Leaking Tap Repair in Ely - Should You Fix It Yourself or Call a Plumber?

Published July 2026 | Leaking Tap Repair Guide

You've got a tap that won't stop dripping. Maybe it's the kitchen mixer that's been annoying you for weeks, or a bathroom tap that's leaving a rust stain in the basin. The question most Ely homeowners ask at this point is simple: is this something I can sort myself on a Sunday afternoon, or do I need a plumber? That decision matters - get it wrong and you could waste a weekend, damage your fittings, or end up paying more than you needed to.

This guide walks through both options honestly, compares them side by side, and helps you work out which one fits your situation.

Option A - Repairing the Tap Yourself

DIY tap repair means buying the parts, turning off the water supply, and doing the work yourself. It's a viable option for a lot of tap problems - particularly older compression taps - but it depends heavily on what type of tap you have and what's causing the leak.

What DIY Tap Repair Involves

The basic process for a compression tap (the type with separate hot and cold handles that you screw down) typically goes like this:

1. Turn off the water supply - either at the isolation valve under the sink or at the main stopcock.
2. Open the tap to release pressure and drain remaining water.
3. Remove the tap handle, usually by unscrewing a small grub screw under a cover cap.
4. Unscrew the headgear nut using an adjustable spanner.
5. Inspect the washer at the bottom of the stem - if it's flattened, cracked, or worn, that's your culprit.
6. Replace the washer and O-rings (the rubber rings that run around the stem).
7. Reassemble, turn the water back on, and test.

For a cartridge tap - which includes most modern mixer taps - the process is different. You're replacing the entire cartridge unit rather than individual washers. Cartridges are tap-specific, so you need to know the brand and model before buying parts.

Ceramic disc taps, which are common in newer properties across Cambridgeshire, use a pair of ceramic discs that move against each other. These are harder to repair because the discs are precision-ground and any debris on the seat can cause them to leak permanently. You can replace the ceramic cartridge, but if the seat itself is damaged, you're in trickier territory.

The Pros of Doing It Yourself

The main advantage is cost. A replacement washer kit costs between 3 and 8 pounds. A replacement cartridge for a standard tap typically runs between 10 and 40 pounds depending on the brand. If the repair works, you've fixed the problem for well under 50 pounds and done it on your own schedule.

It's also a genuinely useful skill to have. Once you've replaced a tap washer once, you can do it again confidently. For simple compression taps - which are still common in older Ely properties, particularly Victorian and Edwardian terraces - it's one of the more accessible plumbing jobs a homeowner can take on.

The Cons of Going DIY

The risks are real. The most common DIY mistake is over-tightening, which can crack the tap body or damage the seat - turning a cheap washer replacement into a full tap replacement job. Cross-threading fittings when reassembling is another common issue that causes leaks from new locations.

If you don't fully isolate the water supply, you can end up with significant water damage under the sink. Finding the isolation valve can also be tricky in older properties where plumbing has been modified over the years.

Identifying the correct cartridge or washer for a cartridge or ceramic disc tap requires knowing your tap's make and model. Many taps - especially budget own-brand units - have discontinued cartridges that are hard to source. Buy the wrong one and you've wasted money and time.

And if the leak is coming from the spout base, the body, or the pipework rather than the headgear or cartridge, DIY repair is unlikely to fix it. You need to diagnose correctly before you start taking anything apart.

Option B - Hiring a Local Plumber in Ely

Calling a qualified plumber means the diagnosis, parts sourcing, and repair are all handled for you. For most people, this is the lower-risk option, even if it costs more upfront.

What Professional Tap Repair Involves

A plumber will inspect the tap, diagnose the source of the leak, and carry out the repair in a single visit in most cases. They'll bring common replacement parts - washers, O-rings, and frequently-used cartridges - and can usually complete a standard tap repair within 30 to 60 minutes.

If parts need to be ordered, a reputable local plumber will often cap off the tap temporarily so it doesn't continue leaking while you wait. They can also spot associated problems you might not have noticed: corroded pipework under the sink, a failing isolation valve, or scale build-up that's wearing through components faster than normal.

