What Causes A Leaky Tap?

If you have a leaky tap, it is really important to get it fixed asap.  One average, one neglected leak wastes 20,000 litres a year of water.  To avoid wastage and costly repairs, learn how to spot a leak before it gets worse.

Reason #1 – A Damaged Cartridge

Responsible for regulating the flow and temperature of the water, cartridges are prone to damage caused by accidents or wear and tear. This problem is an easy fix—if you have a replacement cartridge, simply pop the damaged one out and swap the two. If you aren’t armed with the required tools, consult Fantastic Plumbing, your trusted plumber.  Avoid consulting a video guide if you have no experience managing your plumbing system—you never know what could go wrong!

Reason #2 – Piping Issues

Damaged piping is another major cause of leaky taps. Perhaps your pipes are corroded, cracked, or defaced by external forces such as tree roots. This can cause a fluctuation in water pressure, which results in a tap that drips on and off. It’s easy to spot warning signs when it comes to damaged pipes—you may notice a strange smell, discoloured water, or severe leaks. 

Reason #3 – High Water Pressure

Excessive water pressure creates issues in water flow. In most cases, inefficient flow causes a water backup in your piping system and begins leaking out of your taps. If your water pressure is too high, or water cannot flow to and from its intended destination, your best bet is to give Fantastic Plumbing a ring. 

Reason #4 – Damaged Valve Seats

Where the spout meets the tap is the valve. If corroded or damaged by mineral build-up, it can’t effectively form a seal to prevent dripping. If you consider yourself a handyman and are equipped with the appropriate tools, a damaged valve seat is usually an easy fix. 

Reason #5 – Your Tap Type

Different types of taps may be more prone to leaking, so knowing what type of system you employ can put things into perspective. Ball-type taps come with a large number of working parts and are controlled by a single handle that manipulates a metal ball located inside the tap. This ball determines the level of water that spouts from the tap and at what temperature. Due to the number of moving parts, ball-type taps wear out quicker than others and begin to leak. A quick solution would be to replace your system with a disc-type or compression tap. 

Conclusion

There are a handful of other reasons your tap may start leaking, but the ones listed above are the easiest to spot. 

Note that leaky taps may be a warning sign of much larger problems such as damaged pipes and water pressure troubles.

Whether you need to fix your tap a tackle a more complex problem, just call Fantastic Plumbing, your local plumber with trucks on the road from Banora Point – Byron – Ballina and all the surrounding suburbs.  Our dedicated team is available 24/7.