Leaking Tap Repair in Gosport - Your Questions Answered by Expert Plumbers

Published July 2026 | Leaking Tap Repair

We asked our Plumber engineers the questions Gosport homeowners ask most. From a drip that keeps you awake at night to a tap leaking under the sink, our engineers have put together honest answers to the things people really want to know before they pick up the phone.

Why Is My Tap Still Dripping Even When It's Turned Off Tight?

A tap that drips when it's fully closed is almost always down to a worn internal component. The exact component depends on the type of tap you have. In older pillar taps - the kind with separate hot and cold handles that you'll find in a lot of older Gosport properties - the culprit is typically a rubber washer that sits at the bottom of the valve. Over time, that washer gets compressed, distorted, or just wears out. When it no longer forms a proper seal against the tap seat, water forces its way through and you get that familiar drip.

In modern mixer taps and monobloc kitchen taps, the mechanism is different. These use a ceramic disc cartridge rather than a traditional washer. Ceramic discs are more durable, but they do crack or get contaminated with limescale - and in Hampshire, where water hardness varies across the county, limescale build-up is a genuine factor. When a ceramic disc fails, the tap won't seal properly and you'll get a drip or a trickle you simply can't stop by turning the handle harder.

One thing our engineers always caution against: forcing the tap tighter to stop the drip. All that does is accelerate wear on the seating and can crack a ceramic disc that might otherwise have lasted longer. If it's dripping, it needs attention, not more torque.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leaking Tap in Gosport?

Pricing for tap repairs depends on the type of tap, the parts needed, and how accessible the water supply is. For a standard washer replacement on a traditional pillar tap, you're typically looking at somewhere between 60 and 100 pounds, including parts and labour. The washer itself costs very little - usually under 2 pounds - so most of what you're paying for is the engineer's time, which is fair enough.

Cartridge replacements on mixer taps are a little more involved. The cartridge itself can cost anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds depending on the tap brand, and fitting it brings the total to roughly 90 to 160 pounds in most cases. If the tap is a branded unit from a manufacturer like Grohe, Hansgrohe, or Bristan, sourcing a genuine replacement cartridge can push that figure up slightly.

Where costs increase is when there's secondary damage - for example, if the tap seat is corroded and needs regrinding, or if there's been a slow leak under the sink that has damaged the cabinet. Our engineers using the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic process will flag these issues before starting work, so you know exactly what you're agreeing to before anything gets dismantled.

Gosport homeowners should also factor in any call-out charge, which typically runs between 50 and 80 pounds depending on the time of day and the company. Some plumbers include this in the quoted repair price; others add it separately. Always confirm upfront.

Can I Have a Go at Fixing It Myself, or Should I Call a Plumber?

A basic washer replacement on a traditional tap is one of the more achievable DIY plumbing jobs, provided you're comfortable turning off the water supply and working carefully. The general process is: turn off the water at the isolation valve under the sink or at the mains stopcock, open the tap to release pressure, remove the handle and headgear, swap the washer, reassemble, and turn the water back on. If everything goes to plan, you can do this in under 30 minutes.

That said, there are a few situations where our engineers strongly recommend calling a professional rather than attempting it yourself. First, if you can't locate or operate your isolation valve - many older Gosport homes have valves that haven't been touched in years and may be seized or corroded. Second, if the tap seat itself is damaged; you'll need a tap reseating tool to fix this properly, and without one, a new washer won't solve the problem. Third, if you have ceramic disc cartridges, the disassembly is less intuitive and getting the cartridge orientation wrong during reassembly means the tap still won't work correctly.

The risk with DIY is not just the repair itself - it's what happens if something goes wrong while the water is off. A fitting that breaks under stress, or a valve that won't reopen properly, can turn a simple job into an emergency. If you're not confident, the cost of a plumber is genuinely good value against that risk.

What Types of Taps Are Most Common in Gosport Homes, and Does It Matter for Repairs?

Yes, the tap type matters quite a bit - both for diagnosing the fault and for sourcing the right parts. In Gosport, as with much of Hampshire, you'll find a real mix depending on when a property was built or last refurbished.

Older Victorian and Edwardian terraces - and there are plenty of them in parts of Gosport - will often still have traditional pillar taps with brass bodies and rubber washers. These are actually quite repairable and parts are widely available. The challenge is that the fittings can be corroded and the tap seats worn, so what looks like a simple washer job can occasionally become more complex.

