Tap replacement or repair

Why a tap starts leaking or playing up

A tap gets turned on and off many times a day. Over time, the parts that hold back the water wear out, and limescale speeds this up. Where the water escapes usually tells you which part has given up.

Mixer tap with a ceramic cartridge

A modern single-lever mixer tap has an insert with two ceramic discs, known as a cartridge. If limescale or a grain of sand gets between the discs, they no longer seal completely. The result is a spout that keeps dripping, or a lever that moves stiffly and jerkily. If it's leaking around the base of a swivel spout instead, the rubber O-rings are usually worn.

Taps with separate handles and a washer

Older homes sometimes still have taps with separate handles for hot and cold. In the classic design, a rubber washer shuts off the water. Over time that washer hardens or loses its shape, and then the tap drips however firmly you turn the handle. And forcing it shut like that only damages the seat underneath even more.

Thermostatic mixer tap in the shower

A thermostatic shower mixer blends hot and cold water to a set temperature. If the thermostatic element gets dirty or furred up with limescale, the water suddenly turns too hot or too cold, or only a thin trickle comes out. Sometimes cleaning the small filters in the connections does the trick. Otherwise the cartridge or the whole tap needs replacing.

How to tell if a tap is leaking

You can't always tell a tap is leaking just by looking at the spout. Check around the base and in the cupboard underneath as well.

• The spout keeps dripping, even when the lever is fully closed.
• There's water around the base of the tap on the worktop or basin.
• The cupboard under the sink smells musty, or its base panel is swelling.
• The flow is weak or sprays in all directions.
• The tap wobbles or turns with the lever when you use it.

That wet cupboard base is a typical example of knock-on damage. Chipboard soaks up water, swells and never goes completely flat again. A leaking hose or loose connection under the sink can quietly ruin the whole cupboard. And if a hose like that suddenly bursts, the kitchen floor is under water in no time, and the neighbours below may end up with damage too.

If you find water damage, take photos before you start clearing up. Your insurer will usually ask about the cause, and whether the damage is covered depends on your policy.

What you can do yourself

There are a few things you can safely try yourself before a plumber arrives:

• Unscrew the aerator (the nozzle at the end of the spout) and soak it overnight in cleaning vinegar. That dissolves limescale and helps with a weak or spraying flow.
• If there's a leak under the sink, close the isolation valves. These are the small valves on the wall where the hoses connect.
• Put a container under the leak and empty the cupboard so the base can dry out.

What to avoid

Don't keep turning a dripping tap off harder and harder; all that does is damage the cartridge or the seat even more. If the sink under the tap is also draining slowly, don't pour harsh drain cleaner down it. These products get hot, attack the rubber seals in the trap and connections, and are dangerous if they splash into your eyes. It's better to have a professional unblock the kitchen sink.

You should also call us if there are no isolation valves under the tap, if the old tap is completely seized, or if it keeps leaking after you've turned everything off.

Repair or replace the tap?

Not every leaking tap needs to come out. Repairing a tap makes sense if it's a good-quality one where only the cartridge, an O-ring or a washer is worn, and those parts are still available.

Replacing a tap is the wiser choice if it's been in use for many years, leaks in several places, the chrome is peeling or parts can no longer be found. It's also a good time to do it if you fancy something different anyway, such as a kitchen tap with a tall spout or a pull-out spray. The plumber assesses the tap on the spot, talks you through both options and gives you honest advice. If you've already bought a new tap, it can be fitted straight away.

How the plumber goes about it

Replacing a kitchen tap

Replacing a kitchen tap starts under the sink. The plumber closes the isolation valves, unscrews the hoses and takes off the fixing nut under the worktop. Then the old tap comes out, and the plumber checks that the new one fits the tap hole.

Where needed, new flexible hoses are fitted: screwed on by hand first, then carefully tightened so the seals aren't damaged. If the isolation valves themselves are stiff or leaking, this is the time to replace them as well.

Basin and shower taps

A basin tap is fitted in much the same way, although there's often less room under a washbasin. A shower mixer is mounted on the wall, with two offset unions bridging the gap to the pipes. The plumber adjusts these so the mixer sits level and the cover plates fit neatly against the tiles.

After fitting, the water is turned back on and the plumber checks the hot and cold supply and every connection, then explains how best to keep your new tap clean.

Costs and emergency help outside office hours

Tap replacement or repair costs from €89. The call-out charge isn't included. You'll get a price estimate before the plumber sets off. If you'd like several taps replaced at once, for example when you're fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, you can ask for a quote.

A tap that won't turn off or a hose that gives way can't wait until Monday. That's why we're available 24/7, including at night, at weekends and on public holidays. Urgent jobs like these outside office hours are charged at an out-of-hours rate, and we'll tell you what it is first.

Making your tap last longer

• Wipe the tap dry with a soft cloth after use, so limescale has less chance to build up.
• Don't use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on chrome; a mild cleaning product is enough.
• Descale the aerator a few times a year.
• Turn the isolation valves off and on now and then, so they won't be seized up when you need them.

If the leak isn't at the tap but in the pipe behind it, or you can see damp in the wall behind the washbasin, you'll need a water pipe repair.

Our service area

A dripping tap in Eindhoven, a leaking mixer tap in Den Bosch or a new kitchen tap in Breda or Almere: Spoed Loodgieter Breeman will come out to you, anywhere in the Netherlands. Our service area features a selection of cities, each with information about the local homes and pipework.

Tap still dripping, or water in the kitchen cupboard? Call 085 115 0249 and have the tap replaced or repaired before the cupboard underneath is damaged.