As well as being incredibly annoying, a dripping tap can also waste a lot of water. If you live in an area of Australia which is affected by droughts, you will want to make sure you can conserve your water supply. Below is a guide which will help you to carry out a DIY tap repair.
Shut off the water
The first thing you need to do is to shut off the water supply at the mains. If you fail to do this, the room in which the tap will be flooded when you are carrying out the repair. The stopcock for the water supply is normally located beneath the sink. Turn the defective tap on before you start work to make sure the water is off.
Remove the tap head
All taps are fitted with a top cover which protects the screw beneath from becoming damaged by corrosion or clogged with debris. The top cover is not held in place and can be lifted off by gently placing a flat headed screwdriver beneath it. Once you have done this, you should unscrew the screw which is holding the tap head in place. You may experience some issues when attempting to loosen this screw, as it can become stuck in place. If this is the case, you should brace yourself against the tap's base. You may also wish to apply some lubricating oil to the screw in order to get it moving.
Lift away the tap stem and remove the valve and the washer
One the screw has been removed, you should be able to lift up the stem of the tap. You can then remove the valve seat by giving it a gentle twist. Once you have removed the valve, you should check the condition of the rubber washer attached to the valve. Defective washers are the leading cause of dripping taps. Over time, the washer can harden and split which means it will not form a complete seal, resulting in a drip. You should replace the washer with one which is the same shape and size.
Rebuild the tap
Once you have replaced the washer, you can then carry out these actions in reverse to rebuild the tap. You can then test the tap to see if it is still dripping. If you are still experiencing problems or you do not feel carrying out this DIY task, you should contact a professional plumbing service, such as Peninsula Plumbing S.A.
