Before you start any plumbing work, turn off your water supply. Then run off any excess water through the pipes. Before you start to dismantle your tap you can put a plug into the sink so you don’t accidentally lose any small parts or screws.

Sometimes the leak comes out of the spindle of the tap, rather than dripping out of the spout. This requires a slightly different method to fix. You will need a few important tools to fix the leaking tap, we recommend that you get together these parts now to save you having to find these parts in the middle of your DIY job: Aside from leaks from the open end of the spout it’s also possible for it to leak around the base, as we have stated above. To do this, find out below. On most tap indicator covers, if you look closely around the edge you will see a little recess. Using a flat edge screwdriver, insert the flat edge into the recess and wiggle it under the cover and prise it up. In some instances there won’t be a recess so you will just have to use a very small screwdriver and gently slide it under the indicator cover to prise it off, being careful not to damage it.Hot water valves will have a red bottom seal, and cold water valves will have a blue bottom seal. The difference between the two is the direction in which the valve turns. With today’s emphasis on caring for the environment, any form of leak, no matter how small, should be sorted immediately. If you are on a metered water supply then this will also be costing you a small fortune, so save yourself some money and get it sorted!

With the tap valve removed you can then closely inspect the valve seat. If there is no damage then this will be perfectly smooth, however if there is then you will be able to see channels, scores and pits in the surface, all of which can easily cause leaks.We suggest that you put a plug in the sink to avoid any screws or tools from entering the drain. Locate the small screw holding the tap together – normally labelled with the ‘H’ or ‘C’ cap. Pry it off with a screwdriver and simply unscrew the screw. This step will differ depending on what model of tap you have, but before you do anything, put a plug in the sink so nothing important ends up down the drain.

Leaks can also be caused by the valve seat in the body of the tap. Over time, due to the pressure of the water it tries to force its way under the washer and little by little it erodes the brass from which the seat is cast. Tiny little canals are formed in the seat which allows water to pass under the washer and out through the tap. So with this in mind, never ever leave a dripping tap, always get it fixed as soon as you can. Parts of a Mixer Tap The exact location of the washer can be seen in the diagrams below, along with the names of the other various parts of 2 common different types of pillar tap. In older taps, when the tap is screwed closed, in the tap body a washer is pushed down on to a hole in the base of the tap that allows the water to flow and closes it off. Over time this washer will wear and allow a tiny amount of water to pass causing a leak. Step 2 – Remove Cover Plate: Use a small flat blade screwdriver to prise the cover plate off to reveal the retaining screw. Depending one the type of mixer you have will depend where this is but in most cases it will be on top of the handle/head gear. Once the cover is removed unscrew the retaining screwIf this is the case you might consider investing in a water softener as this will increase the life of these sorts of parts and other appliances too. In the case of the snap ring, this is usually between the spout and the body and is sometimes hidden by a cover that is screwed down or held with a grub screw at the rear. Once the washer has been changed then the next job is to make sure that the seat in the base of the tap it sits down on is flat and has no channels or wear in it that could cause leaks. Step 4 – Remove Tap Valve/Spindle: Using an adjustable spanner, set the jaws to the correct size, slip them on to the valve and undo it. Sometimes they can be very stiff and if this is the case use WD40 or similar penetrating fluid to loosen it

Step 3 – Remove Head Gear: Pull the head gear of handle up or to the side, depending on the type of tap you have. It may be a little stiff and you may need to wiggle it off or even prise it up using a spanner

How to fix a dripping tap: Traditional tap

Ceramic disc valve taps, such as modern monobloc mixer taps, reach maximum power after half a turn or less, and use ceramic discs instead of washers.