The good news is that if you are trying to stop a tap from dripping, it is often simple to fix and something that you can probably do yourself.

Being able to carry out this relatively easy task yourself will save you having to call out a plumber. This will not only save you money but also time if you have to wait for a plumber.

You will need to identify the type of tap you have to get the correct replacement part. A traditional tap will need a replacement washer. If replacing the washer doesn’t work then it may be the o-ring. If you have a Monobloc tap (a type of mixer tap) then they will use a disk contained in a cartridge rather than a traditional washer.

Before you can start fixing this problem you will need to have a few tools to hand:

• An adjustable spanner
• Flat and pozi head screwdrivers
• Scissors
• Replacement cartridge, washer or o-ring as appropriate

REPLACING A WASHER ON A TRADITIONAL TAP

1. Firstly, turn off the water. Locate your stop tap (which is usually found under the kitchen sink) and turn it off slowly. Turn the tap on until the water stops running.
2. As you take the tap apart, lay the parts out in the order you remove them to make it easier to re-assemble later.
3. Remove any decorative parts of the tap to keep them safe whilst changing the washer.
4. Unscrew the tap handle. You should be able to do this with your hands but use some kind of lubricant if it is not coming off easily.
5. Next you will need to loosen the nut that holds the tap components together using your spanner. You should then be able to remove the stem. Some stems will need to be twisted to remove them from the valve, others will just pop out.
6. Slide off or unscrew the old washer and replace with the new one. Make sure it is tight and is an exact fit for your tap.
7. If the washer isn’t the issue, you may need to replace the o-ring. This looks like a large washer and is the seal found at the bottom of the spout. You will need to remove the spout and then remove the o-ring with a screwdriver or scissors. Slide on the new o-ring and put the spout back on.
8. You can now reassemble your tap putting everything back I the correct order. Turn the stop tap back on and test the tap.

REPLACING A CARTRIDGE ON A MIXER TAP

1. Many mixer taps (including Monobloc taps) use ceramic discs instead of rubber washers. These disks are hidden within a cartridge inside the tap. You will have one cartridge for hot water and one for cold water. If one breaks you will need to replace the whole cartridge.
2. Firstly, turn off the water. Locate your stop tap (which is usually found under the kitchen sink) and turn it off slowly. Turn the tap on until the water stops running.
3. As you take the tap apart, lay the parts out in the order you remove them to make it easier to re-assemble later.
4. Unscrew the handles of your tap and remove any decorative parts with a screwdriver.
5. Take off the metal cover and you should see the valve. Use your spanner to remove this.
6. Take out the damaged cartridge and replace with the new one.
7. Reassemble your tap in the order it was dismantled.

If having followed these instructions you haven’t managed to stop your tap from dripping, then you should call a plumber.