Newer builds and recently renovated kitchens and bathrooms are much more likely to have monobloc mixer taps with ceramic cartridges. These are cleaner to look at and generally more reliable, but when they do fail, the repair is more specific to the model. Some cartridges are universal; many are proprietary.

Quarter-turn lever taps are common in bathrooms and are usually ceramic-disc based. Ball-valve style taps appear in some imported and designer fittings. Our engineers identify the tap type as the first step, because the repair approach, the parts needed, and the likely fault all follow from that assessment.

How Do I Know Whether It's a Washer, an O-ring, or a Cartridge That Needs Replacing?

The location of the leak is the best clue. A drip from the spout when the tap is turned off points to a failed washer or a damaged ceramic disc - the internal sealing component is letting water through. An O-ring failure, by contrast, typically shows up as a leak around the base of the spout or around the spindle just below the handle. You'll notice water appearing at the body of the tap rather than from the outlet.

O-rings are small rubber seals that prevent water from escaping around moving parts. They're cheap to replace - usually well under a pound each - but you do need to identify the correct diameter. On swivel spout mixer taps, a worn O-ring at the base of the spout is a very common issue. The spout will either drip from its base or will feel loose and wobbly.

Cartridge failure in a ceramic disc tap can present as either a drip when closed or as a tap that won't fully shut off at all. It can also cause the flow to reduce significantly even on full power, if the disc has cracked or clogged. If you're unsure which component is responsible, a plumber can open the tap up and give you a clear diagnosis before committing to parts. Guessing and ordering the wrong cartridge wastes money and time.

What Happens If I Just Leave a Dripping Tap?

It's tempting to put a leaking tap on the "deal with it later" list, but the costs of doing nothing add up faster than most people realise. A tap dripping once per second - which is roughly what a worn washer produces - wastes around 10,000 litres of water a year. On a metered supply, that's a noticeable addition to your water bill. For Gosport households on water meters, this matters.

Beyond the water waste, there are secondary effects. Constant dripping can cause staining and limescale build-up around the basin or sink outlet. Over time, the dripping water can erode the tap seat, which is the metal surface the washer presses against. Once the seat is damaged, a simple washer replacement is no longer enough - you either need to regrind the seat or replace the tap entirely, which costs considerably more.

Under-sink leaks that go unnoticed can cause cabinet damage, mould growth, and even structural damage to the units over time. A slow drip at the base of a tap fitting - the kind you'd only spot if you opened the cupboard - is particularly worth acting on quickly. Water and MDF-based kitchen units are not good companions.

My Tap Is Leaking From the Base, Not the Spout. Is That a Different Problem?

Yes, and it's worth treating it differently. A leak from the base of the tap body or from the connection point where the tap meets the basin or sink is not usually a worn washer issue. It's more commonly a failed O-ring around the spout, a loose or degraded packing nut, or a problem with the supply pipe connections underneath.

On a swivel kitchen mixer tap, the most common source of base leakage is the O-ring that seals the spout to the body. When you rotate the spout and notice a wet ring of water forming underneath it, that's almost certainly the O-ring. Replacing it is a relatively minor job once the tap is isolated and the spout removed.

If the leak is appearing underneath the sink rather than at the visible tap body, check the flexible tap connectors - the braided hose connections that link the tap to the hot and cold supply pipes. These can develop small weeps at the compression fittings, particularly in properties where the water pressure is on the higher side. Hampshire water pressure can vary considerably depending on whether you're on a low-level supply near the coast or served by a different zone, so if your pressure is high, these connections are worth inspecting periodically.

How Long Does a Tap Repair Actually Take?

For a standard washer or O-ring replacement, most experienced plumbers will have the job done within 30 to 45 minutes. That includes isolating the supply, disassembling the tap, fitting the new part, reassembling, testing, and clearing up. It's not a major undertaking when the tap is a standard domestic fitting and parts are to hand.

Cartridge replacements typically take a little longer - around 45 minutes to an hour - partly because there are more components involved and partly because the plumber needs to confirm the correct cartridge before fitting. If the cartridge needs to be sourced specially, there may be a first visit to diagnose and measure, followed by a return visit to fit.

