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Leaking taps and their constant drip, drip, drip, drip is annoying. We all know that about leaky taps. Then, there’s also how it hits us in the pocket when it comes to that water bill. Plus, it’s just a plain old waste of fresh water in an ever more environmentally-minded world. All those leaks from a dripping tap, if combined, could fill a bucket of water supply. Looking at our water meter at the front yard is almost like a nightmare. And fixing a leaking tap, it’s not as if we can turn off the water main to solve the issue quickly.
But it seems like, some of us are a bit nervous about doing DIY tap repairs. We stay away from even thinking about taking things apart and putting the tap back together, so we resort to just praying the leaky tap will be fixed if we turn the tap handle off again and again or if we lessen the water pressure. When it comes to fixing them, it’s nowhere close to being a minor problem. Changing a broken washer should be a little like changing a flat tyre. And it’s also possible that you need to think about completely reseating a tap that requires some special plumbing tools you expect nobody could buy from the local hardware store. It can be quite a headache even just hearing about a shifting wrench or a ceramic disc, a tap body or tap lubricant, jumper valves, tap bonnet, the rubber parts— all those terms. As much as saving water is in our minds, fixing a leaking tap is pretty daunting for most people.
If you’re thinking about taking the DIY approach if your tap drips, including your showerhead, mixer tap or garden tap, etc., read on; otherwise, a local plumber can fix leaking taps in an instant and prevent further damage to your house and save you lots of water supply and money.
Changing a washer is pretty straightforward. In all honesty, a tap isn’t a complex piece of technology, and it’s only made up of a few simple parts. In most cases, you’ll be able to fix it with just a single session after a trip to the hardware store. Generally, two things need replacing in a leaking tap: the washer attached to the jumper valve, or the O-ring (a rubber ring that sits on the stem of the tap – you’ll see it when you dismantle the tap).
Please turn off the mains, and let all the residual water left in the pipe drain out. Turn on the tap you’re going to work on to make sure it’s off!
Place a cloth over the sink drain to avoid important parts falling and undo the head nut. it’s usually under a cap marking the tap hot or cold. Keep an eye out for the individual parts and make sure nothing important will go missing or you’ll have to purchase for replacement parts.
One option is just to put in a new tap washer, but there are other washers that you can change while you’re at it. We’re talking about the big one around the nut you just removed – the body washer. You can just change your existing one into a new body washer. And there is also the spindle O-ring. If the leaking is caused by the O-ring, water could come out of the cover plate. You’ll see the spindle O-ring once you wind up the tap thoroughly. To put in the new tap washer, which is probably what was causing the leak, slide it out with your fingers – you may need some small pliers.
To do an excellent job, use some lubricant – some Vaseline will do – on the threads and spindle, and put Humpty back together!
Turn the mains back on and marvel at having fixed your leak!
Take a good look at your plumbing work and give yourself a pat on the back for putting all the right parts in place. You might still not be an expert and you haven’t memorized all the terms yet like a tap bonnet or a gaffer tape and a washer and jumper valve, but you still did it!
If you’ve changed the tap washer and it’s still leaking, most likely, the valve “seat” that the tap washer pushes down on is worn. It allows water to pass no matter how much you tighten it. The tap valve seat, mostly made of brass, becomes worn and burred over time, mainly due to minerals in the water such as lime. Reseating a tap is grinding the seat to create a smooth flat surface to seal correctly with the washer.
Re-seating a tap requires special tools, namely a “Tap Reseater”. Once the tap is dismantled, a tap reseater is placed over the tap valve seat and grinds or cuts the surface using a cutting disc and circular motion. If you’ve missed the seat, as in the handy picture here, installed the new washer, and you’ve still got a leaking tap, it might be time for a whole new stainless steel seat.
The prevention, early detection and repair of water tap leaks can save you money. Not to forget, severe damage, headaches and frustrations also. And you can help conserve our precious water resources. So, if you’ve noticed any leaky faucet in your residential and commercial properties, call a professional!
Learn more about water and water leaks.
At Gold Coast Plumbing Company, reseating or replacing a tap is a swift job with the right tools, skills and experience. We are fixing leaking taps on the Gold Coast all the time. While we have the leaking taps out, we also do a full tap service, including the spindle and the ‘O’ Ring, ensuring your tap is good today and long into plenty of tomorrows.
When it comes to reseating a tap or changing a washer, the best cure is, of course, the prevention of dripping taps. So don’t over-tighten it when you’re turning off that tap after brushing your teeth or watering the lawn! Once the water has stopped completely, stop closing the tap. Over-tightening can quickly cause severe damage to your taps that you may need a plumber to fix.
Don’t wait until the damages are worse. Fix a leaking tap as soon as possible. For all your other plumbing issues like urgent hot water service on leaking hot water systems or hot water tank, or water heater repair and replacement, and gas leaks, call a professional plumber for a efficient service. And leave your plumbing needs and plumbing maintenance to the experts. Not only can we work on your tap washer, but we can also replace your dishwasher or help you with your kitchen renovation. We can also provide hot water system services, including repair, replacement and installation, at a very low cost. Trust only a fully qualified and licensed plumber for reliable service and perform a proper job on your plumbing fixtures. Especially with your emergency plumbing problems. Rely only on the best! Call us today or book a service call and know our special offers— free accurate quote included.
