The main reason for a leaking is usually the result of a worn or damaged washer. It is very simple to fix. If you want to save yourself some money, then read the article below instead of calling out an emergency plumber. Plumbers will charge you more to attend your house on the weekend so read this article carefully. Below is a step by step guide to replace your washer.
To replace a washer, you need to know what size the washer actually is. As a rule of thumb is:
- Taps which turn on and off with a quarter-turn, have a ceramic disk inside a replaceable cartridge.
- Taps which need to be turned several times have rubber sealing washers. It is very common that basin and bath taps have different sized washers.
- Mixer type taps usually have much smaller washers.
When you go to the hardware store, take your old washer to the hardware store, or buy a bag with several different sized washers. Washers are dirt cheap.
The tools required to replace the washer are a spanner, screw driver, some wire wool, a cloth, and a new washer.
1. Turn off the main water supply to the faulty tap. There might be a valve for the entire house. It could possibly have its own valve, which turns off the supply to only that basin, sink or bath.
2. Turn the tap on full to check that the water supply is switched off. There should be a small drip or trickle of water when complete.
3. Take off the faulty tap. Usually, the tap can be pulled off, or you might need to remove the hot and cold indicator disk and then actually pull it off. It that does not work, it might have a small screw beneath it.
4. You should now be able to see the stem of the tap, with a brass nut holding it in place. Unscrew the nut with a spanner, and lift out the tap stem. The washer is on the underneath of the piece. Remove the washer, and clean off any corrosion or scale using the wire wool. Put on a new clean washer of the equal size. You should be able to just push it on, or, it may be held on with a very small nut.
5. Put the tap back together, turn the water supply back on, and you have fixed the leak and saved yourself money!
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