🕐 5 min read · 🔧 DIY difficulty: Easy · 📅 April 2026
A dripping tap wastes thousands of litres of water a year and adds to your water bill. The good news — it's one of the easiest plumbing jobs to DIY and costs less than £5 in parts.
Adjustable spanner, screwdriver, replacement washers or cartridge (£2-5 from any DIY store), PTFE tape.
Find the isolation valve under the sink (slot-head screw — turn 90°) or turn off the mains stopcock. Turn on the tap to drain remaining water.
Unscrew or pop off the decorative cap, then remove the screw underneath. The handle should pull off. Cover the plug hole to catch small parts.
Use a spanner to unscrew the large nut (headgear) beneath the handle. Wrap the tap body with a cloth to avoid scratching.
At the bottom of the headgear you'll see a rubber washer held by a small nut. Remove and replace with a matching washer. For cartridge taps, replace the entire cartridge.
Reassemble in reverse order. Wrap thread in PTFE tape before reassembling. Turn water back on slowly and check for leaks.
💡 Pro tip: Take the old washer to the DIY store to match the size exactly. Common sizes are 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch.
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