Where jobs extend beyond that estimate, it's usually because of a complication: a seized valve that won't isolate properly, a corroded headgear nut that needs careful extraction to avoid damaging the tap body, or a damaged tap seat that needs additional work. Our engineers in Gosport will always communicate any complications as they arise rather than pressing ahead without your go-ahead.

When Does It Make More Sense to Replace the Tap Entirely?

There are a few scenarios where replacement is the better call. If a tap is more than 15 to 20 years old, has been repaired multiple times, and is showing signs of corrosion or worn chrome, fitting new internal parts can end up being a false economy - especially if the tap body itself is degraded. The cost of repair might be 80 percent of the cost of a new tap, in which case a new fitting is worth considering.

Tap replacement also makes sense when the cartridge is discontinued. Some older imported taps or budget units use cartridges that are simply no longer manufactured, and there's no equivalent substitute that fits the housing. In that case, repair isn't possible without sourcing an adaptor, which adds complexity and cost.

If you're renovating a bathroom or kitchen anyway, it's often worth replacing taps at the same time even if they're working, simply to ensure all fittings are consistent and in good order. A full tap replacement in Gosport typically costs between 150 and 300 pounds, depending on the tap you choose and the accessibility of the existing connections. Supply-only tap costs range widely - from around 30 pounds for a basic basin tap to several hundred for a designer kitchen mixer - so the fitting labour is a relatively fixed element.

What Should I Do Before the Plumber Arrives?

A few practical steps will help the job go more smoothly. First, locate your isolation valves - the small slotted valves on the supply pipes directly under the tap. If you have them and they're operational, the plumber won't need to turn off the mains supply to the whole house, which means water stays on everywhere else while the repair is done. If you're not sure where they are, locate your main stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink or where the supply pipe enters the property) so you can point it out.

Clear out the under-sink cabinet. Plumbers spend a surprising amount of their time on these jobs excavating through cleaning products, spare bags, and accumulated odds and ends to get to the fittings. Having the area clear saves time and means your engineer can work efficiently from the start.

If you know the tap make and model, have that information ready - it can help with cartridge identification. If you've noticed any other related issues, such as low pressure at that tap, discolouration in the water, or a noise when the tap is used, mention those too. They may indicate something worth checking while the tap is already isolated. The Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic process helps our engineers capture these details systematically so nothing gets missed.

A leaking tap rarely fixes itself, and in most cases the longer it runs the more wear it causes to surrounding components. Whether you're in central Gosport or on the outskirts of Hampshire, catching the problem early - and getting the right part fitted first time - is the most cost-effective approach. Our engineers deal with tap repairs every day, and in most cases it's a clean, contained job that makes a noticeable difference to both the property and the water bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off the water supply before attempting a tap repair?

Look for an isolation valve on the supply pipe directly under the tap - it's a small valve with a slot for a flathead screwdriver. Turn it 90 degrees so the slot is across the pipe to isolate that feed. If there's no isolation valve, turn off the main stopcock, which is typically found under the kitchen sink where the supply pipe enters the property. Always open the tap afterwards to release any residual pressure before starting work.

Is a dripping tap covered by home insurance?

In most cases, no. Standard home insurance policies typically exclude gradual wear and tear, which is the category a dripping tap falls into. Some more comprehensive home emergency policies do cover plumbing call-outs, but the repair of worn washers or cartridges is generally treated as routine maintenance rather than an insurable event. Check your policy documents to confirm what your specific cover includes.

How long should a tap washer or cartridge last?

A good quality rubber tap washer in a traditional pillar tap will commonly last between 5 and 10 years, though this varies with water hardness and how often the tap is used. Ceramic disc cartridges are generally more durable and can last 10 to 20 years under normal use. Properties in Hampshire with harder water may see shorter component lifespans due to limescale accumulation affecting the sealing surfaces over time.

Can a leaking tap cause water damage elsewhere in the property?

Yes, particularly if the leak is at the supply connections under the sink rather than at the visible spout. A slow drip onto a kitchen cabinet base can cause the MDF or chipboard to swell and deteriorate over months, leading to mould growth and structural damage to the unit. It's worth checking under the sink periodically, especially in older Gosport properties where fittings may not have been inspected for some time.