Blog

Do you know that a dripping or leaking tap can result in the waste of thousands of litres of water? Whilst this is just a minor leak, a larger faucet leak can cause the wastage of 30 gallons of water in a day. This can significantly put a dent in your wallet. 

To help save your money and precious water, Plumbing Emergency 24/7 have compiled a list of common causes of a leaking tap.

Broken or damaged washers

Broken or damaged washers are a common cause of leaking taps or faucets. Washers lean against the valve seat and with time, washers tend to wear out due to friction. This results in dripping or leaking. If a washer is not installed properly or it is of the wrong size, it can also lead to leaking. So, you need to be careful right from the installation of a washer and make sure that it is professionally fitted for the best results.

A damaged cartridge

Do you have a faucet with two handles? If one is for cold water and the other for hot, you probably have a cartridge-style tap. The cartridge is going to be placed on the handle of each faucet which controls the flow of the water. If your tap is constantly dripping water, it means that the cartridge is probably damaged or worn out. However, we need to diagnose the problem and accordingly resolve the issue.  

Malfunctioning O-ring

In your sink’s faucet, there will be an O-ring located and it is going to be a small disc that will be connected to the stem screw which makes sure that the faucet’s handle is in place. Just like washers, O-rings wear out or become loose with time. If one of the handles is leaking, the cause is probably the O-ring.   

Water pressure

Does the faucet in your bathroom drip water during certain times? Does it only drip water when the handle is moved a certain way? It could be that the water pressure of your home is causing the leaks. We can help diagnose and resolve the issue.

Worn out valve seat

In case your tap is leaking from the spout, it might be that the valve seat has deteriorated or worn out. This is because the valve seat helps to connect the faucet to the spout. A leak might be caused because of sediment build-up which corroded the seat.

If there is a leaking faucet in your home, get in touch with Plumbing Emergency 24/7 immediately. Do not wait for the drips to worsen. Also, whilst you wait for our plumbers to arrive, you can turn off the main water supply to save water.