Our engineers use the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic process before starting any repair, which means the likely cause is confirmed before any part is removed. This avoids the situation where you dismantle a tap, find it's not the washer, and then need to source a part on a second visit.

The Pros of Calling a Plumber

You get a correct diagnosis the first time. A dripping tap can have several different causes - worn washers, failed O-rings, a damaged ceramic disc, a corroded jumper valve, or a faulty seat - and treating the wrong one wastes time and money. An experienced plumber can identify the cause quickly.

The repair is done to a standard. Fittings are torqued correctly, PTFE tape is applied where needed, and the whole assembly is leak-tested before the plumber leaves. You also get a guarantee on the work - any reputable local trade should cover labour for a period after the job.

For rental properties in Ely and across Cambridgeshire, having a professional repair on record is useful from a liability standpoint. Landlords who attempt DIY plumbing repairs that subsequently fail and cause water damage can face questions about their duty of care.

The Cons of Calling a Plumber

Cost is the obvious one. A plumber's call-out fee in Ely typically sits between 60 and 100 pounds, with the full repair cost - including parts and labour - commonly coming to between 100 and 200 pounds for a standard tap repair. For a dripping tap that might have cost 5 pounds to fix with a new washer, that can feel like a lot.

Availability can also be a factor. Good local plumbers are often booked up, particularly in winter when burst pipe and boiler work takes priority. You may need to wait several days unless you're using an emergency call-out service, which typically costs more.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's how the two options compare across the factors that matter most:

• Cost: DIY typically costs 5 to 50 pounds in parts. Professional repair commonly costs 100 to 200 pounds including labour and parts.
• Time: DIY can take 30 minutes or most of a day depending on your experience and whether you hit complications. A professional typically completes the job in one visit of 30 to 90 minutes.
• Risk of making it worse: DIY carries a higher risk, particularly on cartridge and ceramic disc taps, or if you're unfamiliar with isolating the water supply. Professional repair carries minimal risk if you're using a qualified plumber.
• Diagnosis accuracy: DIY means you diagnose it yourself, which works fine for simple washer issues but can lead to wrong repairs on complex leaks. A professional will correctly identify the cause before starting.
• Warranty: DIY work comes with no guarantee. Professional work should be covered by a labour warranty, typically 3 to 12 months.
• Skill required: Basic compression tap repair requires minimal skill. Cartridge and ceramic disc taps need more knowledge. Anything involving pipework is best left to a professional.

Which Is Right for Your Situation

The right choice depends more on the type of tap and the nature of the leak than it does on cost alone.

If you have a traditional compression tap - one with separate hot and cold handles you physically wind down - and it's dripping from the spout, the cause is almost certainly a worn washer. This is one of the few tap repairs where DIY makes clear sense for most homeowners. The parts are cheap, the process is well-documented, and there's a reasonable chance of success even with limited experience.

If you have a modern mixer tap, a quarter-turn tap, or anything with ceramic discs, professional repair is usually the better call. The parts are model-specific, the assembly is more complex, and the cost saving from DIY narrows considerably once you factor in the risk of ordering wrong cartridges or damaging a fitting.

If the leak is coming from the base of the tap, from the pipework under the sink, or from around the tap body itself rather than the spout, call a plumber. These leaks are harder to diagnose and harder to fix, and getting them wrong can mean water damage to your cabinet, flooring, or the ceiling below if you're working in a bathroom on an upper floor.

If the property is rented out, always use a professional. It protects you legally and keeps your maintenance records clean.

What Ely Homeowners Typically Choose and Why

Ely has a fairly mixed housing stock. The city centre has a significant number of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, particularly around the Cathedral quarter and Lynn Road, where older compression taps are still common. In these properties, DIY washer replacement is a realistic option and many homeowners do attempt it successfully.

In newer developments - the estates that have expanded south and east of Ely over the past two decades - quarter-turn and mixer taps are standard. Homeowners in these areas tend to call a plumber more quickly, partly because the taps are less familiar and partly because the kitchen and bathroom fittings are more expensive and people are understandably reluctant to risk damaging them.

