Dripping Tap: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

Which kind of tap do you have?

Two handles (one hot, one cold) that you turn several times to open: a compression tap with rubber washers. Cheap parts, easy repair.

Handles that turn only a quarter or half turn: ceramic disc headgear.

A single lever that controls flow and temperature: a mixer with a ceramic cartridge. Most modern kitchens and bathrooms have these.

Thermostatic shower mixers are a special case with their own cartridge.

Before you start

Close the isolation valves under the sink (the small valves on the flexible hoses). If there are none, close the main water valve — see how to find your main water valve.

Open the tap to release pressure, put the plug in so nothing falls down the drain, and take a photo of each step as you dismantle.

Fixing a two-handle tap

Remove the decorative cap and the screw under it, pull off the handle and unscrew the headgear.

At the bottom is the rubber washer. Replace it with one of the same size (take the old one to the shop). If the seat it presses against is damaged, the drip may continue — then the tap needs replacing.

Fixing a single-lever mixer

Remove the cap and screw on the lever, pull the lever off, and unscrew the retaining nut to lift out the cartridge.

Cartridges are specific to the tap: take the old one to a plumbing shop, or note the brand and model. Fit the new one the same way round and reassemble.

If the tap also drips from the base, the O-rings on the body are worn — a different part.

Why limescale matters in Lisbon

Hard water leaves mineral deposits on seals and ceramic discs. Grit and scale scratch the surfaces, and the tap stops sealing properly. That is why taps in Lisbon often start dripping sooner than expected. More in hard water and limescale in Lisbon.

Repair or replace?

If the tap is recent and good quality, a new cartridge or washer is the right fix. If it is cheap, old, corroded, or parts are hard to find, a new tap can cost little more than the repair — and you get a tap that works well again.

Bought a new tap? We can fit it. Send the model on WhatsApp so we bring the right connections. See tap, sink and shower repairs.

Leaks under the sink, not from the tap

If the water is in the cupboard rather than the sink, look at the flexible hoses between the isolation valves and the tap, the isolation valves themselves and the waste trap.

Braided flexible hoses perish from the inside with age and can burst without warning. If they are old, rusty at the ends or bulging, replace them — it is cheap insurance. See burst pipe: what to do.

Kitchen mixer with a pull-out spray

Pull-out mixers have an extra hose inside the cabinet. When they leak, it is often from that hose or its connection, and the water shows up in the cupboard only when you use the spray.

The hose is replaceable; parts are usually brand-specific.

Thermostatic shower mixers

A thermostatic mixer that drips from the head, or that will not hold the temperature, usually needs a new thermostatic cartridge — or a clean, if scale is the issue. Check-valves inside can also fail, letting hot and cold water mix in the pipes.

These cartridges are specific to the model and more expensive than basic tap parts, so it is worth confirming the brand before buying.

Choosing a new tap

Check the number of holes in the sink or worktop, the type of connection, and the space behind the tap before buying. For hard water, taps with ceramic cartridges and easy-to-clean aerators last better.

We fit taps you have bought, or supply them. Repairs start from 60 €.

Frequently asked questions