Leaking Tap Repair in Lewisham - What to Do and When to Call a Plumber

Published August 2026 | Leaking Tap Repair Guide

In the First 10 Minutes

The first instinct when a tap starts dripping is to twist it harder. That's fine as an initial move, but if it doesn't stop, do not keep forcing it. Over-tightening is one of the most common ways homeowners turn a minor dripping issue into a damaged seat that then needs specialist tooling to repair.

Here's what to actually do in those first few minutes:

1. Turn the tap off firmly but without forcing it past the stop.
2. Check where the leak is coming from. A drip from the spout when the tap is closed is a washer or cartridge issue - annoying but not urgent. Water coming from the base of the tap, the pipe connections underneath, or tracking along the wall behind is more serious and needs faster action.
3. Look under the sink for an isolation valve. It's a small slotted screw fitting on the supply pipe. Turn it 90 degrees with a flathead screwdriver and it closes off water to that tap only, leaving the rest of your water supply running normally.
4. If you can't find an isolation valve, or if the leak is more serious, go to your main stopcock. In most Lewisham properties this sits under the kitchen sink or where the supply pipe enters through the wall at the front of the house. Turn it clockwise to shut off.
5. Put towels down to protect the cabinet floor, but don't treat that as a solution - it's only short-term protection while you sort the real problem.

A slow drip - even one that barely seems worth worrying about - wastes a significant amount of water over time. Water industry estimates commonly put a dripping tap at several thousand litres wasted per year. That shows up on your bill if you're metered, and it will not improve on its own.

Within the First Hour

Once the drip is contained, you can take stock properly. The type of tap you have determines everything about how it's repaired, so identifying it now saves time later.

Compression taps are the older style with separate hot and cold handles that you turn multiple times to open or close. They use rubber washers that press against a seat to stop the flow. These washers wear out over time and are the most common cause of a dripping spout. They're very common in older Lewisham terraces and Victorian-era conversions.

Ceramic disc taps have quarter-turn action - one firm turn from closed to fully open. Inside they have a ceramic cartridge rather than a rubber washer. They fail differently, and the fix is completely different too.

Monobloc mixer taps - the single-lever type above one central spout - use either a cartridge or a ball mechanism. These are standard in most kitchens fitted in the last 15 to 20 years.

Pillar taps are the upright, individually mounted taps found on older bathroom basins and baths. They're common in traditional bathroom suites across Greater London's period housing stock and are repaired similarly to compression taps.

Take a photo of your tap and look for a brand name on the body or handle. Grohe, Bristan, Pegler, Armitage Shanks, and Ideal Standard are all common in London homes. Knowing the brand matters because cartridges are often model-specific, and a plumber who knows exactly what they're dealing with before they arrive is far more likely to bring the right part on the first visit.

Also look carefully inside the under-sink cabinet. Is there any staining on the wood? Swelling in the base board? A damp smell? If yes, water has been finding its way in for longer than the obvious drip suggests, and that needs flagging when you speak to the plumber.

Same Day

A leaking tap will not fix itself. By this point, you need to make a decision: attempt a DIY repair, or call a plumber.

DIY is realistic for a confident person with basic tools tackling a compression tap washer replacement. The process is: isolate the supply, remove the tap handle (usually a screw under a decorative cap), undo the headgear nut, pull out the old washer, press in the replacement, reassemble in reverse, and restore the water. You'll need an adjustable spanner, pliers, PTFE tape, and the correct replacement washer size. Tap repair kits for common designs are available at most plumbing merchants.

Where DIY tends to go wrong: imperial-sized fittings in older properties that don't match the metric parts sold in DIY sheds; damaged seats that need a re-seating tool to fix properly; and ceramic cartridges where ordering the wrong replacement means the job stalls for days while you wait for parts.

Calling a plumber is the more reliable option for most people. Before you book, run the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool on the Voltrade website. It takes about two minutes and walks you through a short set of questions about your tap type, leak location, and water pressure behaviour. The output gives you a clear description of the likely fault that you can read directly to a plumber, which means less time spent on the phone and a better chance of the right parts arriving first time.

When you call, ask whether they charge a fixed callout fee or by the hour, whether parts are included or billed separately, and whether they have experience with your specific tap brand if it's a less common one.

Before the engineer arrives:

1. Clear the under-sink cabinet completely - cleaning products, pipework covers, everything.
2. Have the isolation valve accessible, or let the plumber know if you had to use the main stopcock instead.
3. Note the tap brand and model name, ideally from the handle or body.
4. Dig out any original installation paperwork or warranty documentation if you have it.

The Repair Visit

A tap repair visit in Lewisham - or anywhere across Greater London - typically takes between 30 and 90 minutes on site. That range exists because the job looks very different depending on what's found once the tap is opened.

