses by a licensed plumber, you could be wasting time and money by replacing a jumper valve or by replacing taps that have nothing wrong with them. This is where a Master Plumber with experience in diagnosing faults in the various types of tapware is worth their weight in gold.

Tapware has changed considerably over the years and there are now 4 common types of residential tapware:

1. Mixer Taps

These taps are commonly found in kitchens, laundries and bathrooms

2. Hot and Cold Taps (or Jumper Valve Taps)

These taps have a jumper valve washer inside them and O-ring washers on the spindle to prevent water leaking out the handle

3. Half and Quarter Turn Taps

These taps regulate the flow of water by rotating the tap handle either a quarter of a turn or half a turn

4. Garden Taps (or Bib Taps)

A common garden variety tap usually has a thread on the outlet side so you can connect a garden hose or sprinkler.

You can learn more about each of the above taps here.

Common Causes of leaking taps:

• Split Jumper Valve, also known as ‘Washers’
• Worn Ceramic disk
• Leaking Mixer Tap Cartridge.
• Split or Worn O-Ring
• Split or Pitted tap body seat
• Rusted Tap

The 10 Steps our Plumbers take to repair your leaking tap:

1. Firstly, it’s important that we carry the correct tools required to repair the extensive variety of taps available. Incorrect tools can cause damage to the tapware and we may not be able strip the tap down to diagnose the fault.
2. Turn the water off at the mains to stop water running into your house.
3. Turn the tap on to let the water remaining in the pipes run out and remove the pressure.
4. Undo the head nut and remove the tap handle
5. Remove the tap body to access the jumper valve and body washer.
6. Remove the tap spindle to access the O-Ring.
7. Clean the tap body and spindle with hot water and steel wool to remove any soap buildup.
8. Grind or re-set the tap body if required.
9. Replace all washers, lubricate with an approved tap lubricant and reassemble the tap.
10. Turn the water back on at the mains, flush out any debris and test for any leaks.

When to call a Master Plumber?

We often find that people think changing a tap washer or fixing a leaking tap is simple. However, history tells us that inexperience can cause bigger problems that greatly add to the cost of repair. Potential risks could mean irreparable damage to tapware, pipes being twisted in walls and under cabinetry causing leaking pipes, cross-contamination of water supply and property damage caused by flooding.

If you need an experienced Master Plumber to repair your leaking taps in Melbourne, then Call Essendon Plumbing Services 24/7 on 1300 193 298 or book online.

We’re here to help when you need us!