Leaking Tap in London? Fix It Yourself in 30 Minutes -- or Call Us
A dripping tap wastes up to 15 litres/day -- 5,500 litres/year -- adding 20-30 pounds to your water bill. Most leaking taps are a 30-minute DIY fix with a 2 pound washer. Here is how to do it, and when to call a plumber instead.
Step 1 -- Identify Your Tap
Know Your Tap Type -- Repair Method Differs
The fix depends entirely on tap type. Identify yours before buying any parts.
Traditional pillar tap
Ceramic or rubber washer
Two separate taps (hot and cold), one spout each. Most common in older London properties -- pre-1980s kitchens and bathrooms. The easiest tap to repair: remove the handle, unscrew the gland nut, replace the rubber washer or ceramic disc at the base of the spindle.
Mixer tap
Single cartridge
Single lever or two handles, one shared spout. Cartridge-based: the cartridge controls both flow and temperature. Slightly harder than a pillar tap because you need to source the exact cartridge for your tap brand (Grohe, Hansgrohe, Bristan, etc.). Replace the cartridge rather than individual parts.
Monobloc kitchen mixer
Ceramic cartridge
Common in post-2000 London kitchens. Usually uses two ceramic discs inside a single cartridge -- one for hot, one for cold. The cartridge is a single unit you replace whole. Moderately easy once you have the right replacement, but finding the exact match can require the tap's brand and model number.
Before You Start
Tools and Parts You Will Need
Adjustable wrench or basin spanner
For removing gland nuts in tight spaces
Screwdrivers (flat and cross)
For handle screws and indicator caps
Replacement washers or cartridge
Match your tap brand -- Armitage Shanks, Ideal Standard, Grohe, Bristan etc.
PTFE tape
For re-sealing threaded joints on reassembly
Old towel and bucket
To catch residual water in the pipe
DIY Repair Guide
How to Fix a Traditional Tap (Rubber Washer) -- Step by Step
Works for most pre-2000 London kitchens and bathrooms with separate hot and cold pillar taps.
Turn off the water supply
Use the isolating valve under the sink -- turn the slot 90 degrees so it runs across the pipe. If there is no isolating valve, turn off the main stop tap (usually under the kitchen sink or near the water meter).
Drain remaining water
Open the tap fully and let it run until water stops. This drains the pipe so you do not get soaked when you remove the gland nut.
Remove the tap handle
Prise off the hot/cold indicator cap with a flat screwdriver. Underneath is a screw -- remove it, then pull the handle straight up off the spindle.
Remove the gland nut
The large hexagonal nut below the handle is the gland nut. Use an adjustable wrench -- turn anticlockwise. Wrap the wrench jaws in tape to avoid scratching the chrome finish.
Locate the rubber washer
Pull out the tap jumper (the brass rod inside the tap body). The rubber washer is at the bottom, usually held by a small brass nut. Remove the nut and washer.
Replace the washer
Take the old washer to a hardware store (Screwfix, Plumb Center, B&Q) for an exact match -- they cost 50p to 2 pounds. Fit the new washer, replace the brass nut finger-tight.
Reassemble and test
Reinsert the jumper, screw the gland nut back hand-tight then a quarter turn with the wrench. Replace handle and indicator cap. Turn water back on slowly -- open the tap to release any air, then close it and check for drips.
How to Fix a Mixer Tap (Cartridge) -- Step by Step
For single-lever or two-handle mixer taps with one spout -- common in post-1990 London properties.
Turn off isolating valves under the sink
There will be a hot and a cold valve -- turn both 90 degrees. Open the tap to drain any residual pressure.
Remove the tap handle
Look for a grub screw on the side of the handle (requires a small Allen key) or a cover cap on top concealing a Phillips screw. Remove the screw and lift the handle straight up.
Unscrew the cartridge retaining nut
Below the handle you will see either a large plastic nut or a metal shroud. Unscrew it anticlockwise -- some require a specific cartridge removal tool, but most can be turned by hand or with an adjustable wrench.
