A tap which drips water slowly is losing over 180 litres a day (a full cylinder), or 66,000 litres of water over the course of a year.
Taps which run at a constant dribble and can never be shut off completely can use over 450 litres of water a day (2.5 cylinders), or 175,000 litres in a year.
Although we don’t pay for water in Ireland (not yet anyway) a leaking tap is wasting more than just water. If it’s a hot water tap which is dripping, you can add hundreds or even thousands of euros onto your gas, oil or electricity bill for the water which is just going straight down the drain.
You can do your own maths. According to Electric Ireland, heating one cylinder of water (180 l) using an immersion heater costs about €2 per day. Multiply that by 365 and you get €730 or more down the drain. If you are using an oil boiler or a wood burner, it may be a bit cheaper, but still, it is a lot of money to waste for something that can be easily fixed.
When Irish Water charges come in a not too distant future (1 Jan 2022), you may also be charged €500 per year for excessive water usage. So maybe it is worth it not to ignore the problem and fix this simple problem before it gets worse. Ignoring the ‘drip, drip, drip’ of a leaky tap will not make it go away.
What causes a tap to leak?
A leaking tap is one of the most common plumbing problems and is often caused by a faulty rubber washer.
If you’ve got a more modern tap, it’s possible that your tap uses a ceramic disc cartridge rather than a rubber washer.
How to fix a leaking tap yourself?
Changing a tap washer is a relatively easy job, if you have the right spare parts, the tools and a bit of DIY skills.
Before you attempt to do it yourself, make sure that you have the right washer at hand. Take a picture of your tap and show it to a shop assistant at the building supplies. They will be able to advise you which washer you need.
Also make sure that you have the right tools – a screwdriver set and a spanner/wrench will do.
Step 1
The first step is to turn off the water supply, unless you want to flood your bathroom or kitchen. There should be an isolation valve underneath the tap which can be used to turn off the water to that particular sink or, if you don’t have one of these, turn off the water at the mains. If you’re changing the tap washer on the hot water tap then you will need to turn off the boiler and immersion heater as well.
Step 2
Next up, put the plug into the plug hole of the sink. This will prevent you losing any screws or tap components down the drain if you drop them. It’s also a good idea to place a towel inside the sink to avoid damaging the surface if you drop something.
Step 3
Using your screwdriver, remove the cover from the tap. This will expose the valve which can then be removed using the spanner. If it is stiff then hold the tap in place with a wrench if you have one, but protect the tap with a cloth first.
Step 4
The tap washer is underneath the valve, secured into place with either a screw or a nut. Remove the tap washer with a spanner or, if it’s too difficult to undo, put penetrating oil around it and allow this to soak in before trying again.
Step 5
Replace the old, worn washer with a new tap washer in the same size.
Step 6
Put the tap back together again. Screw the valve back into place being careful not to overtighten as this can damage the tap. Fasten the top back onto the tap and marvel at your DIY skills.
Step 7
Remove the towel from your sink, take out the plug and turn the water back on. You’re done! Pat yourself on the back and make yourself a well-deserved cup to tea.
Below is a B&Q video which clearly shows you the whole process.
How to change a tap washer
Plan B - Call Shay For Help
If the above DIY methods don’t work, or you don’t have the tools or the skills, call us. Changing a washer won’t cost you an arm and a leg and it will give as an opportunity to check all your other taps for potential problems.
SHAY WALSH PLUMBING
Emergency Plumber Dublin & Kildare
Tel: 087 239 399 (24hr call out service)