My Kitchen Tap is dripping….
7 Reasons explaining why “my kitchen tap is dripping?” and solutions . Don’t leave your Tap drip because you might end up with a drip you can’t fix.
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- Worn-Out Seals / Washers : One of the primary reasons for a dripping tap at the end of your spout where the aerator is, or at the handle, is when the seals on the underside of the tap valve become so worn that they are no longer able to work properly. These seals are usually made from rubber or silicone components to create a watertight seal when the tap is closed. The drip usually comes from either the tip of the spout or around the handle area. The simplest solution is to replace the entire valve. It can be very time consuming and difficult to locate the exact size seal required and even if you replace the seal you might still have a drip because other parts of the valve have also worn down over time. We sell compression valves by Brand / Model and also in our general spare parts components section . See below.
Kitchen Tap Dripping from Handle or Tip of Spout Worn Seal (Washer)
- Faulty Cartridge: Modern taps with levers use ceramic valves (quarter turn) or cartridges depending on the style of the tap to control the flow and temperature of water. These can be made from brass or plastic. These can wear down over time or become faulty if a particle e.g limescale, gets caught up in the valve or cartridge. If the discs become faulty or wears down over time the water will start to leak through the valve. Your tap will start dripping from the tip of the spout or around the handle area. The easiest solution is to replace the entire valve. We sell ceramic disc valves and cartridges by Brand / Model and also in our general spare parts components section . See below.
SMR Ceramic Disc Quarter Turn Valve 20 Splines 3549R
1202r 35mm cartridge
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- Loose or worn Spout O-Rings: O-rings, which are another type of rubber seal, are used to create a snug fit between the tap spout and the base. They usually consist of black rubber rings and white ptfe rings. Usually it is only the black rubber rings that wear down over time. This is the most common cause of a Kitchen Tap dripping at the base. The best solution is to replace the O Ring Kit and these are not universal in size. We sell O Ring Kits by Brand / Model and also in our general spare parts components section . See below.
Kitchen Tap Dripping from the Base?
O Ring Kit 3668R that will fix the drip in this example here
- Pinholes or worn spout : Your spout might be worn underneath the O Rings or cracked. If this is the case then you will need to replace the entire spout rather than just the Spout O Rings. Again, like the O Ring Kits, Kitchen Tap Spouts are not universal. We sell Tap Spouts by Brand / Model and also in our general spare parts components section . See below.
Kitchen Tap Dripping from the Base Worn Spout
- High Water Pressure: When water flows through the tap at a high pressure, it can put strain on the internal components, leading to leaks and drips. Regulating the water pressure can help alleviate this issue and prevent dripping.
- Improper Installation: In some cases, a dripping tap underneath the counter may be the result of improper installation. Check all the fittings to see where the drip is coming from and tighten where loose or call in a plumber.
- Corroded Valve Seat: The valve seat is the connection point between the inside of your tap where the valve goes and the valve itself. Continuous exposure to water can cause the valve seat to corrode over time. A damaged or worn valve seat will interfere with the proper sealing of the tap, leading to leaks and a dripping tap. The drip in this case is usually coming from either the tip of the spout or around the handle area. This is probably the hardest one to fix and is the reason why we recommend fixing a dripping tap as soon as possible so that you don’t end up with this issue.
Summary :
- A dripping tap may seem like a minor inconvenience, but if you fix the drip promptly then you shouldn’t end up with a corroded valve seat (no 7) which can often mean having to replace the entire tap. You will also save money and water.
Our Useful DIY Kitchen Tap Repair Guides :
- Guide : How to tell which Valve needs replacing : Hot or Cold or Both?
- Guide & video : How to remove the Handle of your kitchen tap
- Guide to remove Valve : 7 Easy steps to remove a Valve.
- Guide : What is the splines on a valve?
- Guide : The letters “SMR ” are stamped on my valve
- Guide : Signs that its time to replace your Tap cartridge
- Guide to remove Cartridge : How to Replace a Cartridge in your Single Lever Tap.
- Guide to removing Spout and changing O Rings: How to change a Kitchen O Ring Kit
Click on image for Our Spare Tap Parts Section by Brand.
Taps Spare Parts by Brand Home Featured
Click on image for our Spare Tap Parts by Component Parts.
Taps Spares by Part
Helpful Tips Section:
- We appreciate that it can be difficult to identify a the correct Spare Part for your Kitchen Tap.
- We have put DIY Guide links on all our parts to make it easier.
- Our Helpful Tips Section explains the most common customer queries and answers
- Contact us if you need help at any stage.
General Picture Tips
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- Try and take the picture as clearly as possible in good light.
- Show all the part in the picture i.e don’t hide part of it with your fingers.
- Tell us the Date stamp if you see it. That way it doesn’t matter if it is not showing in your picture.
Why buy from us ? Here are some reasons:
- We have over 30 years expertise supplying Spare Kitchen Tap Parts to the Trade and Home Owners.
- All our Genuine Valves have splines ranging from 20 to 24 to 28. We do not stock any 18 splined or 32 splined valves.
- Manufacturers sometimes modify parts. We guarantee that the parts we supply are as per the technical specifications sheets provided by the manufacturers.
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- Loose or worn Spout O-Rings: O-rings, which are another type of rubber seal, are used to create a snug fit between the tap spout and the base. They usually consist of black rubber rings and white ptfe rings. Usually it is only the black rubber rings that wear down over time. This is the most common cause of a Kitchen Tap dripping at the base. The best solution is to replace the O Ring Kit and these are not universal in size. We sell O Ring Kits by Brand / Model and also in our general spare parts components section . See below.
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- Worn-Out Seals / Washers : One of the primary reasons for a dripping tap at the end of your spout where the aerator is, or at the handle, is when the seals on the underside of the tap valve become so worn that they are no longer able to work properly. These seals are usually made from rubber or silicone components to create a watertight seal when the tap is closed. The drip usually comes from either the tip of the spout or around the handle area. The simplest solution is to replace the entire valve. It can be very time consuming and difficult to locate the exact size seal required and even if you replace the seal you might still have a drip because other parts of the valve have also worn down over time. We sell compression valves by Brand / Model and also in our general spare parts components section . See below.
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Tap leaks and when another tap in house is opened, it makes a brief wailing sound and then it streams a short blast of water. Howden Swan.
Hi Margaret, usually a tap leaking points to an issue with the valves in your tap. You could have a separate water pressure issue, but if this leak has only been recent i.e was not there from the start, then I would recommend replacing the valve that is leaking (i.e hot or cold) and see if that sorts the issue. Here is the link to all the Howden Tap Parts that we do and you can check to see if your own tap is there (as there are many Howden ‘Swan’ Taps). If it is not there, then email us a picture of your own tap and approx purchase date .
Hi I am looking for a part for my franke mixer tape the part number I have is 3669 it’s the valve assemble
Hi, If you wish to email us sales@tapsandsinksonline.co.uk a picture of your Franke Tap together with the installation guide that is giving you this part number, we will gladly help you.