Leaking Tap Repair in Camborne - What to Do and When

Published July 2026 | Leaking Tap Repair Guide

In the first 10 minutes

A leaking tap rarely feels urgent, but leaving it unattended - even for a few hours - can cause real damage to cabinet bases, floor coverings, and the pipework underneath. The first priority is stopping the water, not diagnosing the fault.

Turn off the isolation valve first. Most taps have an inline isolation valve on the supply pipe beneath the sink or behind the bath panel. It looks like a small brass fitting with a slot-head screw. Turn it a quarter-turn clockwise with a flat-head screwdriver and the water to that tap stops. If you can't find one, or it won't turn, go straight to your property stopcock - typically under the kitchen sink, in a utility room, or in the garage - and shut off the mains supply to the whole house.

Protect the area around the tap. Put a bowl or folded towel underneath to catch any remaining drips. If water has already pooled around the base of the tap, dry it thoroughly with a cloth. Moisture sitting against timber for even a short time causes swelling and can create the conditions for mould behind units - something our engineers see regularly in Camborne homes where older fitted kitchens have been in place for decades.

Don't force the tap. It can be tempting to crank the handle tighter in the hope that it stops the drip. This is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make. Forcing a worn washer can crack the tap seat, turning a cheap repair into a tap replacement job. If it doesn't stop with normal hand pressure, leave it.

Within the first hour

Once you've contained the drip, take a few minutes to gather information. This isn't just about satisfying curiosity - it directly affects how quickly the repair gets done and what it costs.

Work out where exactly the water is coming from. Turn the water back on briefly with a container underneath and watch carefully:

• Dripping from the spout after the tap is closed: worn washer (traditional taps) or damaged cartridge (mixer taps)
• Water weeping around the base of the spout: a failed O-ring on the body
• Moisture appearing around the handle: a loose gland nut or deteriorated stem seal

Knowing which of these it is before you call a plumber means they can give you a firmer quote and arrive with the right parts in the van.

Check your boiler pressure. If you're on a combination boiler, elevated mains pressure is a common factor behind accelerated washer wear. Normal domestic pressure runs between 1 and 1.5 bar. Our engineers have found that properties in parts of Cornwall - particularly those with older pipework running from the street - can sit at the higher end of this range, which shortens the life of tap internals noticeably. Check your boiler display while you're thinking about it.

Photograph the tap. Take a few photos from different angles, including any branding on the body or handle. Brands like Grohe, Bristan, Pegler, and Armitage Shanks all use different cartridge and washer specifications. Having the make and model ready saves the plumber a trip to the merchant and can shave time off your job.

Same day

A leaking tap won't self-correct. If you've got the drip under control, that buys you time to book a plumber rather than call one in a panic - but don't let it slip into next week.

What to look for when choosing a plumber in Camborne. Check that any plumber you contact is WaterSafe approved - this is the national quality scheme for domestic plumbing in the UK and gives you a level of assurance about their standards. Ask whether the callout fee is included in the job cost or charged separately, and ask if they typically carry common washer and cartridge stock. A plumber who arrives without parts and has to return doubles the disruption to your day.

If you're not sure how to describe the fault clearly, the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool walks you through a short set of questions about where the leak is coming from, the tap type, and how long it has been running. This generates a concise summary you can pass directly to the plumber when you call, which makes the booking faster and the visit more efficient.

What to prepare before the plumber arrives.

1. Clear the cabinet under the sink completely - access to the isolation valve and supply pipes is essential and clearing it yourself saves time on the visit
2. Know where your main stopcock is and that it actually turns - test it if you haven't recently
3. Note the tap brand and any model numbers visible on the fitting
4. Think about how old the plumbing is - in many Camborne properties, particularly those built between the 1960s and 1990s, the original copper supply pipes and fittings have never been touched, and a good plumber will flag anything else worth addressing while they're there

What it's likely to cost. A washer replacement on a traditional pillar tap typically costs between 80 and 150 pounds including labour. Cartridge replacement on a mixer tap tends to come in at 100 to 200 pounds depending on the cartridge specification. If the tap is beyond economical repair and needs replacing, expect to budget between 150 and 350 pounds, depending on the tap itself and the difficulty of access. Callout fees across Cornwall generally sit between 50 and 90 pounds, and some plumbers fold this into the total job cost rather than charging it separately.

The repair visit

A standard leaking tap repair in a domestic property takes between 30 minutes and 90 minutes. Here's what the visit looks like in practice:

1. Isolation and drain-down. The plumber closes the isolation valve (or the mains if there isn't one) and opens the tap to drain residual water from the line. Your water will be off for typically no more than 20 to 30 minutes total.
2. Disassembly. The handle is removed - usually a case of undoing a grub screw hidden under a cap - followed by the headgear assembly or cartridge unit depending on the tap type.
3. Diagnosis. The internal components are inspected. On a traditional tap, the rubber washer and metal seat are the key points. On a quarter-turn ceramic disc tap, the cartridge is examined for cracking or grit damage. If the seat is scored or pitted from mineral build-up, a replacement cartridge alone won't solve the problem - the seat may need resurfacing with a reseating tool, or the tap body itself needs replacing.
4. Replacement. Worn components are swapped out. Experienced plumbers carry a broad range of common washer sizes and popular cartridge types as a matter of course. If your tap is a discontinued model or an unusual brand, there may be a short wait for a part to be ordered - though this is less common with mainstream UK brands.
5. Test and sign-off. The water is restored and the tap tested under normal pressure. The plumber should check not just the spout, but also the connections at the supply pipes below, and confirm there's no seep around the base before leaving.

