How to fix a leaking tap

A leaking tap is a common plumbing fault in many households.There are several causes of a leaking tap but most are simple to fix. To help you save water and money, the following is an easy step-by-step guide to fix a leaking tap:

Washers - there are three washers that could be causing the tap to drip and may need replacing: the o-ring, the body washer or the jumper valve (fig.1). These come in standard sizes, but to be sure that your replacement is correct, and take the worn washer into your local hardware or plumbing store.

Replacing the washer - use the following steps as a guide to replacing a washer, however information in this section is Unitywater's opinion and we don’t warrant the accuracy or completeness of that information. Unitywater excludes all liability in relation to the statements in the information below and if you are unsure about what actions to take, we recommend you speak to a licensed plumber for advice.

  1. Firstly, make sure you turn off the water main. Your water main will either be out on the footpath or in your front yard (beside your water meter) if you live in a house, or if you live in a flat or townhouse, the mains tap will probably be inside the bathroom or laundry. Simply turn the tap or ball valve to the off position.
  2. Open the tap to release any water left in the pipe.
  3. Place the plug in the basin to prevent any tap parts from disappearing into the drain.
  4. Remove the tap’s cover on the handle with a screwdriver to expose the screw. The screw is most likely under the hot or cold sign. Some taps will have an hexagonal nut that needs removing.
  5. Undo the screw and remove the handle.
  6. If the tap is shrouded with a metal or ceramic cover, unscrew by hand or use a wrench. Make sure to use a cloth over the cover to protect the surface from scratching.
  7. Use a spanner or wrench to unscrew the tap bonnet (Fig 2). Completely take out the headgear – you should now see the large body washer, the o-ring and the jumper valve.
  8. The jumper valve will just fall out.
  9. Replace the body washer, the o-ring and the jumper valve, then refit bonnet and spindle – make sure not to over-tighten the nuts.
  10. Re-assemble the tap, close it and then open the water main.
  11. Check that the leaking has ceased.

How to fix a leaky tap - fig 1   

   How to fix a leaky tap - fig 2

(Information and images courtesy of Bunnings)

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