That steady drip-drip-drip from the kitchen or bathroom tap is one of the most irritating sounds in any home. Beyond the annoyance, a dripping tap wastes water and money every day it is left alone. The good news: most have a simple cause and a fix you can do yourself in under an hour.

This guide covers the common causes, how much water a drip really wastes, step-by-step fixes for compression and mixer taps, and when the drip signals something bigger.

Why taps drip: the common causes

Taps drip because something inside no longer seals properly. Crawley is a hard-water area, so limescale wears tap internals out faster here. The usual culprits:

  • Worn washer — the classic cause in traditional compression taps. The rubber washer compresses against the seat every time you close the tap, and eventually wears thin, hardens or splits.
  • Worn O-ring — a small rubber ring around the spindle. When it perishes, water seeps past and the tap drips from the spout or around the handle.
  • Worn ceramic disc cartridge — modern quarter-turn and mixer taps use a ceramic-disc cartridge instead of a washer. Limescale and grit score the discs or damage the seals, causing a persistent drip.
  • Damaged valve seat — the brass surface the washer presses against. If it is corroded or pitted, even a brand-new washer will not seal.
  • Loose or overtightened parts — a loose packing nut lets water through; cranking a tap shut too hard damages washers faster.
  • High water pressure — very high mains pressure hammers tap internals and wears them prematurely, often on several taps at once.

One dripping tap means the fault is inside that tap. Several dripping at once points to a pressure issue affecting the whole house.

How much water does a dripping tap actually waste?

More than most people expect. A tap dripping once per second wastes around 5 litres a day — well over 5,000 litres a year. On a metered bill that is money down the plughole: easily £15 to £30 a year for one bad drip.

A constant drip also etches stains into enamel and steel, and leaves a crusty limescale ring that is miserable to clean. Fix it sooner rather than later.

How to fix a dripping compression tap: step by step

Compression taps are the traditional type with separate hot and cold taps that need a few turns to open fully. You will need an adjustable spanner, a screwdriver, a replacement washer (a few pounds from any DIY shop — take the old one to match the size), and possibly a replacement O-ring.

  1. Turn off the water. Find the isolation valve on the pipe feeding the tap (usually under the sink) and turn it a quarter-turn so the handle sits across the pipe. No isolation valve? Turn off the mains stopcock — see how to turn off your water supply.
  2. Open the tap to drain any remaining water, then plug the plughole so you do not lose small screws.
  3. Remove the tap head. Pop off the cap on the handle, undo the screw underneath and lift the handle off to reveal the valve.
  4. Undo the valve. Hold the tap body steady with one spanner and turn the valve nut anticlockwise with another. Lift the valve out.
  5. Replace the washer. At the base of the valve, remove the old washer (held by a small screw or nut), fit the new one the same size, and replace the spindle O-ring if it looks flattened or cracked.
  6. Check the seat. Shine a torch into the tap body. If the brass seat looks rough or pitted, it may need reseating with a tap reseating tool, or the tap may need replacing.
  7. Reassemble and test. Refit the valve, handle and cap, turn the water back on slowly, and check for drips. Run the tap for a few seconds to flush any debris.

The whole job typically takes 20 to 40 minutes once you have the parts.

How to fix a dripping mixer tap: cartridge replacement

Mixer taps (single lever, or separate levers that only turn a quarter) do not have washers — they have a cartridge. The fix is to replace it.

  1. Turn off the water at the isolation valves or stopcock, and open the tap to release pressure.
  2. Remove the handle. There is usually a small grub screw or cap on the lever — undo it and lift the handle off.
  3. Remove the cartridge. Unscrew the shroud or retaining nut and lift the cartridge straight out. Note its orientation.
  4. Match the replacement. Take the old cartridge to a plumbers’ merchant or DIY shop. Cartridges come in many sizes and spline counts, so matching it exactly matters — a close-but-wrong cartridge will still drip.
  5. Fit the new cartridge, reassemble the tap, turn the water back on and test.

A replacement cartridge typically costs £10 to £30, far cheaper than a new tap.

When a dripping tap signals a bigger problem

Most drips are a worn washer or cartridge, but take note if:

  • The drip returns within weeks of a new washer. The valve seat is probably damaged, or water pressure is too high.
  • Several taps are dripping. That points to a pressure issue affecting the whole house.
  • The tap is stiff, noisy or juddering — it may be near the end of its life.
  • Water is also leaking under the sink — the tap tails or supply connections may be failing. See spotting leaking pipes early.

If you have replaced the washer or cartridge correctly and the tap still drips, stop throwing parts at it — the seat or the tap body itself is the problem.

When to call a plumber

A dripping tap is a fine DIY job, but hand it over when:

  • You cannot identify the tap type or match the cartridge.
  • The valve seat is corroded and needs reseating or the tap replacing.
  • The isolation valve is seized and you cannot turn the water off safely.
  • The tap is wall-mounted, concealed, or a fitting you do not want to risk damaging.
  • Water is leaking somewhere you cannot see or reach.

A professional will have the tap fixed or replaced in a single visit, with the right parts on the van. Plumb Buster handles all tap repairs and replacements across Crawley, Horsham, Horley and East Grinstead.

Stop the drip for good

A dripping tap never fixes itself — it only gets worse, wastes water and wears your fittings. Sorting it now is cheaper than ignoring it.

If the drip has beaten you, or you would simply rather have it done properly, call Plumb Buster — your local emergency plumber in Crawley, open 24 hours a day. Ring 07908 948654 any time, or get in touch online, and we will stop the drip for good.