A constant drip from your tap means it's time for maintenance. It’s a sound that lets you know your tap needs attention before it affects your water bill or damages your fixtures. But don’t stress — most people will deal with leaky taps at some point. It's just part of home upkeep.
This article will help you understand what's going on when your tap leaks, and when to call a plumber for help.
There are lots of reasons why your bathroom, kitchen or laundry tap might be leaking. Here are some of the most common ones:
Worn-out washer: In traditional compression taps, the washer (the small rubber or plastic seal) inside the tap wears down over time, causing water to leak through.
Faulty O-ring: The O-ring (rubber ring inside the tap) can become damaged or worn, causing water to leak.
Damaged cartridge: Mixer taps often use a cartridge or ceramic disc mechanism that can wear out, leading to drips.
Loose spindle: A leaking tap spindle can cause water to leak from the base of the tap.
Water pressure: High water pressure can force water past ceramic discs or cartridges when the tap is closed.
Investing in high-quality tapware will help slow down the wearing out of tap parts.
At Yabby, our tapware has a two-year warranty for washers and O rings and 10 years for cartridge, aerator and valve defects.
Yes.
If your tap is just dripping because it’s not all the way closed, you’ve got a habit problem. But if you’re rotating or pushing extra hard to stop the water from coming out, you need to call a plumber.
Most of the time, your leaky tap will be due to a part that’s worn out over time. A plumber can take apart the tap, diagnose the problem and find the right replacement part.
Leaking tap repair costs vary depending on the specific problem and your tap type. Simple fixes like replacing a washer or O-ring cost less because the parts are cheap and it doesn’t eat up too much of the plumber’s time.
If you need to replace a cartridge or there’s a problem with the tap body, you'll pay more in both parts and labour.
Most plumbers charge an initial callout fee plus hourly rates. Ask for a quote before work begins, and think about replacing very old taps completely if repairs would cost almost as much as a new fixture.
If left unchecked, a leaking tap can be a bit of a nuisance. Fortunately, it’s usually a quick fix that any licensed plumber can tackle.
If you’ve decided to replace your tap, why not go with something that’ll look good and last a bit longer? You can rely on our tapware to stay leak-free for many years, with extra warranty protection against most defects. And with colours like Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, Gunmetal and Antique Brass, there’s something for every home.
