Everything You Need To Know About Leaking Tap Repairs Before Calling A Professional Plumber

That slow, repetitive drip coming from your ensuite, kitchen, bathroom or laundry can rival the buzz of a mosquito when you are trying to get to sleep. Worse,  no matter how much you try to get the leaking tap into a tighter “off” position, the constant drip keeps you awake and possibly thinking about what the cost is going to be to repair it.

Aside from the obvious slow loss of water, a leaking tap can create additional problems, both cosmetically and structurally to the surface it is dripping on.  If left, it can even lead to a mould situation which has health implications.

Before you jump into repair mode, you need to know why your leaky tap may be leaking!

Here’s a few reasons why, and what to do.

• Are the parts on your tap worn out?

Like all things, wear and tear can cause problems if maintenance is missing.  If you are dealing with a standard tap, it may need repairing because some common parts need replacing.  Your tap might need a new washer, o-ring or jumper valve.  Taps that are newer and a little more high tech may contain a ceramic disc, or have other moving parts that need to be replaced.

• Has damage occurred to the valve?

If there has been a change in water pressure, or a problem with the pipes connected to your tap, this may cause a surge to occur and damage the valve that controls the tap.   If you have multiple taps leaking, or notice other leaks in your building, this may indicate that there is a pipe issue, and you may want to call in a professional for the leaking tap repair (or repairs) to be completed.

What are the options to fix your leaky tap?

If you are confident in your abilities and you are certain that you know the problem behind the leak, you may wish to go down the DIY route.  You should be able to find most of the repair parts and tools required from your local hardware supplier.   Make sure you know the type of tap before you head off to get the required parts and tools.

If, however, you are a little uncertain and concerned that you may do more damage, and end up with an insurance issue from a potential DIY debacle (hello flooded carpets), then you may wish to call in the professionals to help get the job done.

Not only will they have the tools, but they will also be able to assess the damage for you, carry all the appropriate licenses and insurances, and have a clear process to get your repair done in a timely manner.

Before a plumber arrives to repair your leaking tap, here are a few things you can do to help prepare:

• Clear out any cupboards or spaces that the leaky tap is connected to

This is so the plumber can access the space and work easily.  If they are on an hourly rate, you don’t want to be paying for tasks that you can easily do that slow down the repair.

• Ask your plumber what their quoting process is, and for an estimate on parts.  

They may ask you about the make and model of the tap, or what your tap looks like,  how long the leak has been happening to help them give you an estimate.   The more you can tell a professional about what has been going on, the better.

• Ask your plumber what else you should do before they arrive

Getting things done quickly and efficiently is helpful.  They may ask you to turn off the water mains to your premises before they arrive.

• Ask about maintenance before they leave

It can be good to ask your plumber about how long parts tend to last on taps.  A little maintenance and changing out of o-rings and washers might actually save you in the long run

At the end of the day, water is an essential part of our day to day life.  It’s a precious resource, and one we don’t want to waste or cause unnecessary damage to our spaces or bank balances.  Reach out to our professional team to sort your leaking tap repair – we service Perth and surrounding areas.