Steps To Fix A Leaking Tap
A leaking tap is one of the most common problems that we encounter in our households. Though most house problems call for a repairman’s help, there are some repairs that you could actually do on your own. In the case of a leaking tap, you don’t have to immediately call a plumber to fix this problem. Here are some simple steps on how to repair a leaking tap.
Before working on the leaking tap, you have to turn off the water supply first. Be careful when turning the valve off so that it won’t break apart.
To avoid your screws, washers and other small materials from falling down the drain, don’t forget to cover the sink hole prior to working. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the cover of the tap to expose the retaining screw. Remove this screw and put it in a safe place. After that, you may now remove the head of the tap.
Once you have removed all the other screws, its now time to remove the larger headgear nut using a spanner. But make sure that you do not cause any damage to the pipe work attached to it otherwise you will be in a bigger problem and will have to take some experts help to get out of it.
If the headgear nut is still difficult to turn, you could apply some oil around the joint and wait for about 5-10 minutes for it to soak in the oil before trying to remove it again. You could also try to apply some heat to it by using an electric paint stripper or a blow torch but always remember to be careful when using such equipments.
Remove the washer using a screwdriver. If you’re having difficulty removing the washer, you could try to use oil again to lubricate it.
After removing the old washer, fix the new washer there, apply some grease on the base of the tap and then using a screwdriver and a spanner put everything back to their respective positions. Then turn on the water supply and check if you are able to fix the problem.
If you still see any problems with your tap which the tips above can’t fix, then don’t try to experiment fixing it as it might cause another problem. Don’t risk it and call a plumber immediately. You could visit the Top Tradespeople website to search for professional plumbers who would be much more than willing to do the job for you.