The job should leave no mess beyond whatever was under the sink when they arrived. If they've needed to work on the pipework beneath, expect them to check their joints for weeping before they pack up.

The following week

The repair is done, but the next seven days matter. New seals and washers need a short settling period, and it's worth keeping a closer eye than normal on the tap and the space around it.

Check the tap for the first three days. Run it as you normally would and watch for any residual drip from the spout after turning off. A faint seep in the first 24 hours can sometimes settle as the new seal seats properly. If it's still dripping after 72 hours, call the plumber back - most reputable tradespeople will return under a short workmanship guarantee without additional charge.

Inspect under the sink. If the tap had been leaking for any length of time before you noticed, there may be residual moisture in the cabinet base. Pull everything out, dry the boards thoroughly, and leave the door open for a few days. If the board feels soft or shows signs of swelling, it may need replacing before mould takes hold. A fan or small dehumidifier running for a day or two will help considerably.

Monitor your water usage. If you're on a meter, compare your daily consumption through your water supplier's app if they offer one. A single dripping tap losing one drop per second typically wastes upwards of 4,000 to 5,000 litres per month. After a successful repair, metered households in Camborne often notice a clear drop in their daily usage figures within the first billing cycle.

Long term

Most leaking tap problems are avoidable with a small amount of routine attention. Getting into the habit of checking your taps annually catches problems before they develop into jobs that need a plumber.

Annual checks. Once a year, run through every tap in the house. Turn them on and off, feel for any stiffness, and look for any trace of dripping after shutting off. A washer that's starting to go will often feel slightly rough when turning or won't stop dripping cleanly. Catching this early is a five-minute job with a spanner. Leaving it for six months usually means the seat gets damaged too, and what would have been a minor repair becomes a tap replacement.

Consider replacement cycles. Most taps have a practical lifespan of 15 to 25 years with normal use. Cornwall's water is generally soft compared to hard water areas in the south-east and Midlands, which is easier on internal components - but older taps eventually reach a point where repeated patching costs more than a clean replacement. If your taps are original fittings from the 1990s or earlier, raise it with your plumber on their next visit. A replacement tap on an existing supply is typically a one-visit job.

Water pressure. If you're getting recurring washer failures - more than once every couple of years on the same fitting - have a plumber check your incoming mains pressure. A pressure-reducing valve fitted to your main supply can meaningfully extend the lifespan of taps, washing machine hoses, and your boiler's internal components. It's a modest upfront cost that typically pays for itself in avoided repair visits.

Keep a record. Note what was repaired, when, and by whom. This is useful when diagnosing future faults and has real value if you come to sell the property. If you used Voltrade to book the repair, your job history is stored automatically in your account.

Timeline questions

How long does a leaking tap repair take in Camborne?

Most leaking tap repairs take between 30 and 90 minutes on site. Replacing a simple washer on a traditional pillar tap is usually done inside 30 minutes. A cartridge replacement on a mixer tap, or any work that involves removing and reseating the tap body, tends to take closer to an hour. If the tap seat is damaged or a specific part needs ordering for an older or unusual fitting, there may be a second short visit, though this is less common with mainstream brands.

Can I fix a leaking tap myself?

On some taps, yes. Replacing a worn washer on a traditional pillar tap is within reach for a competent DIYer with basic tools - a flat-head screwdriver, an adjustable spanner, and the right washer size. Mixer tap cartridges are more involved: the cartridge specifications vary between brands and it's easy to cause a secondary leak if the unit isn't seated and torqued correctly. If there's any sign of seat damage - visible scoring or pitting on the internal brass - that's a job for a plumber regardless of your confidence level.

How much does it cost to fix a leaking tap in Cornwall?

Costs depend on the tap type and the nature of the fault. A washer replacement typically costs between 80 and 150 pounds all in. Cartridge replacements on mixer taps commonly sit between 100 and 200 pounds. If the tap needs replacing entirely, budget 150 to 350 pounds, covering the fitting, any supply connections, and labour. Callout fees across Cornwall generally range from 50 to 90 pounds, though many plumbers include this within the overall job price rather than charging it separately - worth confirming when you book.

Will a leaking tap get worse if I ignore it?

In most cases, yes. A worn washer continues to deteriorate with every use, and a slow drip can progress to a constant trickle within a few weeks. Beyond water waste - which adds up quickly on a metered supply - a persistent drip under a kitchen sink causes timber boards to swell and rot, and creates damp conditions that encourage mould growth behind units. In a rented property, failing to address a reported leak in a reasonable time may also put a landlord in breach of repair obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.