Pull out the cartridge
Grasp the cartridge and pull straight up. Note the orientation before removing -- photograph it. The ears or tabs on the cartridge must align correctly on reinstallation or the hot and cold will be reversed.
Source the replacement cartridge
Take the old cartridge to a plumbers merchant (Plumb Center, Screwfix trade counter) or search the brand name plus cartridge number online. Common brands: Grohe, Hansgrohe, Bristan, Ideal Standard, Crosswater. Cartridges range from 15-60 pounds depending on brand.
Insert and reassemble
Insert the new cartridge in the same orientation as the old one. Replace the retaining nut, refit the handle, turn the water back on slowly. Test for drips and correct hot/cold orientation.
Know Your Limits
When to Call a Plumber Instead
Seized or stripped gland nut
Forcing it rounds off the nut and makes the job significantly harder and more expensive. Stop and call a plumber who has the correct extraction tools.
Tap leaking from the base (not the spout)
This is an O-ring or tap seat issue -- a different repair to a dripping spout. The tap often needs to be removed and re-seated, which requires more experience.
No isolating valve under the sink
You will need to turn off water at the mains stop tap, which affects the whole property. A plumber can fit an isolating valve at the same time as fixing the leak (60-120 pounds), preventing this problem in future.
Old lead pipework supplying the tap
Lead pipes should not be disturbed without care. Call a plumber who can assess whether pipe replacement is needed at the same time.
You replaced the washer and it still drips
The tap seat (the brass surface the washer presses against) is damaged or pitted. It needs regrinding with a seat grinder tool -- a plumber's job.
Leak from the tap body or spout when water is running
This is a different problem to a dripping spout. Water under pressure escaping the tap body usually means a cracked body, failed O-ring inside the spout, or a failed swivel seal -- all require tap removal.
Price Guide
Leaking Tap Repair Costs -- London 2026
| Fix | DIY Cost | Plumber Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washer replacement (pillar tap) | £2-5 | £60-120 | 30 min |
| Cartridge replacement (mixer tap) | £15-60 | £80-150 | 45 min |
| O-ring replacement (base or spout leak) | £2-8 | £80-150 | 30 min |
| Tap seat regrinding | N/A | £80-150 | 45 min |
| Full tap replacement (tap + fitting) | £20-200 (tap only) | £100-250 fitted | 1-2 hrs |
| Isolating valve installation | N/A | £60-120 | 30 min |
All plumber prices include VAT. Fixed quote given before any work starts. No call-out fee on jobs over 2 hours.
London-Specific Context
Why London Taps Drip More Often Than the Rest of the UK
Hard water at 300mg/l -- 3x the national average
London's water supply (Thames catchment) contains around 300mg/l of calcium carbonate -- significantly harder than the UK average of 180mg/l and far harder than northern soft-water cities like Manchester or Glasgow. Hard water deposits limescale on tap seats and ceramic discs, accelerating wear and causing premature failure.
Ceramic disc taps last 8-12 years in London vs 15+ years elsewhere
Ceramic disc taps were marketed as maintenance-free when they replaced rubber washers in the 1990s and 2000s. In soft water areas they largely live up to that promise. In London's hard water, the ceramic discs are pitted and etched by limescale and typically need replacing after 8-12 years -- sometimes sooner in properties that do not use a water softener.
De-scale before you repair for best results
If you see white or grey limescale buildup around the tap base or under the handle, remove it before fitting the new washer or cartridge. Use a proprietary descaler (Cillit Bang, HG, or a citric acid solution) on the affected parts. Reassembling around active limescale deposit shortens the life of the new washer significantly.
Leaking Tap Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap Leak You Cannot Fix Yourself?
Seized nut, base leak, stripped seat, or no isolating valve -- some tap jobs genuinely need a plumber. Our London plumbers give a transparent fixed price before starting and can usually attend same-day. No call-out fee on jobs over 2 hours.
Transparent pricing · Same-day London plumbers · No call-out fee on jobs over 2 hours