🔧 Repair or Replace
Dripping Tap: Replace the Washer, the Cartridge, or the Whole Tap?
A tap that drips once a second wastes thousands of litres a year. The fix is usually a cheap part.
Dana Whitlock · Oct 9, 2026 · 6 min read · 5 steps
A dripping tap rarely means the tap is finished. Almost always, a small internal part has worn out — a rubber washer in older taps, or a ceramic cartridge in modern ones.
Identify which type you have and the repair is usually under half an hour.
Work out what kind of tap you have
If the handle turns several full turns from off to fully on, it is a compression tap with a rubber washer. If it turns only a quarter or half turn, or it is a single-lever mixer, it uses a ceramic disc cartridge.
Before you start
- Turn off the isolation valve under the sink, or the main stop tap
- Open the tap to drain remaining water
- Put the plug in so small parts cannot go down the drain
- Take a photo at each step so reassembly is easy
Compression taps: replace the washer
Remove the handle (often a cover cap hides a screw), then undo the headgear nut with a spanner. The washer sits at the bottom of the spindle. Take the old one to a hardware shop to match the size, fit the new one, and reassemble. If the tap still drips, the seat it presses against may be pitted; a seat-grinding tool or a reseating kit can fix this.
Ceramic taps: replace the cartridge
Ceramic discs do not wear like rubber, but grit or limescale can chip them. Remove the handle and unscrew the cartridge. Cartridges are specific to the tap, so take the old one with you or check the manufacturer’s part number. They usually cost far less than a new tap.
When to replace the whole tap
Replace the tap if the body is cracked or corroded, parts are no longer available, it leaks from the base where it meets the sink, or you are spending money on a tap you never liked anyway. A like-for-like swap is a reasonable DIY job if the connections are standard and the isolation valves work.
This is general home-maintenance information, not professional advice. Building codes, permits, and safe practices vary by location — consult a licensed contractor, electrician, or plumber for work beyond your experience.