From what our engineers see across Cambridgeshire, the most common pattern is this: homeowners try a basic washer replacement first, find it doesn't fix the problem (because it wasn't the washer), and then call a plumber after a second or third failed attempt. The total cost at that point is often higher than if they'd called a professional in the first place, because parts have been bought, time has been spent, and occasionally a fitting has been damaged in the process.

That's not to say DIY is always the wrong choice. It's to say that the decision should be based on an honest assessment of what's actually causing the leak, not just on wanting to avoid a call-out charge.

Making Your Decision

What type of tap do you have?

Compression taps with separate hot and cold handles you screw down are the most DIY-friendly. Quarter-turn taps, mixer taps, and any tap with ceramic discs are better handled professionally unless you're confident working with plumbing. If you're not sure which type you have, look at how the handle moves - if it requires multiple turns to fully open and close, it's almost certainly a compression tap.

Where exactly is the leak coming from?

A drip from the spout when the tap is turned off is typically a washer or cartridge issue - more accessible for DIY. Leaking from the base of the spout when the tap is running usually means a worn O-ring on the spout body. Leaking from under the tap body, from the backnut, or from the pipework connections is more complex and benefits from professional attention. Take a few minutes to dry everything around the tap with a cloth, then watch carefully to see exactly where water first appears.

Is the leak getting worse or causing damage?

A slow drip that's been consistent for weeks is less urgent than one that's visibly getting faster. If water is pooling under the sink, if you can see damp on the cabinet floor, or if you suspect the leak has been running into a cavity, call a plumber promptly. Water damage in kitchens and bathrooms compounds quickly and the cost of remediation can far exceed the cost of a plumber's call-out.

What's your realistic level of confidence?

Be honest with yourself here. Have you done basic plumbing work before? Do you own an adjustable spanner, a flat-head screwdriver, and PTFE tape? Are you comfortable turning off the water supply and confident you know where the main stopcock is? If the answer to most of those is yes, a simple washer replacement is within reach. If you're starting from scratch or uncertain on any of those points, the 100 to 200 pounds for a professional repair is good value for the certainty it brings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to repair a leaking tap in Ely?

Professional tap repair in Ely typically costs between 100 and 200 pounds for a standard repair, including the plumber's call-out fee, labour, and parts. Simple washer replacements sit at the lower end of that range. If the tap body needs replacing, or if pipework issues are discovered during the repair, the cost can rise to 250 pounds or more. DIY repair using basic parts commonly costs between 5 and 40 pounds, depending on whether you need a washer and O-ring kit or a full replacement cartridge.

Can a leaking tap cause serious damage if left?

Yes, and it's more common than people expect. A dripping tap running consistently can cause rust staining, limescale build-up on the basin or sink, and damage to enamel or composite finishes over time. If the leak is from pipework connections under the sink, ongoing moisture causes swelling and rot in wooden cabinet bases, and can penetrate flooring or ceilings in properties where the leak runs downward. In hard water areas like much of Cambridgeshire, scale deposits also accelerate wear on surrounding fittings.

What type of tap is hardest to repair yourself?

Ceramic disc taps are the trickiest for DIY repair. The ceramic discs are precision-made and tap-specific, so sourcing the correct replacement requires knowing the exact make and model. If the ceramic seat is scored or chipped rather than just worn, replacing the cartridge may not fully resolve the leak. Thermostatic mixer taps - common in modern showers and some kitchen installations - are also complex and generally best handled by a professional, as the thermostatic cartridge controls water temperature and incorrect installation can create scalding risks.

How long does a professional tap repair usually take?

In most cases, a plumber can complete a tap repair in a single visit lasting 30 to 90 minutes. Simple washer replacements on accessible compression taps take less time. Cartridge replacements on mixer taps or taps in awkward locations under kitchen sinks take longer. If the tap body or seat is damaged and the whole tap unit needs replacing, expect 1 to 2 hours including fitting and testing. Parts are usually carried on the van for common repairs, but specific cartridges may require a second visit if they need to be ordered.