Why taps drip
Inside every tap is a part that presses down to seal off the water. On traditional taps that’s a rubber washer; on modern lever taps it’s a ceramic cartridge. Both wear over time, and once they do, water seeps past and drips from the spout.
Washer vs cartridge taps
Knowing which you have matters. A quarter-turn lever tap almost certainly uses a ceramic cartridge; a tap you screw firmly shut is likely a washer type. The parts are inexpensive, but getting the right match for your make of tap is the fiddly bit.
What you can try yourself
If you’re confident, you can turn off the supply, strip the tap down and replace the washer or cartridge. Always isolate the water first — either at the tap’s service valve or the stopcock. If you’re unsure, there’s no shame in leaving it; a bodged reassembly can turn a drip into a flood.
When to call a plumber
If the drip comes back, the tap is old or corroded, or you’d simply rather it was done properly, we’ll sort it — and advise whether a repair or a new tap is the better value.
Tap still dripping after a washer change — or you’d rather not take it apart? We’ll fix or replace it cleanly. Local to South Manchester and Cheshire.
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