Here's what normally happens:

1. The plumber confirms the supply is isolated and checks water pressure at the tap.
2. They disassemble the tap - handle removed, headgear or cartridge extracted.
3. They inspect the internal components and the seat. On a compression tap, if the seat is scored or pitted from years of use, a new washer alone won't stop the drip. The seat needs re-seating with a specialist tool. This adds time but is not unusual in older properties.
4. On a ceramic disc tap, the cartridge is removed and replaced with the correct new one. Labour is often quicker, but the part itself costs more than a rubber washer.
5. Everything is reassembled with fresh PTFE tape on the threads where needed.
6. The supply is restored and the engineer watches the tap run under pressure before the job is signed off.

In terms of cost, labour for a tap repair in London typically falls between 80 and 160 pounds, depending on the engineer's rate and the complexity of the job. Parts are usually billed separately. A rubber washer costs very little. A replacement ceramic cartridge for a mid-range branded tap commonly ranges from about 15 to 45 pounds. If the tap is beyond economic repair - cracked body, heavily corroded, or a discontinued model with no available parts - a replacement tap supplied and fitted typically comes to between 150 and 320 pounds, depending on the fitting you choose.

Our engineers will give you a clear steer at that point on whether repair or replacement makes better sense for your situation. On a 25-year-old pillar tap showing significant corrosion, the answer is often replace. On a quality mixer that's five years old with a failed cartridge, it's almost always worth repairing.

The Following Week

The job's done, but the week after a repair is when you confirm everything is working as it should.

Check under the sink each day for the first four or five days. A newly fitted washer or cartridge can take a little time to bed in fully under mains pressure. A very minor weep in the first couple of days is not unusual. If it persists past day three, or gets worse rather than better, call the plumber back. Any reputable Lewisham plumber will return to sort a post-repair issue without an additional callout charge.

Take a water meter reading before bed and check it again first thing in the morning without running any water overnight. If the reading has moved, there's a leak somewhere in the system - not necessarily at the repaired tap, but somewhere worth finding.

Check the water pressure at the tap you've had repaired. Does the flow feel the same as before? A noticeable drop in pressure after a repair sometimes means the isolation valve wasn't fully reopened when the job was finished. This is a quick fix, but worth catching early rather than leaving it.

Long Term

Tap repairs in Lewisham are rarely one-off events unless you address the underlying reasons the tap failed in the first place.

Do not overtighten taps. The single most common cause of premature washer wear is turning taps off with too much force. Turn to the stop, not past it. If you share the property with others, it's worth making sure everyone does the same.

Get your water pressure checked. High mains pressure is common across Greater London and puts ongoing stress on tap components, flexible hoses, and household appliances. The recommended domestic supply is typically 1 to 3 bar. If yours is running consistently higher, a pressure-reducing valve fitted at the mains inlet protects the whole property. A plumber can check your pressure with a gauge in under a minute during any visit.

Replace flexible hoses proactively. The braided flexible hoses connecting taps and appliances to supply pipes have a typical service life of around 10 years. Their failure is one of the most common causes of serious domestic flooding. If yours are original fittings and you don't know their age, ask your plumber to inspect them the next time they're on site.

Consider an annual plumbing check. Many homeowners in Lewisham now treat this the same way they treat an annual boiler service - a short inspection once a year, looking at isolator valves, flexible hoses, and any early signs of slow leaks. It's a practical way to catch developing problems before they become expensive emergencies.

Timeline Questions

How long does a leaking tap repair take in Lewisham?

Most tap repairs take between 30 and 90 minutes on site. A washer replacement on a compression tap is commonly at the faster end - sometimes done inside 45 minutes. A cartridge replacement on a mixer tap, or any job involving re-seating a damaged seat or working around old imperial fittings in a period property, can take longer. Always allow the plumber time to test the tap under pressure and check for leaks before they leave, as that's part of the job, not extra time.

Can I stop the dripping myself before the plumber arrives?

Yes, and it's worth doing. Closing the isolation valve under the sink - a small slotted screw turned 90 degrees with a flathead screwdriver - cuts water supply to that tap only and stops the drip completely, without affecting the rest of your water supply. This is a sensible interim measure. Avoid trying to open the tap head yourself without isolating the supply first, and don't attempt a repair on a tap you can't identify, as fitting the wrong part can make the leak significantly worse.

How much does a tap repair cost in Greater London?

Labour for a tap repair in Greater London typically falls between 80 and 160 pounds, depending on the job complexity and the engineer's hourly rate. Parts are usually charged on top. A rubber washer costs very little, but branded ceramic cartridges for taps like Grohe or Bristan commonly range from 15 to 45 pounds. If the tap needs full replacement, budget between 150 and 320 pounds all in for a mid-range tap supplied and fitted. Always confirm upfront whether parts are included in the quoted rate or billed separately.

How do I know if my tap needs replacing rather than repairing?

If the tap body itself is cracked or heavily corroded, or the leak is coming from the tap body rather than the internal components, replacement is usually the better option. Similarly, if the model is discontinued and spare parts are no longer available, or if the same tap has needed repeat repairs within a short period, a new fitting will often work out cheaper in the long run. Our engineers will assess this clearly once the tap is opened and will give you a recommendation before any additional work is carried out.