A leaky tap can be a problem for most people and leaving it for a considerable amount of time before fixing it could result in water being wasted and a higher bill for you. Repairing a leaky tap can be simple if you know how. Follow our useful guide of hints and tips and you should stay drip free!
What you will need
- Cloth
- Spanner
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Washers
Water Supply
- Turn off the water supply - this can usually be found under the kitchen sink.
- You may find an insulation valve on the pipe below the tap that is leaking; this will need to be turned clockwise with a screwdriver.
- Turn on a tap to test you have successfully turned your water off.
Tap Casing
- Remove the handle cover from the tap.
- Unscrew the tap nut to remove the top body from the fitting, if needed cover the nut with a cloth to protect it against scratches.
Tip: - While you unscrew the nut get someone to hold the tap to help prevent the tap from turning around – this can cause damage to the pipe work or worse crack the sink!
Washer
- Remove the old washer, this can usually be removed with pliers or you may need to remove the small nut or screw to help this.
- Have a look at the washer, you will be able to see any visible cracks or damage to the washer causing the leak.
- Now you need to fit the new washer, it may be a tight fit to get the washer over the pin, if so use the pliers or spanner to push it down.
Replacing the tap
- You can now fit the body of the tap back to the fitting, taking care of holding the tap when tightening the nut.
Running Water
- Turn your water supply back on and now check your tap is leak free!
Hopefully you have found our guide useful and this will help you to fix a tap leak saving you money and help to save water for the environment!
To follow our how to guides click here.
© Copyright Autonet Insurance
By Amanda Bainbridge
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