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That drip-drip-drip is more than annoying — it's water (and money) going straight down the drain. Here's why taps leak, what it's quietly costing you, and whether it's a DIY job or one for a plumber.
Published 2026-06-02 · Cambridge Plumbers
A tap that won't stop dripping has usually worn out the part that seals off the water. The culprit depends on the tap:
A drip sounds trivial, but a steadily dripping tap can waste thousands of litres a year — and if it's a hot tap, you're paying to heat that water too. In a metered area it shows up on your bill, and a leak around the base can quietly rot the vanity or bench underneath. It's a small, cheap fix that gets more expensive the longer it's left.
If you're handy, replacing a washer on a traditional tap is a doable weekend job — turn off the water at the toby or under-sink valve first, then strip the tap down and match the part. Mixer taps are trickier: the ceramic cartridge has to match the brand and model exactly, and getting it apart without scratching the finish takes care. If the valve seat is damaged, it needs re-seating with a special tool. If it's a mixer, you can't find the part, or the leak comes back, it's a quick job for us.
It's worth knowing which you have. Traditional taps (separate hot and cold, with a quarter or half turn) use washers and are cheap and easy to repair. Mixer taps (single lever) use a sealed ceramic cartridge — more reliable day to day, but when they fail you replace the cartridge rather than a washer. Either way, we carry common parts and can sort most leaking taps in a single visit.
FAQ
Usually the valve seat — the surface the washer presses onto — has corroded or scaled up, so a new washer can't seal against it. It needs re-seating with a special tool, which is a quick job for a plumber.
A steady drip can waste thousands of litres a year. If it's a hot tap you're also paying to heat that water, so it's well worth fixing promptly — especially on a metered supply.
Yes. Mixer taps use a ceramic cartridge that has to match the brand and model. We carry common cartridges and can usually repair or replace a leaking mixer in one visit. Free quotes in Cambridge.
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