Fixing drips, replacing worn taps and fitting new mixers
Tap Repair and Replacement
Tap repair and replacement covers fixing a dripping, stiff or leaking tap — usually by replacing a worn cartridge, washer or valve — or removing an old tap entirely and fitting a new one, most often a kitchen mixer or bathroom pillar tap.
Definition
What Tap Repair covers
A tap fault is most often a worn cartridge, washer or O-ring letting water past the seal, though on older taps the tap body itself can corrode or seize. Repair means replacing the internal parts causing the leak; replacement means removing the tap and fitting a new one, which is usually the more practical option once a tap is more than a few years old or parts are no longer available.
Suitable for
- A dripping or leaking kitchen or bathroom tap
- A tap that has become stiff, loose or difficult to turn
- Upgrading to a new mixer, pillar or monobloc tap
- Taps supplied as part of a wider kitchen or bathroom refit
Not suitable for
- Taps affected by a wider pressure or supply fault elsewhere in the system (this needs diagnosing first)
- Outside taps, which are treated as a separate job due to different pipework and frost considerations
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Diagnosis
Establishing whether the fault is a worn internal part or a sign the tap needs replacing outright.
- 02
Isolating the supply
Turning off the local isolation valve or stopcock before work starts.
- 03
Repair or fit
Replacing the cartridge, washer or valve, or removing the old tap and fitting the new one with new flexible tails.
- 04
Testing
Restoring the supply and checking for leaks and correct operation before finishing.
Typical timescale
Most tap repairs or replacements are completed within a single visit, typically an hour or so per tap depending on access to the isolation valves and pipework underneath.
Cost guidance
Tap repair or replacement typically costs £60–£150 per job in our area, with the type of tap (mixer, monobloc, exposed) and ease of access to the isolation valves affecting where a job falls in that range. We provide an itemised quotation after a site visit rather than a fixed headline price.
Limitations and exclusions
- The new tap itself is supplied to your specification unless a supply-and-fit package is agreed
- Underlying pipework, pressure or stopcock faults found during the visit are quoted separately
Areas we cover
Tap Repair across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for tap repair in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Tap Repair FAQs
Why does my tap keep dripping after a repair?
A repeat drip is usually a sign the cartridge or washer wasn't the only worn part, or that mineral scale has damaged the seat inside the tap body — in that case, replacement is usually more reliable than a further repair.
Can you match my existing tap style?
We can usually source a close match or, where an exact match isn't available, advise on a suitable replacement — bring photos or the make and model if you know it.
Do you supply the tap or do I need to buy one?
Either — we can supply and fit a tap to your specification, or fit one you've already bought, as long as it's compatible with your existing pipework and hole configuration.
Discuss your tap repair project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.