It starts quietly, then you hear it at night. One drip, a pause, another drip. So you close the tap a bit harder, and for a day or two it stops.
That’s the part worth knowing. Tightening doesn’t fix a dripping tap, it just squashes the worn part harder against the surface it’s meant to seal on. Both wear faster, and the drip comes back worse than before.
- It drips constantly Water keeps coming even when the tap is fully closed.
- Water at the handle The leak is coming from the handle, not the spout.
- It needs more force You’re closing it harder each time to get the same result.
- Rust or staining Water has been sitting on the fixture for a while.
- The drip returns fast Tightening buys a day or two, then it’s back.
The good news is that taps were built to be repaired. The part inside costs very little, and the whole job is usually short. We’re out doing these constantly around Mortdale, often in kitchens and bathrooms where the tapware has been in place far longer than the people living there realise.
Quick answer:
A dripping tap usually means the washer, cartridge, seal or spindle inside has worn out and can no longer close off the water. A slow drip from the spout is the minor version. It gets more serious when the handle leaks too, the tap won’t fully shut off, or water is reaching benchtops, vanities and cupboards. Call a plumber if the drip keeps returning after tightening, water appears around the handle, or the tap under the sink won’t close either.
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Tap still dripping? Let’s stop it properly
Water Workx Plumbing is fully licensed and insured, with clean and tidy Workx from enquiry through to job completion.
What causes leaking taps?
A tap closes by pressing something soft onto something hard. On older taps with separate hot and cold handles, that’s a rubber washer pressing onto a metal seat. On mixer taps, the single lever kind, it’s a sealed cartridge doing the same job in a quarter turn. Water pushes against that seal every second of the day, so eventually the rubber hardens, the metal wears rough, or the cartridge gives out.
- A worn washer The rubber hardens and stops sealing against the seat.
- A damaged seat The surface underneath wears rough and cuts into new washers.
- A faulty cartridge Mixer taps leak once the cartridge inside wears out.
- A loose spindle or seal Water escapes around the handle instead of the spout.
- A stuck shut-off The tap under the sink seizes, so nothing can be isolated.
Sydney Water notes that a slow-dripping tap can lose a few litres of water every hour. On the hot tap, you’re also paying to heat every drop that goes down the drain.
How a tap repair gets done
We check the tap type and where the water is escaping before anything comes apart. Then we isolate the water, inspect the parts inside and replace what’s actually failed, rather than guessing.
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| General Plumbing | Tap repairs |
| Emergency Plumbing | Running water leaks |
| Bathroom Sinks | Basin tap faults |
| Kitchen Drains | Sink area issues |
A simple drip can be one part and a short visit. The bit people miss is the seat underneath. Fit a brand new washer onto a worn seat and the drip comes straight back, which is why that surface gets checked while the tap is open.
What affects the price of a tap repair?
It depends on the tap type, how easy it is to reach, and whether the water can be isolated at the fixture or has to be shut off at the main. We confirm the price after an inspection, before any work starts.
| What’s happening | What affects the price | What’s usually needed |
|---|---|---|
| Slow basin drip | Tap type and part access | General plumbing repair |
| The handle leaks | Seal condition and fixture age | Tap component check |
| Mixer tap fault | Cartridge type and access | Mixer tap repair |
| The tap won’t shut off | Shut-off valve condition | Emergency plumbing support |
| Older tapware | Seat wear and fixture condition | Repair or replacement advice |
When to stop and make the call
Drying everything off and noticing where the water appears is genuinely useful. Forcing the handle, pulling the tap apart, or twisting a seized shut-off valve is where a small job becomes a big one.
Safe to try yourself
- Move items away from the sink or vanity
- Wipe the tap dry and watch where water returns
- Check whether it’s the hot, cold or both
- Note whether the leak happens after use
- Put a towel down to protect surfaces
Stop and make the call
- The tap keeps dripping after closing
- Water leaks from the handle or base
- The tap needs real force to shut off
- Water reaches cabinetry or flooring
- The shut-off under the sink won’t turn
One thing to skip:Don’t keep tightening the handle to silence the drip. It damages the seat and the washer or cartridge, and turns a cheap repair into a bigger one. If water is spreading near power points, appliances, timber cabinetry or flooring, keep clear of the wet area and get it checked properly.
The bottom line
A slow tap drip can be minor if it’s dealt with early and hasn’t reached anything around it. It gets serious once the leak keeps returning, the handle starts weeping, the tap won’t close, or water reaches cabinetry. Then you’re looking at a stained basin, swollen vanity or damaged flooring on top of the repair itself.
The right fix isn’t another twist of the handle, because the drip is the symptom rather than the fault. Once the failed part is found, it’s clear whether the sensible answer is a washer, a cartridge, a seat, a spindle, or a new tap altogether.
Tap still dripping? Let’s sort it out
Water Workx Plumbing looks after homes across Mortdale and the surrounding suburbs. We’ll find which part has failed, explain it in plain English and give you a fixed price before any work starts. Call Peter and the team.
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Leaking Tap Repair FAQs
What should I do first?
Stop tightening it. Wipe the tap dry, watch where the water comes back, and note whether it’s the hot or cold side. That alone tells a plumber a lot before they arrive.
Why is water leaking from the handle?
That’s a different seal to the one that stops water at the spout. The seal or spindle around the handle has worn, so water escapes there instead.
Can I just tighten it harder?
It might stop the drip for a day. It also crushes the washer and wears the seat underneath, which is how a cheap repair turns into a tap replacement.
How much does a tap repair cost?
It depends on the tap type, which part has failed and how easy it is to reach. A standard washer or cartridge repair is a short visit. Older tapware with worn seats takes longer.
When should I call a plumber?
When the drip keeps coming back after being tightened, when water appears around the handle, when the tap won’t fully close, or when the shut-off underneath has seized.
Water Workx Plumbing is fully licensed and insured, with clean and tidy Workx, upfront pricing and a lifetime labour guarantee.
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